Vancouver Attraction: Night Market
The Largest Asian Style Night Market in Richmond, British Columbia
Located eight kilometers from the Vancouver International Airport, every summer from May to October, is the hustling and bustling Richmond Night Market. It’s a dizzying display of over 400 shops and food stalls on a nine acre industrial site. The only one of its kind in North America, it is similar to night markets in China, Malaysia, or Vietnam but with a Western flair. The market is a great place to go for everyone – it’s a family outing, a teenage hang out, and a tourist attraction.
The rows of clothing stalls include everything from cheap sunglasses, women’s lingerie and athletic gear. The array of electronic booths sell Korean CDs, cell phone accessories, printer cartridges and Chinese movies. Prices for most items are under $30 and bargaining is encouraged. Other specialty booths include fortune telling, real estate advertising, exotic teas and samurai swords. If you purchase goods, do not expect to get a receipt because you won’t get one. The market is cash only and no refunds or exchanges are normally accepted.
The most popular area by far, is the food stalls. This area resembles a crowded subway station with wall-to-wall pushing to get a plate of noodles. The smell of barbeque skewers mixed with steam dumplings wafts through the air amidst the sizzling sounds of woks and crunching of blenders. For the more adventurous, chicken livers, cuttlefish on a stick, okonomiyaki (a Japanese-style pizza) and green bean pudding are available. Carnival or fair food of hotdogs, kettle corn, cotton candy and little doughnuts are also offered for timid palates. Dishes are small and meant to be eaten while walking as only a small eating area of three tables exists.
The Richmond Night Market is a great place to shop for some good bargains and to feast on different cuisines. Entertainment is also provided for the entire family. A concert stage lies at the back corner of the market where local talent of karaoke stars, teenage hip hop dancers, and martial arts exhibitionists perform. Approximately 30,000 visitors go the Richmond Night Market every year making it one of Vancouver’s biggest summer attractions.
Information and Access
The Richmond Night Market is located at 12631 Vulcan Way (behind the Home Depot on Bridgeport Road in Richmond.)
From Vancouver, take the Knight Street Bridge and turn left onto Bridgeport Road. Make a right on Sweden Way, head one block north and you will reach Vulcan Way.
The Richmond Night Market is open every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Holiday Monday at approximately 7pm. The market is open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays and 11pm Sunday and Holidays.
The festivities started on May 30th and will run until October 5th of this year.
There is also a smaller Asian night market in Vancouver's Chinatown district.
