# Mae Kha Canal Chiang Mai: Worth It? (Honest Weekday Review) + Night Bazaar Area

By Prashant & Sunaina · 22 November 2025 · https://www.psvlogs.in/blog/mae-kha-canal-chiang-mai

> The viral Mae Kha Canal on a weekday was underwhelming. Here's when to go instead, plus where we stayed near the Night Bazaar, a Korean dinner and Thai supermarket prices.

Back in Chiang Mai from Chiang Rai by bus, we checked into a hotel near the Night Bazaar and went to see the viral **Mae Kha Canal**.

Watch the vlog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55Zy1dCpVEY

## Where we stayed
We booked a hotel **near the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar** using credit-card reward points. It cost us about ₹20,000 in total instead of the usual ₹7,000–8,000 a night. The Night Bazaar area is lively, unlike the quiet Old Town.

## Mae Kha Canal: our honest take
An old canal, cleaned up and beautified, with shops and food stalls on both sides and a little bridge connecting them (the photo spot). On the walk there you pass Buddha shrines on almost every corner, a 24/7 laundromat and several cannabis shops.

On a **weekday evening** it was underwhelming: mostly locals, the decorative **lights were off**, and there was a slight **drain smell**, which put us off eating there. Prices looked a little cheaper than the Night Bazaar.

**Verdict:** go on a **weekend evening**, when it's lit up and lively, and keep it to about **30 minutes**. Only add it if you have spare time.

## Dinner: Korean
Like a K-drama set. The **ramyeon came dry** (not as a soup) and wasn't great, but the **Korean fried chicken** was good.

## Thai supermarket prices (for the curious)
Bombay Sapphire was about 1,200 baht (700 ml), Absolut and Jägermeister about 990 baht, and Korean soju about 87 baht. We also found **green and pink eggs** (still don't know what they are; tell us in the comments!), quail eggs and salted eggs.

**Must try:** **coconut crispy rolls**, light and wafer-like.

## FAQs

**Is Mae Kha Canal worth visiting?**
On a weekday, not really: it was quiet, the lights were off and there was a slight drain smell. Go on a weekend evening and keep it to about 30 minutes.