The Best Markets

Chatuchak Weekend Market (Bangkok, Thailand): One word describes it: huge. You can easily get lost and certainly spend hours wandering this labyrinth. Don't buy anything until you spend at least a half day wandering down the endless aisles eyeballing the multitude of merchandise available.

Night Bazaar (Chiang Mai, Thailand): Most of those gorgeous handicrafts you find all over Thailand are made in the north, and at Chiang Mai's sprawling Night Bazaar, you'll find the widest selection, best quality, and best prices.

Morning Market (Vientiane, Laos): Laos's famous market is three huge buildings with traditional tiered roofs. Silver handicrafts, fabrics, jewelry, electronics, books, and much, much more occupy each building's several floors. The aisles are wide and made for wandering and poking through the wares, and the proprietors are friendly, gentle bargainers.

Central Market (Hoi An, Vietnam): On the banks of the busy Perfume River lies this entire city block of narrow, roofed aisles. Products of every description are for sale inside: handicrafts, household items, and services such as facials and massages. On the outskirts, an entire warehouse is devoted to silk and silk tailoring.

Central Market (Phnom Penh, Cambodia): This is where it all happens in Phnom Penh. The main building is a massive Art Deco rotunda with wings extending in all directions. It's an anthill of activity on any given day, and you can get some interesting bargains and unique finds.

Arab Street (Singapore): Sure, Singapore is a shopper's paradise, but it needs more places like Arab Street, where small shops lining the street sell everything from textiles to handicrafts. Bargaining is welcome.

Central Market (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia): This is one-stop shopping for all the rich arts and handicrafts Malaysia produces -- and it's air-conditioned, too.