|
WHERE TO SHOP IN BANGKOK
 
Siam Square
Ratchaprasong
Pratunam
Sukhumvit
Chatuchak Weekend Market
Silom
Suan Lum Night Bazaar
Khaosan Road
Bo Be Market
Chinatown & Phahurat
Charoen Krung Road
Bangkok: A Consumer Capital
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.
|
