Thailand is a paradise for shoppers. It doesn’t matter what type of a shopper you are, there is something for everyone to shop here. Browsing through local and branded items and soaking in the vide of street markets can be an amazing experience and when it comes to Thailand, there are several places you should check out.
I have listed some of the best tips for shopping in Thailand, so you can make the best of your trip.
Thailand shopping – Where to go and what to buy in Thailand
- Shopping malls – Experience true city shopping
- Chatuchak Market – A very unique weekend shopping market
- Rod Fai Train Night market – From pricey antiques to low price accessories
- Floating market – Move from boat to boat for local delicacies
- Siam square – For boutique stores and international brands
- Chinatown – For hawkers selling everything under the moon
- Big C supercenter – For grocery shopping like a local
Indulge in the city shopping experience at some of the best malls
In a city like Bangkok, which is full of malls and shopping complexes, how do you decide which one to go for?
The answer is simple. Start with the MBK centre, the largest, the biggest and the trendiest shopping mall in Thailand.
The second mall on your list should be the Central World Mall. It is your ticket to some classy shopping at a price that you would want to steal the mall.
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Enjoy the ultimate weekend shopping experience at Chatuchak market
Chatuchak market offers you the ultimate weekend shopping experience that you can have, and it should be on the top of the shopping list, for each and everyone who is stopping by Bangkok while visiting Thailand.
From vinyl records to shirts and beads to armour suits, from Buddha images to paintings and clothes to accessories—you will find anything you’re looking for and a lot more.
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Shop til you drop at the Rod Fai Train Night Market
Located in Srinakarin Soi 51, the Rod Fai Market is one of the trendiest places to shop in Bangkok. The place is separated into zones, such as “Market Zone” and “Warehouse Zone” where rows of tents are lined up selling modern apparel and accessories at low prices. The highlight zone would be “Rod’s Antiques”, a treasure trove of pricey antiques from any category you can think of.
What makes Rod Fai Market worthy of the journey through bad traffic (especially on weekends) is that unlike other night markets in the city, the place is swarming with hipster cafes, chic bars, vintage stores and local snack stands – all in one place and remains open till 1 am on Thursdays through Sundays.
READ MORE: An expert guide to Thailand nightlife
Floating Market: Enjoy local food as you shop alongside the river
This market is unique to the culture of Thailand allowing people to experience riverside shopping. Longtail boats in Bangkok’s floating markets are piled with fruits and vegetables, ready-to-drink coconut juice as well as scrumptious local food cooked on the boat, giving a unique Thai experience while you shop along and grab some local delicacies.
READ MORE: Thailand food – Exploring the flavoursome tastes of Thai cuisine
Shop from international brands and boutique stores at the posh Siam Square
At Siam Square, you might end up buying things you don’t need but want! However, this is not a cheap marketplace but if you are ready to lighten your pockets, Siam Square will leave you with a memorable shopping experience in Thailand and will be worth the money!
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Immerse yourself in some fun hawker shopping at Chinatown of Bangkok
Sampeng Lane is the Chinatown of Bangkok. A shophouse–lined backstreet or a crowded space jam-packed with hawkers selling everything under the moon. It’s like the gold mine of hawker shopping where you can find silk sarongs, jewellery, women’s shoes, home décor appliances, toys, handicrafts and dried food. It’s like a vintage street that you may find in Martin Scorsese films of the 1980s.
Cheap street food is another reason why you should explore this market. The Yaowarat Road has some of the best lip-smacking dishes like – moo ping, kanom buang, mango sticky rice and spring rolls.
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Fill your grocery basket to the brim at Big C Supercenter
Bangkok would not be a shoppers’ paradise if even their supermarkets weren’t an attraction. Their Ratchadamri outlet is just a stone’s throw away from most of the centrally-located hotels in the city. The hypermarket, Big C, takes up the second and third floor.
Here, you will find a wide range of grocery items, including fresh produce, local spices and snacks at discounted rates. One of the things that most tourists leave with are bags of instant noodles from Thai brands.
Besides the hypermart, you can find an array of shops and restaurants throughout the mall.
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Now that you know where to go shopping, let me indulge you in a list of what to buy in Thailand. From Thailand souvenirs to all the things to buy in Thailand during your trip:
- Thai Silk
- Spa and Aroma products
- Thai Handicrafts
- Elephant designed souvenirs
- Coconut oil products
- Fruit soap
- Snake brand powder
- Tiger Balm
- Coffee Products
- Chewy milk Candy
- Instant Noodles
- Seaweed
Shopping in Thailand can be a wholesome experience where you not only get to buy fun souvenirs and gifts but also get opportunities to explore local cuisines and art.
From handicraft stalls to big shopping malls and hawker stalls to riverside shops, Thailand has a lot to offer. Happy holidays and happy shopping!
Don’t miss out on our Ultimate Thailand Travel Guide for
everything you need to know when planning your trip to Thailand
so you can make the most of your time in the Land of Smiles!
