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Shopping is undoubtedly one of Bangkok's major attractions. With
so much available in so many different areas, it's good to know
what is on offer and where. From bustling open-air food markets
and colourful, noisy night markets; or little shops and street stalls
selling inexpensive, leisure and sportswear and all manner of souvenirs;
to western style department stores, which make it easy for visitors
to find the essentials, and up-market boutique shopping offering
the best of Thailand, Asia and Europe, Bangkok has all this and
absolutely everything in between.
Thai Crafts
 Not
surprisingly, in Bangkok you can find an astonishing variety of
Thai handicrafts, many of which are created by craftsmen all over
the country whose skills have been handed down for generations.
Others are produced in factories in Bangkok using the latest
in advanced technology and quality control.
Bronzeware
 Thailand's
high-quality bronzeware has long been a favorite item for visitors.
Produced by traditional techniques with a number of modern innovations
like a silicon coat to prevent tarnishing, this craft is used
to make bowls and high quality cutlery, guaranteed to provoke
admiration at a dinner party back home.
Ceramics
Thailand's distinctive Celadon style ceramics in Jade green, dark
green, brown or cobalt blue, make great presents. You can find
them in boutiques, specialty stores, handicraft outlets and department
stores throughout the city. Also popular as gift items are the
beautiful Bencharong, the richly coloured porcelain pots with
their origins in 16th-century Chinese art.
A number of shops offer these items for sale at various prices
according to size and perceived value. At quasi-antique stores,
you can also find a selection of Sawankhaloke brown pottery, and
blue-and-white Chinese porcelain including pots, lamp bases, household
items and figurines. Also available are locally produced and imported
glazed garden pots and lotus tubs - ranging in price and size
- shipping can usually be arranged at a price. Check out the weekend
markets at Chatuchak for all such items.
Textiles
Cotton - Thai cotton products are known for their supple texture,
durability and beautiful colours. A specialty of the North of
Thailand, a broad a range of clothing and household items can
be found for sale all over Bangkok. Broad weave cotton shirts,
pants and skirts are the perfect antidote to hot weather, and
often breathe better than closely woven, fine silk. Tablecloths,
napkins and cushion covers in natural, modern colours make wonderful
and inexpensive gifts. Check out the night markets, weekend markets,
and at specialty Thai craft stores such as Narayana Phand.
Silk
 On
the top of the best buy list in Thailand, is Thai silk, sold in
most colours, in bolts of various widths, lengths and thicknesses,
or as ready-made products. Shirts, blouses, scarves and neckties,
bathrobes and kimonos, men's suits and ladies silk jackets, bedcovers
and furnishings etc., Prices and quality do vary greatly, but
generally, good quality silk is easily found at specialty stores
and tailor shops around the city.
At the night and weekend markets, mass produced squares of woven
silk similar in size to a sarong, are sold by street vendors at
very cheap prices. Although they are not the best quality, they
make great gifts. Also available at most markets are imported
Chinese silk items.
Tailor-made
 Tailor
shops offer a wide range of fabrics and will make clothes copied
from patterns in magazines, in a matter of hours, although often
better results can be gained if you take a sample to copy from.
Usually 1 or 2 fittings are required to get the finer details
right. Many of the bigger hotels have a reliable, good quality
service on the premises for tailor made clothes.
Cheaper alternatives can be found almost everywhere, but it is
difficult to guarantee quality so beware!
Furniture
 Wonderful
antique and contemporary handcrafted furniture from Thailand is
available in shops throughout major tourist areas. Cabinets, tables,
dining room, bedroom and outdoor settings and fittings can also
be made to order in a variety of woods, including teak, rosewood
and bamboo.
Prices vary as does workmanship, but great bargains are there
to be had if you take some time to compare what's available.
Gems, Gold and Jewelry
 Thailand
is a leading producer of sapphires and the world's largest cutter
of colored stones. Quality items are available at competitive
prices, however unless you are knowledgeable about stones, care
must be taken to shop at reputable specialist stores that will
issue certificates of authenticity. The Tourism Authority of Thailand
issues frequent warnings about gemstone shops that dupe customers
into buying worthless stones for large sums of money. Thai artisans
can also craft jewelry to suit international tastes, with prices
set according to the amount of workmanship and detail of the individual
item. Gold jewelry and ornaments are also a bargain in Thailand,
with prices fixed according to "Baht" weight of the item and the
level of workmanship. Items bought in Thailand can be resold at
current international prices. Excellent bargains in gold chains,
earrings, bracelets, pendants, and other delicate handed crafted
items can be found around the city - particularly in China Town
- and most major hotels house jewelry stores offering exquisite
pieces for less than you might imagine, and with guarantees of
authenticity. Cultured pearls are another local industry, and
a number of shops have pearl jewellery for sale.
Lacquerware
 A
specialty of northern Thailand, neighbouring Burma, and now Vietnam,
a wide range of contemporary and antique Lacquerware can be bought
in shops and markets in Bangkok.
You can find the distinctive gold and black household objects
such as trinket boxes, trays and chopsticks etc. that originate
from Chiang Mai More recently, the creatively coloured and decorated
trays, bowls and homeware originating from Vietnam have also become
available - all of these item constituting the ideally lightweight
collector's item or gift.
Try the Thai Craft Museum in Gaysorn Plaza, opposite the World
Trade Centre on Ratchadamri Road.
Leather Goods
A broad range of high-quality leather goods is found in markets
and department stores in Bangkok. Items in department stores are
usually available for a fixed price, whereas in the markets, and
at street vendor stalls, prices will vary widely and can be bargained
down. It is best to shop around at a few stalls before settling
on any item, in order to compare prices and make sure you're not
paying too much. Popular items include jackets, footwear, belts,
handbags, luggage, and various accessories. Leather clothing and
shoes can be custom made in some tailor shops. Narayana Phand
is the place to go for leather bargains during the day (opposite
World Trade Centre on Ratchadamri Road), or at night, venture
down to the Patpong Night Markets along Silom Road. The weekend
markets at Chatuchak also have great range of leather products
at reasonable prices.
Nielloware
 One
of Thailand's more unique handcrafts, Neilloware is a traditional
craft of the southern province of Nakorn Si Thammarat. Nielloware
is the art of applying etched designs made from an alloy of lead,
silver, copper and sulphur, onto silver or gold receptacles.
Items ranging from coffee and tea sets to fittings for handbags
and buttons are available in many shops.
Paintings/Pencil Sketches
For a lasting reminder of Thailand, why not visit one of the many
shops offering original art works by local artists. Choose from
traditional or modern Thai themes, or commission your favourite
scene to be copied in a painting or sketch. A popular trend is
to have a portrait sketched or painted as a gift or memento. A
number of artists also specialize in portraits drawn from photographs,
meaning that you don't have to sit around for hours. Portraits
are available in Sepia, Charcoal, Pastel and Oil Colour, for around
1500-2000 Baht dependent on medium used and size of the portrait.
Expect a 2 -3 day turn over time, or have your painting or sketch
posted to you. Try Mahboonkrong Centre on the ground floor, Chatuchak
Weekend Market, and Sogo Shopping Complex on the 3rd floor (next
to Bookazine).
Framing can also be carried out inexpensively in Bangkok with
a number of shops along Sukhumvit Road providing this service.
Wickerwork Products
Wickerwork products are utilised in every aspect of daily life
in Thailand. Furniture, baskets, hats, mats, even walls for simple
homes, are made from natural fibre, and created into practical
and beautiful crafted items. The attraction of wickerwork is its
simplicity, using the strength and resilience of cut and dried
bamboo and rattan that are woven into forms that are light, strong,
and attractive. You'll find many shops selling beautifully woven
baskets, mats, blinds and other functional wicker products. Gaysorn
Plaza's Thai Craft Museum has intricately woven products as does
next door Narayana Phand on Ratchadamri Road. For more rustic
everyday basketry and wickerwork, go to Sri Phaya Road, running
parallel to Silom and Suriwong, where there a number of shop houses
selling wickerwork household products.
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