Thailand has become one of Southeast
Asia's most popular shopping centres. You find not only
Thailand's well-known host of unique handicrafts, but also
a superb choice of luxury buys. All items are distinguished
by fine Thai workmanship and of modern technological skills.
Like most big cities, there are two main types
of shopping places in Bangkok. One is markets, and the other,
shopping centres & department stores. Foreign shoppers who
would like to touch the atmosphere of Thai-style market, seek
for low-priced goods or love to bargain should go to markets.
Prices in some shops and stalls in shopping centres can also
be bargained, but not as much as in markets.
Shopping Centres & Department
Stores
Bangkok has quite a number of good quality department
store and superstore chains such as Central and Robinson.
They have many branches located around Bangkok and other
big cities. The following are some leading shopping centres
grouped into areas.
Pratunam-Phetchaburi A highlight in the district
is Pratunam market, one of Bangkoks biggest centres for ready-to-wear
clothing.
Baiyoke Tower Located next to Bangkoks
tallest hotel building, Baiyoke tower is one of the citys
renowned garment centres.
Bo-bae Market Situated close to Bangkok
Railway Station, Bo-be is one of the cities renowned ready-to-wear
clothing centres, both wholesale and retail.
Flower Market Pak Khlong Talat This is a wholesale market for all
kinds of cut flowers and vegetables. It is located on Maharat
Road near the Memorial Bridge. The market is crowded in the
early morning and in the evening.
Night Markets
Silom-Surawong-Patpong Silom Road is
the main artery of Bangkoks commercial heart and is paralleled
by Surawong Road, while Patpong runs crosswise between the
two. In addition to housing dozens of specialist shops and
boutiques representing all the major buys, this area also
boasts many branches of well-known retailers and several shopping
plazas. Street stalls also abound, most notably at Patpong
famous Night Market.
Recommended Markets
Chinatown Centre on Yaowarat Road and
Sampheng Lane, Bangkoks Chinatown offers a profusion of gold
shops as well as several nearby traditional shopping places
such as Ban Mo Jewellery Street, Phahurat Cloth Market and
the Old Siam Plaza.
Jatujak or Chatuchak Weekend Market
Located adjacent to Chatuchak Park, the weekend market, open
on Saturday and Sunday, is a Bangkok landmark where you can
buy just about everything from clothing to potted plants and
everything in between a paradise for browsers and bargain-hunters
alike. The market also offers items of furniture and home
decor. It is also where professional and amateur art-lovers
and artists meet.
Banglamphu Situated close to the Grand
Palace, Banglamphu has a lively market where clothing is a
popular buy.
Department
Stores
Ploenchit-Ratchaprasong Top department stores and luxury shopping
malls are concentrated in the area, namely Central, Sogo,
Gaysorn Plaza, Isetan, Zen, Amarin Plaza, Peninsula Plaza,
all of which together make the largest shopping promenade
in Bangkok. Furthermore, the World Trade Centre and Narayana
Phand Pavilion, host the official handicraft centre selling
items from all parts of the country. Ratchaprasong intersection
is the gateway to several shopping areas such as Phloenchit-Sukhumvit,
Siam Square - Mah Boon Krong (MBK), Silom and Pratunam-Phetchaburi.
Silom-Mahesak-Charoenkrung Road Silom leads into Charoenkrung
Road which parallels the Chao Phraya River, and notable shopping
opportunities include gems and jewellery stores (Mahesak Road
is a gem trading centre), Oriental Plaza and River City shopping
complex.
Sukhumvit, like Silom, is one of Bangkoks main thoroughfares,
and the long road is lined with shops, boutiques and modern
shopping plazas ranging from Soi 3 (Nana Nua) up to Soi 63
(Ekkamai). Most shops and restaurants are concentrated between
Soi 3 and soi 21 (Asok) and along shortcuts between Asok and
Ekkamai.
Apart from markets and shopping centres, Bangkok
has many shopping streets where you can buy anything
from clothes, souvenirs, leather goods, watches
and jewellery to all kinds of antiques and electrical
goods. Generally, you can make a bargain of about
10-30% of the marked price. Some well-known shopping
streets frequented by Thai and foreign shoppers
alike are Sukhumwit, Siam Square, Ratchadamri, Silom,
especially in Soi Lalai Sap and Patpong Road, and
Ramkhamhaeng.
Markets
There are lots of markets in Bangkok, but the most
well-known and interesting, especially to foreigners,
are the following:
Silom Complex
This six-storey building consists of Central Department
Store, clothing shops and restaurants. Thaniya Plaza
A smaller and less busy place.
This area abounds with many modern department
stores and shopping centres including Amarin
Plaza, Gaysorn Plaza and Times Square. Other
leading ones are:
Central
World Plaza (formerly World Trade Center) A huge shopping
and entertainment complex.
Narayana Phand
Located opposite Central World Plaza (formerly World
Trade Center), this is a handicraft centre, under government
supervision.
Peninsula Plaza
contains some brand-name clothes shops, top local designer
shops and restaurants.
The lanes in this area are lined with
shops and stalls selling clothes, books and antiques.
Besides, there are three favourite shopping centres
of the young and young at heart.
Siam Center
features various designer label clothing shops as well
as coffee shops, fast food shops and more.
Siam Discovery
Center, the newest in this area, contains more
designer stores.
Mahboonkrong (MBK
center), this market-style shopping centre is
packed with stalls selling everything from clothing
and leather goods to cosmetics, gift items, electrical
equipment, furniture and travel and camping equipment.
This place is popular for its wide variety of products
with inexpensive prices.
River
City Shopping Center is
located near Royal Orchid Sheraton, off
Charoen Krung and Si Phraya roads. It is
well known for its high quality art and
antique shops. Auction sales of antiques
are held occasionally at its exhibition
hall.
Buses : 1, 16, 35, 36,
75, 93
The
Oriental Place Shopping Arcade
at Charoen Krung 38 near The Oriental Hotel
boasts of being one of Bangkok's finest
antiques centres, offering a wide variety
of shopping items for the buyers of all
interests.
Buses : 1, 16, 35, 36,
75, 93
The
Old Siam Plaza Located in
the Chinatown-Phahurat area, this old Bangkok-style
shopping centre has numerous shops selling
guns, gems and jewellery, Thai handicrafts
and stalls selling Thai food, sweets and
snacks.
Buses : 3, 6, 7, 10, 19,
21, 37, 40, 53
The
Emporium This modern shopping
complex on Sukhumwit Road contains brand-name
clothing and other shops like most shopping
centres.
Buses : 2, 25, 38, 40,
48, 71, 98
Seacon
Square Located on Si Nakharin
Road in the southeast of Bangkok, this gigantic
shopping centre attracts thousands of suburban
people on weekends. It has all types of
shops.
This is the biggest and most popular
weekend market located on Phahonyothin Road in
the north of Bangkok.
Thousands of people come here on
weekends to view and buy many kinds of goods ranging
from clothes to handicrafts, from garden plants
to pets, from utensils to antiques. For shopping
lovers, this is one of the best places to try
out your bargaining skills. The main part of the
Weekend Market is open on Saturdays and Sundays
from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. It can be reached by:
Buses : 3, 8, 28, 38, 39, 44,
59, 77, 134, 136, 138, 145 Metro (MRT) : to Kamphaengphet
Station Skytrain (BTS) : to Mo Chit Station
Located on the intersection of Phetburi
and Ratchaprarop roads, this vast bazaar is packed
with countless stalls and peddlers selling numerous
kinds of goods. By the way, it is an ideal place
to buy fabrics and ready-to-wear clothes at low
prices.
Apart from hundreds of guesthouses,
this area is a popular market for both Thai and
foreign tourists. Some good buys are ready-made
clothes, handbags, men's and ladies' shoes, cosmetics
and curios.
Buses : 3, 6, 15, 19, 30, 32, 33, 43,
56, 64, 68, 82
This is an old business centre covering
a large area around Yaowarat Road and the nearby
section of Charoen Krung Road. There are many
small side streets full of shops and stalls selling
all types of goods including household wares and
Chinese foodstuffs. Yaowarat Road is also a centre
of gold shops which attract both Thai and foreign
customers for their large selections and excellent
workmanship.
