Travel Guide -Thailand.com

Over the years the Thai capital has truly developed  into a world-class city for shoppers. Whether it’s a gleaming mall packed with designer labels or a relaxed stroll through a vibrant market full of exotic goods, colourful textiles and handmade jewellery, then Bangkok has everything to suit the tastes of the most discerning shop-a-holic or bargain-hunter.

Astonishing  antiques,  sumptuous  handicrafts,  local fashion  labels, and home furnishings galore are all within walking  distance of  each other in  different shopping areas scattered all over the city. And you can take your pick of where to pick them up

Ultra-modern  shopping  centres  such  as  Siam  Discovery,  Gaysorn  Plaza  and  the newly erected Siam Paragon, are all located on the city’s “shopping strip” in Siam. The area is conveniently located in the heart of the city, clustered around the Siam BTS (or Skytrain) Station, and provides endless hours of potential shopping and entertainment; exhausted consumers can also take a cappuccino break at one of the trendy cafes in the area or take in a movie at one of the state-of-the-art cinemas. This multifaceted area is also renowned for its maze of stalls (overflowing with trendy clothes and shoes), which are highly popular with Thai teenagers and university students.

Around  the  corner  is  the  newly  renovated  Central  World  Plaza  and  further  on, another new addition to the Thai shopping scene, the Platinum Mall, located in the city’s garment district. Just down the road is Pantip Plaza, seven floors of one-stop shopping for all your electronic and computer needs.

For a taste and an eyeful of Bangkok’s thriving bazaars, the Chatuchak Weekend Market, in the north of the city, is the biggest and best. From home decorations and elegant artworks to exquisitely Thai handicrafts and exotic pets, you’ll find them here.
Along Silom Road and in the nearby Suan Lum Night Bazaar are teeming street markets. On Silom, and down Patpong Road, shoppers are spoiled for choice: flashy clothes, fancy watches, sandstone carvings of Hindu deities, trainers and luggage. Don’t be afraid to ask for discounts, as bargaining is all part of the game of shopping in Thailand. Both of these shopping strips are easily reached via the skytrain or the MRT subway.

Further away from the city centre is the historic Chinatown, known for its vast array of street delicacies. It’s also a treasure trove for electronic goods, gold jewellery and Chinese-style arts and crafts. Nearby is Pahurat, or Little India, which is the largest textile market in the country. Locals, tourists and tailors all flock here to purchase a bedazzling array of fabrics for the home or to be tailor-made into any kind of garment.

Khaosan  Road,  immortalized  in  The  Beach  as  ground  zero  for  backpackers  in Southeast Asia, is still awash with youthful exuberance, but it’s gone upscale in recent years. This is good news for shoppers and clubbers. In addition to the usual ensemble  of  fishermen’s  trousers,  hair  extensions,  backpacks  and  sterling  silver jewellery, the street now comes complete with a shopping complex called Buddy Village, and outlets for Boots, Burger King and McDonald’s.  With so many shopping options in Bangkok the best thing to do is to read over these sections and plan your own consumer excursion. But always budget some extra time for ‘discoveries.’ After all, half the thrill of shopping is discovering a new shop you’d never heard about, seeing the perfect gift for that special someone, or just buying yourself a little reward to cap off that perfect holiday.