Where should I go in Bangkok Thailand to find a good shopping market?
July 15th, 2010 by admin
I am taking a trip to Bangkok, Thailand in August and planning to do a lot of shopping. I am not interested in the regular malls because I can find that in the United States. Can someone recommend me some markets around Bangkok with a variety of items? Also I just finished watching the travel channel they said Cha-Ta-Cha was the hugest market. Where is this place and am I hearing it correctly?
1. Street shoping (Night time) Sukhumvit Road Soi 1 to 20
2. Chinatown and Klong Thom Market (Electronics and everything from China)
3. Ploenchit-Ratchaprasong (clothes, local stuff)
4. Silom-Mahesak-New road (clothes, local stuff)
5. Silom-Surawong-Patpong (clothes, local stuff)
6. Ratchadapisek Road (clothes, local stuff)
7. Bang Lamphu
8. Pratunam-Phetchaburi (clothes and ladies accessories)
9. Nai Loet Market (clothes, local stuff)
10. Baiyoke Tower (clothes)
11. Bo-Be Market (clothes)
12. Thailand Export Center Ratchadapisek Road Soi 32
13. Suam Luun Night Bazaar (clothes, handbags, jewelry, local crafts, etc)
The place you are referring to from the travel channel is Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok, and they have almost anything you can think of there so it is definitely worth a trip to visit there. Very huge place, can take all day to see everything.
If you want to get some idea of what you can buy in Bangkok, check out all these actual photos from here in Bangkok. This will tell you the location as well. This is the best I can think of to show you actual products that you can buy here.
http://www.visualthailand.com/shopping.php
Have a great trip
What the Travel Channel was describing was “Chat-uh-chuck” market, also known as the Chatuchak *Weekend* Market. It is a mind-blowingly large market with just about anything and everything you may want to buy for both things Thai and, well, almost anything else.
Your problem will be *finding* what you want at Chatuchak as it is very easy to A) get lost, B) get turned around, C) not know where you are in relation to a map… you get the idea. If you go with people and split up, be prepared to never meet up again and find your separate ways back to wherever you are staying.
I read that the market is open Friday as well, but I shopped during a Saturday, so can’t speak to what it is like (see 2nd link below regarding with specifics.)
One other thing, you will find yourself in narrow, crowded corridors between booths, with many walls and roofs, almost no airflow and temperatures approaching 100F. An easy recipe not only for overheating, but just plain passing out. *Cold* water recommended. Bathrooms are available along the larger open-air “streets.”
There are also certain areas in Bangkok that cater to a particular type of item: clothes are in Petchburi & MDK and *ahem* questionably-sourced very expensive watches & purses for an amazingly smaller price are found at Patpong Night Market (they’ll only have obviously fake purses visible, you have to ask about anything else) - buyer beware.
Don’t discount the things you see in the sidewalk vendors’ booths as you walk along. I saw some things there that I actually didn’t find anywhere else - though they were probably at Chatuchak…somewhere.
I’ve listed a website or two below that you can use to read more. And I recommend you do a search something like “Bangkok” best places to shop or something similar.
You will have a blast!
You said “I am not interested in the regular malls”. Don’t be turned off by the world “shopping malls”. Some of the malls in Bangkok are not like what you might have in the states.
MBK shopping mall is a huge mall but I still like shopping there. It is an experience in itself. There ARE bargain to be had if not just to go in and take in the atmosphere. When I am in Thailand, I still go there for a look around. At least I can look for some great clothing bargain in air-condition comfort rather than the heat of Pratunam clothes market (although I will still go to Pratunam). Across the street from the MBK is another mall which is even more crowded and geared to younger, less money-to-spend crowd and there are bargain there too.
Siam Paragon mall - diagonally opposite MBK has an aquarium in the lower level. A great place for a break day from all the shopping. The food court (on the same level) had fish tanks to enjoy while you sit there having a relaxing lunch for cheap (one of them has these amazing pure white gold fish in them).
Go. Explore. Enjoy. Be warned - shopping in Bangkok is NOT for the faint hearted. It’s shop til you drop - and then some more!
check below for a list of all the shopping areas in Bangkok. Lots to choice from. Happy Shopping
Chatuchak Weekend Market or also written as Jatujak Weekend Market. Opens on weekends with 1000+ shops and stall.
Try MBK store or the night market - Suan Lom
Chattuchak market!
Visit chattuchak market if you are looking for handicrafts. Bought several, 7 to be exact, wooden vases the last time I was there. Only cost me around 1500 baht.
Go to MBK if you wanna buy some clothes or fashion accesories.
Do not buy handicrafts at shopping centres. Prices are jacked up to 100%-200%.
Happy shopping.