Supreme paradise

Over the years Thailand has truly developed into a world-class destination for shoppers. Whether it is a gleaming mall packed with designer labels or a relaxed stroll through a vibrant market full of exotic goods, colorful textiles and handmade jewellery, then Thailand has everything to suit the tastes of the most discerning shop-a-holic or bargain hunter. For dedicated shoppers, a standard complaint is having too little baggage allowance for all their wonderful purchases!

Shopping Galore

There is really nothing like Thailand. You can shop at packed craft and souvenir markets; pick up your new suit, gown, and a pair of glasses or contact lenses; find some of the world’s finest jewellery or designer clothing; grasp for fisherman’s trousers, backpacks, suitcases or even IT appliances; and bring back home few packs of semi-cooking Tom Yam Soup and Thai sweets to share with your friends and family.

A fun filled shopping day

Bangkok is ideal for all kinds of shopping. It is not limited to one or two places, but offers high-end mega malls, chic department stores, boutiques, local specialist shops, and more traditional markets. A real fun filled shopping day starts at Siam shopping strip with ultra-modern shopping centers such as Siam Discovery, Gaysorn Plaza, Siam Paragon and Central World Plaza. These trendy complexes are unrivalled in Southeast Asia for luxury brands including Burberry, Chanel, Gucci, Prada, Coach, Versace, Louis Vuitton and Rolex and provide endless hours of potential shopping and entertainment. There are also retail spaces, restaurants, cinemas, groceries, pharmacies, wellness and beauty centers and even an aquarium.

Take a cappuccino break at one of the trendy cafes in the area before continuing shopping at Siam Square where you will find piles of leather products, handbags, jeans and sexy shirts in every color of the rainbow as well as bookstores, music and video stores. Here, treat yourself with local favorites from the food stalls such as meatballs, grilled squid and fried banana.

Across the pedestrian bridge, MBK is an enormous seven-storey mall blessing to both shoppers on a tight budget and those with money to burn. You will find almost everything from clothing, fashion accessories, handbags, leather products and luggage to furniture, mobile phones, electric appliances, cameras, stationary and more. Then explore the city’s garment district at Pratunam located few blocks north of the strip. The area boasts a numbers of malls and tons of street stalls with great deals on cloths, shoes, beachwear, handbags, sunglasses, hand-made jewellery as well as Thai silk, handicrafts and affordable souvenirs. Few blocks down the road is Pantip Plaza (IT Mall) where a wide variety of IT products are packed from floor to ceiling.

With so many options in a day the best thing to do is to plan your own consumer excursion. Always budget some extra time for “discoveries”. Half of the thrill is discovering a new shop, seeing the perfect gift for someone special, or just buying yourself a little reward to cap off that perfect fun filled day.

Bazaar shopping

For a taste and an eyeful of Bangkok’s thriving bazaars, the Chatuchak Weekend Market, is the biggest and best. With more than 15,000 individual stalls sprawling across 35 acres, the market contains goods ranging from locally made handicrafts such as bamboo mats, lamps and other household accessories to religious artifacts, cool clothes, art, antiques, pets and plants. To get the most out of a Chatuchak Weekend Market experience, head there early in the morning when the weather is a bit cooler and the crowds a lot lighter.

For a less chaotic market, Suan Lum Night Bazaar is Bangkok’s equivalent of an all-inclusive entertainment and shopping plaza. This outdoor market is packed with 3,700 shops selling gift items, ceramics, silk clothing, home décor, and more. There are also a few stalls featuring stylish and originally designed dresses, handbags, jewellery made from precious stones and refitted denim items. Visit numerous restaurants offering Chinese, Thai and grilled seafood dishes, and enjoy a traditional puppet show at Joe Louis Theatre.

During daylight hours, the streets around Silom are bustling with office workers. This is Bangkok’s answer to Wall Street. However, at night Silom Road including the infamous Patpong Night Bazaar comes alive with street stalls selling handbags, silk dressing gowns, souvenir T-shirts, wooden candle holders, satiny silk pillow covers, twinkling fairy lights, sandstone carvings, beaded jewellery, fancy watches, leather goods, luggage, Thai-style tapestries and all sorts of curios.

One stop shopping for traditional handicraft

Narai Phand, owned by the Royal Thai Government, is the splendid place for any classic buys with largest selection of Thai handicrafts in Thailand under one roof. Situated right at the heart of Bangkok’s famous ‘Shopping Strip’, Narai Phand offers over a vast selection of some 2,000 items in Thai Silk, cotton, Bencharong porcelain, ceramics, silver, brass and bronzeware, Thai dolls, products made from hyacinth, terracotta, mother-of-pearl inlay, wood carvings, basketry and much more.

Out of Bangkok

Whether you are in the big city, up in the North, or down by the beach, Thailand truly offers unique shopping experience. Chiang Mai, one of Asia’s most notable handicraft centers, has a huge range of crafted goods at friendly prices. Silk, silver, rattan, ceramics, interior décor, antiques, Buddhist art, lacquerware, nielloware – the option are endless. Shopping routes include San Kamphaeng for cotton and silk products, Bo Sang village for umbrellas, Wua Lai Road for silverware and Ban Thawai village for furniture and woodcarving products. For fast and fun shopping, visit the Chiang Mai night bazaar.

Souvenir and craft shopping opportunities abound in the South. Phuket, Thailand’s top seaside destinations, has tourist-oriented markets everywhere. Cultivated pearls, batiks, pewter ware and tailor-made clothing are Phuket’s best known buys. Phuket town, an old trading center, also has the best handicrafts and antique selections. Hat Yai, an important gateway to Malaysia and Singapore, offers various goods ranging from fresh produce to consumer products such as electrical appliances. Major commercial shops are along the Niphat Uthit Road while shopping centers available include Lido Shopping Center, Odeon Shopping Center, Sanehanuson, Hat Yai Plaza Shopping Center, and Si Kimyong Market on Phetkasem Road.

Shipping

Most Thailand shops are experienced at shipping overseas and will attend to all necessary documentation such as insurance, customs and permits.

Shipping Tip

Bear in mind that while fixed prices are the norm in department stores and some of Bangkok’s larger shops, bargaining is not only acceptable but also expected at most other places. There are no hard-and-fast rules for bargaining, but patience and a broad smile will serve you well in enjoying shopping as an art.

VAT Refund

Visitors to Thailand are entitled to a Value Added Tax (VAT) refund on items bought within 60 days of departure from a store displaying the VAT refund sign. Each eligible item must be at least 2,000 baht. The total purchase sum on which a refund is claimed must not be less than 5,000 baht. At time of purchase, ask the clerk to fill out the VAT form so you can present it at departure.