Loy Krathong Festival and the Night Market in Jomtien - Thailand

Hello everyone. In November we are celebrating the much-loved Loy Krathong festival in Thailand. On November 15th we were at the beach and our little girl was wearing her national costume because there had been a celebration at school. Afterward our plan was to go to the night market near the windmill in Jomtien for dinner. Currently there are renovation works going on at Jomtien Beach. Drainage pipes are being replaced and due to this work, some areas are inaccessible. However, in other parts, only the paving stones have been removed and it's still possible to access the beach, although the view is a bit compromised.

The people of Thailand love the Loy Krathong festival. The most important tradition during this festival is releasing decorated small boats, called "krathongs" into the water. This ritual symbolizes the flowing away of sins and bad luck. You can release these boats into any water source, such as a river, lake, sea or temple pond. And you can place coins inside the krathong to make a wish or even put a hair strand for health. The krathongs also include incense sticks, which require a lighter to be lit.

In Pattaya we couldn't find a central event for this celebration, so every year we go to the beach and release our krathongs into the water. We did the same this year. There were a lot of people along the beach, especially in the areas where renovations weren't happening, where the crowd was larger. In the distance, sky lanterns were also being released. However, this year due to the fire hazard, sky lanterns weren't allowed in some places.

Loy Krathong is celebrated every year in November, but the date varies according to the lunar calendar. For example, it was at the end of November last year, but this year, it fell on November 15th. If you're planning a holiday in Thailand next November, you might want to try to coincide with this date. Tourists also typically participate in these celebrations with great enthusiasm. There are krathong sellers by the water and if you wish, you can buy one and make your own wish. Right now, at night, the sea has receded, so we need to walk a bit to reach the water. We release our krathongs, hoping that our bad luck will drift away with the water.

Last year there was a debate about the environment. Krathongs are usually made from banana leaves and flowers, but some are held together with metal staples or other materials, which raises concerns about pollution. However, local authorities have stated that after the krathongs wash up on the shore, they are collected by special teams and lakes are cleaned with special equipment.

We finished our celebration and then went to Jomtien's most popular night market. We had previously reviewed it, but back then it was off-season. Now that the high season has started, let's see what's changed. At the night market, we were first greeted by fresh fruit juices. There are dishes from various cuisines. In the Russian cuisine corner, you can find delicious foods like meatballs, potatoes and chicken. The prices are quite reasonable: meatballs are 30 baht and meat dishes range from 60 to 70 baht. There are also various options like seafood, tandoori meats and sausages from German cuisine. The market is lively and bustling, which makes it enjoyable.

By the way Tom Yam soup is highly praised here. I had tried it before and it’s really tasty, though it’s been a while since I last had it. There’s also a man selling rotis (Thai-style flatbreads) that are very popular. There are different varieties: banana for 50 baht, egg for 40 baht and Nutella for 60 baht. It’s an ideal stop for a snack.

Meat options at the night market also stand out. Particularly, the lamb, beef and chicken skewers look appetizingly prepared and quite delicious. Prices are as follows: lamb is about 200 baht for 100 grams and beef is priced similarly. If you want to try something exotic, crocodile meat is even available here. It’s sold at Makro markets for around 200 baht per kilogram. Fish prices are also reasonable: mackerel for 160 baht, tuna for 200 baht and salmon for 120 baht.

My favorite is marinated salmon. If you haven’t tried it, I highly recommend it. There’s a variety of foods from sweet to savory. For example, chicken tikka from Indian cuisine costs around 150 baht and there’s a bar on the right side making cocktails.

The other section of the night market is dedicated to souvenirs and cosmetics. However, these products can be a bit expensive. If you're looking for more economical shopping, I would recommend wholesale stores like Pratunam. Around 10:30 pm some stalls begin offering discounts. For example, food leftovers are usually sold at a 50% discount. There are plenty of options: meatballs, spinach omelets, salmon pastries and even stuffed cabbage rolls. Russian cuisine dominates the market, as this is an area popular with Russian tourists, so the food is adapted accordingly.

For seafood lovers, there are also options like cheese-stuffed sea scallops. Freshly squeezed fruit juices and cut fruits are also eye-catching. For example, freshly squeezed orange juice is sold for just 35 baht, which is very affordable. You can also try local fruit wines (such as mangosteen, pineapple or pomegranate-flavored), which cost around 200 baht.

The market is always bustling with a crowd. Especially at the sushi stands, you may need to wait in line. The fun atmosphere, music, balloons for kids and other activities create a carnival vibe.for dessert lovers, there are plenty of varieties. For instance, the strawberry season has just started, so fresh strawberries are being sold. There used to be a huge inflatable play area for kids, but it has been removed this year.

Today we tried dishes from different cuisines and we were particularly drawn to German cuisine. Nearby, there was a stand where fresh Tom Yam soup was being prepared. The abundance of spices and ingredients really shows how carefully the dishes are made.It looks very appetizing 😊

If you’re ever in the area, I recommend stopping by Ali’s stand to try something from Indian cuisine. The tandoori dishes, especially are fantastic. For example, freshly made garlic naan bread looks amazing. They spread garlic on the dough and finish it with butter. it’s simple but incredibly delicious. Prices are also very reasonable, generally around 30-40 baht.

There is always activity here, especially until 10:30 pm when the crowd doesn’t dwindle. Today, we also tried pizza. We bought from different stands and noticed that the pizzas from the previous ones were slightly better. The taste was a little sweeter but still quite good. If you’re looking for a thicker, more filling pizza, I recommend the stands in the middle.

I couldn’t find any pork skewers today as they usually sell out quickly. Instead I tried something from German cuisine: German sausage with pickles. The sausage costs 70 baht and the pickles are only 10 baht. I found the sausage a bit cold, but overall it was tasty. The real star was the chicken tikka masala. Watching its preparation was a pleasure in itself. The price of the dish is 139 baht and with the naan bread, it’s about 160 baht, which is quite reasonable compared to restaurant prices. The taste was perfect, with the spices at just the right level. I opted for a mild spice level, as I didn’t want it to be too hot. The bread was both filling and helped soften the sharpness of the spices.

If you ever visit India, you can compare the masala dishes there with the ones here. Indian masalas are generally much spicier and served in larger portions. However, the version at this market is a fantastic alternative, especially for those who don’t like it too spicy.

After a nice dinner, we headed home. Our exploration for today ends here. See you in my next post.