Thailand is a paradise for shoppers. Regular visitors to knoui that, in manq uiaqs. Bangkok beats Hong Kong and Singapore for deals in terms of handicrafts, textiles, gems, jewellery. art and antiques. Nowhere else will you find the same selection, qualitq and prices.
Fixed prices are the norm in department stores. but at most other places bargaining is a common practice and prices may be reduced by as much as thirty percent. Courtesy at all times is appreciated.
Shopping in Thailand is an adventure in itself. Frommodern department stores and shoppi ng plazas, to flea markets and road-side stalls where bargaining is obligatory, even visitors with the greatest will-power will no doubt find something to their liking.
Shopping streets Bangkok has many shopping streets, where you can buy just about anything from clothes, souvenirs, all kinds of antiques and electrical goods. Generally you can obtain a final figure ten-to-thirty percent lower than the original asking price. Much depends upon
your skills and the shopkeeper's mood. With patience, and a broad smile, you will not only get a better price, you'll also come to recognize shopping in Bangkok as an art-form!Here is a selection of the many shopping
streets visitors can enjoy :
 Patpong Night Market (Patpong Road)
Apart from the colourful night life, where an amazing variety of bars, clubs, discotheques and other exotic venues exist, there is a pulsating night market to attract all-night revellers. This is where you can buy clothing and souvenirs of all kinds. Patpong's lively night market spills over on to Silom Road in one of the city's main commercial districts.
 Soi "Lalai Sap"
This is one of Bangkok's most popular lunch-time shopping areas, located next to the Bangkok Bank headquarters on Silom Road. Starting just before noon, and closing not long after lunch breaks on weekdays only, the market is packed with office workers who shop for clothing, leather goods, food, gifts and knickknacks. It is almost impossible to walk through the tiny alley (hout Aiding 5 ,me money, lice the n tine "Soi I hlai Sap."
 Siam Square (Rama I Road)
This area is brimmmg with restaurants, including the trendy Hard Rock Cafe; cinemas, book shops and specialty store. There is also a street market selling clothes and accessones. This area is most frequented by
teenagers.
 Siam Paragon
Siam Paragon operates since December 2005. It is a quite large shopping complex conveniently located at the Siam Square main skytrain (BTS) station. We go there about once a week, so the review of Siam Paragon featured below, is based on our day-to-day experience of visiting and shopping there.
Getting a full overview of Siam Paragon is rather difficult, since any view is obstructed by the awful skytrain pillars in front of the building. The entrance at street level brings you into the food court and within easy access to the Gourmet Supermarket. More convenient is the wide connection (really spacious) with the skytrain station. To move about the large shopping complex, you will find escalators in front of you. Walking about 100 meters in a rightward direction (follow the arrows) brings you to the elevators.
 Pratunam
Located on the intersection of Phetchaburi and Ratchadamri roads, this vast bazaar is jam-packed with stalls and countless peddlers which attract large crowds. This is where you can buy fabrics and ready-to-wear fashions. Also of interest here are open-air restaurants, a shopping complex and the soaring Baiyoke II Tower, the tallest apartment building in Southeast Asia.
Hotels In Pratunam Grand Watergate Hotel
 Bang Lamphu
A shopping area once frequented solely by local people and now a popular place for tourists. This area offers various inexpensive items, especially ready-made clothes, handbags, men's and ladies' shoes, cosmetics and curios. Bargaining is recommended.
Hotels In Bang Lamphu Villa Cha-Cha
 Lang Krasuang and Woeng Nakhon KasemFor moderately priced, second-hand goods, no other place is better suited than these two markets in Bangkok. The first is Lang Krasuang which is on Atsadang Road. The other is Woeng Nakhon Kasem, located around some of the smaller alleys off New Road, near Chinatown. Visitors will get a better bargain by taking along a Thai friend to haggle over prices! Both markets have goods from pawn shops; musical instruments, electrical goods, uniforms and camping equipment.
Khlong Thorn
Located near Chinatown, in the area around Mahachak Road and Soi Chong Charoen Phanit, this market specialises in hardware such as wire-cutters, screwdrivers, and other kinds of tools. This area also features a market
selling all kinds of antiques and electrical goods.
 Department Stores
Bangkok has a number of good quality department store (rains such as Central Department Store, Robinson, The Mall, lhai Daimaru, and Isetan. These are usually located in major shopping plazas or mega-malls dotted around the city.
Bangkok's top shoppers tend to frequent the following:
Peinsula Plaza(Rachadamri Road)
Imported brand name, jewellery, local fashion designers, gounmet shops.
World Trade Centre
(Rachaprasong Intersection) Mega mall re the yuong and
trendy hang Zen and Isetan Department stores, restaurants, cil (tlas, ice skating rink, Thandland Duty Free Shop.
Narayana Phand
(Ratchadamri Road, opposite World Trade Centre) This is a handicraft cc itre, under government su 'ervision. Visitors may ill Peet and buy selections of handicrafts from all parts of the country. Items available include Thai silk, ceramics, wood carvings, lacquerware, bronze objects and Khon masks. The store is open daily from 10:00 until 20:00 hours.
Gaysorn Plaza
(Ploenchit Road) Imported brand name clothing, trendy restaurants, imported household furnishings.
 Ma Bun Khrong Shopping Centre (MBK)
For those shoppers who enjoy a market-style atmosphere, in air-conditioned comfort, Ma Bun Khrong is the place to go. Located on the corner of Phayathai and Rama I Road, it is packed with stalls selling everything from clothing and leather goods to electrical equipment, furniture, cosmetics, and general gin items.
 Siam Centre
Located on Rama I Road Featuring mainly trendy fashions fill' the young and young-at-heart.
The Galleria Plaza
Shopping mall specialising in gems and jewellery. Located on Silom Road.
 The Emporium
The ultimate shopping complex, located on Sukhumvit Road between Sukhumvit 24 and the Benchasiri Park. Imported brand name clothing auctions. Most prices are negotiable. Another Thailand Duty Free Shop is located here. The shopping centre is next to the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel.
 Seacon Square
Located on Srinagarindra Road, this is a mega mall that draws crowds or suburban Bangkokians each weekend. It has everything for the whole family, including shops, cinemas, amusement park, wholesale supermarket, and restaurants.
 Duty Free Shop
Thailand Duty Free Shop is lie only government-operated, downtown duty free shop in Thailand. Located on the 7th floor of the World Trade Centre, Ratchadamri Road, it is everyday from 11:00 until 21:30 hours. Featuring a wide ge of quality products, Thailand Duty Free Shop enables tourists, and those going overseas, to choose their purchases at leisure, pay for them and then collect them later at the airport prior to departure.
 Floating Market
Despite the emer.gence of the ubiquitous farm pick-ups, paddv farmers and orchard gardners still continue to meet and barter their products still cotiding spots on the age-old canals (Khlongs). Earlye every morning, sampans laden with all kinds of tropical fruits and vegetables and fresh products, wend their way to the floatmg markets around Bangkok. There is one particular floating market in Bangkok that visitors can enjoy: Taling Chan Floating Market is a weekend market in front of Taling Chan District Office, open from 09:00 to 17:00 hours. Boat trip services are available for sight-seemg along the canal where gardens and a village lifestyle are still to be seen. The market is also accessible by bus No. 79 and 83 which pass nearby. Contact Taling Chan District Office on telephone 424-1742 for more information.
 Flower and Plant Markets
Plant lovers are recommended to visit the following markets:
1. Pak Khlong Talat: literally meaning "a market by the mouth of the canal", is the collective name for five adjacent markets, which have altogether been transformed to become the biggest and most important wholesale market and distribution centre for vegetables, flowers and fruits. It is located on Malta Rat Road near the Memorial Bridge.
2. Talat Thewet: This can be found off Sam Sen Road, on Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem Bank. It is a riot of colour which will delight enthusiasts of exotic plants and flowers. It has very large selections of plants suitable for the garden, the verandah and indoors
3. Suan Chatuchak: This is Bangkok's newest and largest plant market and is located on Phahonyothin Road.
The area consists of rows of small shops offering a variety of decorative potted plants. There are many species of orchids available.
 Chatuchak Weekend Market
This is a large open public ground covering approximately 35 acres bus on Phahonyothin Road. Known as Suan Chatuchak, it hosts the popular " Weekend Market"where people buy and sell a thousand local products. Items range from exotic fresh fruits, vegetables, handicrafts, paintings, ceramics, dress materials, furniture, toys, domestic utensils and pets. There is a particularly fine section for plants. Chatuchak Weekend Market is next to Bangkok's Chatuchak Public Park on Pahonvothin Road, the most popular promenade ground for Bangkok's working class. It is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 07:00 to 18:00
 China Town
Bangkok's China Town is an old business centre covering a large area around Yaowarat Road and Charoen Krung Road (New Road). There are many small streets and alleys full of shops selling all types of goods including wholesale items such as household goods, stationery, and toys. The area is always lively, and market stalls abound. There is a profusion of gold shops as well as traditional Chinese foodstuffs and restaurants.
 Bo Be Market (Krung Kascm Road)
This is a wholesale clothing market where everything is sold by the dozen. At its busiest in the morning, the market is nevertheless active throughout the day.
Penang Market
Located in the Khlong Toei market area under the expressway, Penang Market offers good value electrical equipment, bedding, clothing, and foreign foodstuffs. |
