Three night markets bring a taste of Asia to Vancouver and Richmond this summer

If warmer weather makes you long for the smell of stinky tofu and the chance to snap up inexpensive souvenirs, you may want to check out one of three night markets happening in Vancouver and Richmond this summer.

First to open is the Summer Night Market, located on a four-hectare site at 12631 Vulcan Way, which is near Ikea Richmond. This night market is run by Lions Communications and has been in existence since 2008. Like most night markets, the Summer Night Market features Asian food stands with everything from bubble tea, to barbeque, to dim sum, and noodles; market vendors selling cellphone accessories, jewellery, toys, clothes, and DVDs; as well as nightly singing, dancing, and magic performances on its main stage. The Summer Night Market opens Friday (May 11) at 7 p.m., and runs until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 p.m. on Sundays and holiday Mondays until September 16.

A second night market will open in the City of Richmond on May 18. The Richmond Night Market is run by Target Event Productions. This market will be located on a seven-hectare site at 8351 River Road—a property known as Duck Island—which is next to the River Rock Casino and Bridgeport Canada Line Station. This night market will feature 80 food stands and 250 vendor booths, as well as entertainment and carnival rides. The Richmond Night Market will be open from 7 p.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Sundays and holiday Mondays until October 8.

Finally, the Vancouver Chinatown Night Market, which is located between Main and Columbia Streets, will also open May 18. This is the 17th year that the Vancouver Chinatown Merchants Association has organized this night market, which features street food stands and merchants selling clothes, Chinese CDs and DVDs, and artistic handicrafts. The night market also features several unique performances, including Chinese opera, a youth talent showcase, lion dances, kung-fu demonstrations, and karaoke nights. The Vancouver Chinatown Night Market opens Fridays to Sundays from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. until September 9.

You can follow Michelle da Silva on Twitter at twitter.com/michdas.