The short version
The Night Bazaar area refers to the neighbourhood along and around Chang Klan Road, roughly between the Old City's east wall and the Ping River. It's built almost entirely around tourism — hotels at every price point, the market itself, and a dense strip of restaurants and massage shops.
What it's good for
Convenience above all: it sits between the Old City and the river, has the widest range of hotel inventory in the city, and puts the market itself, plus a long strip of restaurants, on your doorstep. For a full breakdown of hotel options here and elsewhere, see the hotels directory.
What to know before basing yourself here
It's the most overtly tourist-oriented part of the city, which some visitors love for the energy and others find less authentic than the Old City or Nimman. Traffic on Chang Klan Road can be heavy in the evenings when the market is in full swing.
For the full comparison against Chiang Mai's other main areas, see best areas to stay in Chiang Mai.