Wang Noi Muang Mai Market

This is a market for people who actually live in Wang Noi, not for anyone ticking off Ayutthaya's temples. That's the appeal and also the catch. Prices are low because there's no tourist markup, the produce moves fast enough to stay fresh, and almost nobody behind a stall is going to speak English to you. Point, smile, carry small notes.

Fresh vegetables, fruit, flowers, halal food and plenty of ready-to-eat dishes fill the stalls. Reviewers rate it clean by local standards, though one puts it well when they say not to expect Western supermarket hygiene. Wednesday and Sunday evenings are the ones to aim for, when the night market side of things swells and the choice widens considerably. Otherwise, go early. Doors are open from 05:00 and there are already crowds by six. By mid-afternoon the heat makes browsing a chore rather than a pleasure.