Shopping in Thailand

Bangkok in Thailand is one of the top shopping destinations in Asia. It has everything from haut couture shopping malls with the world's top designer names and luxury goods, smaller department stores and shops to simple street markets, some huge, some small all selling cheap and cheerful souvenirs.

Favourite purchases include silks and cottons, leather goods, silver and gold, precious and semiprecious stones, pearls, masks, painted umbrellas, lacquer and pewter ware, bamboo and wood artefacts.

Chatuchuk market in Bangkok is one of the largest in the world and at the weekend can have up to 1500 stalls attracting up to 300,000 visitors in a day. The market sells everything sellable including household items, clothing, Thai handicrafts, religious artefacts, food, and even live animals. Hard bargaining is essential here, but remember to do so with a smile.

Another favourite shopping area in Bangkok is the China Town in Yaowarat Road. This old business district is home to countless shops selling all types of goods. Si Lom road in Bang Rak district is also popular.

Among the shopping plazas of Bangkok is the MBK Center, an enormous 8-storey marble mall and one of the largest in Asia. It has over 2,000 stores and 150 restaurants. Another is Thailand's first luxury fashion and lifestyle complex, The Emporium which has a department store with all the international brands such as such as Cartier, Chanel, Hermés alongside several jewellery shops, a gourmet food market and a selection of cafés and restaurants, beauty salons etc. The Emporium is on Sukhumvit Road.

Top billing, though, goes to the Siam Paragon, one of the biggest shopping centres in Asia. With 300,000 square meters dedicated to department stores with all the top world brands, a gourmet market, top international and Thai restaurants, theatre, 14 screen cinema, fitness centre and hotel, this plaza caters for every need. And if you feel the sudden need to buy a Ferrari or a Porsche when you're out shopping, this is the place!

Thailand's second city, Changmai, can't boast the international shopping of Bangkok but you didn't come to Thailand to buy what you could buy at home. The place for souvenir shopping in Chang Mai is the Night Market. Here you can find almost everything you could think of including clothes, Thai silk, handicrafts, watches, video games, spices, souvenirs, art, jewellery, silver, antiques and much more. Prices are generally low (if you bargain). The Night Market is centred on the junction of Chang Khlan Road and Loi Khro Road.

For slightly higher quality Thai artefacts and clothing albeit at slightly higher prices try the Viang Ping Night Bazaar, near Tha Phae Road.  For even higher end shops and goods, Riverside is the place to go. The area offers good quality silk, textiles, and artworks.

On the islands and beach resorts, there is less choice than in the main cities, but here too, there is a selection of Thai handicrafts, clothing and other souvenirs. In Phuket there is even a copy of Bangkok's famous Chatuchak market known as Chatuchak Phuket. It is open every weekend Phang Nga Rd.

Koh Samui also has many opportunities for souvenir shopping right by the beaches although it is worth taking a trip into the administrative centre, Nathon where the locals do their shopping. But the best place is probably in Chaweng along the 6km Beach Road with its areas for beachwear, jewellery, sports shops, and clothes shops. Remember that many of the shops here do not open until noon or later.