Chatuchak Market has been open for more than 60 years since 1942.[2] In 1948, when Jompol Por Pibulsongkraam was prime minister, he had a policy in which every province was required to have their own market. Bangkok chose Sanam Luang to be held as the market. After a few months, the government had to move the market to Sanam Chai, but finally the market moved back to Sanam Luang in 1958. Later in 1978, the government used Sanam Luang as a recreational area, so the State Railway of Thailand donated the land on the south side of Chatuchak Park to establish as a market. By 1983, all of the merchants had moved to Chatuchak. At that time the market was called Phahonyothin Market. In 1987, the name of the market was changed to "Chatuchak Market".".