A vibrant city adored for its colourful culture, exotic sights and endless shopping, Bangkok is every traveller's go-to destination. Be it an amateur or a seasoned nomad.
The majority of us love Bangkok for all the experiences it has to offer, from city strolls to thrilling adventure rides, we personally spent almost all our cash on these exciting adventures and food. And of course - Shopping.
But we sure did notice something that no travel blog or YouTube vlog told us.
But first of all,
Why is Bangkok famous for Shopping?
There are so many Asian countries that manufacture goods at a mass scale, but they do so for export purposes and not brick-and-mortar selling. Bangkok offers very cheap prices for clothes and households, and the quality is worth it. What's best is that when you visit Bangkok, you can either buy one product or even 100 pieces in one go. You'll find malls in every corner of the city.
Is Bangkok Good for Shopping Clothes?
Yes. I found myself some of the chic Korean fashion-wear clothes that came in my size (which is two sizes larger than the average Asian size). You can find Japanese stores like Uniqlo and MiniSo, as well as other expensive brands like Nike and Gucci in high-end malls like Siam. If you're looking for replicas, Street markets like Pratunam can help you find a pretty Prada Bag under 30$.
Which areas in Bangkok are Best for Shopping?
If you're looking for clothes at a cheaper price, Pratunam Market is the ideal place. If you're going for less-intense, more comfortable shopping and maybe hanging out at a small cafe or a Shabu place the following malls must be on your bucket list. They are quite affordable and easily accessible as well:
MBK Center
Union Mall
The Platinum Mall
Center One Shopping Plaza
If you're looking for high-end shopping or even window shopping, with an exquisite experience, visit the following. Most of these malls are open from 10 a.m. to midnight:
Siam Paragon
Siam One
Emporium
Siam Center
For those looking for the poster-Bangkok shopping experience, Chatuchak Market is your go-to. Especially during the evening, the whole street lights up, and you can find pretty much everything here.
Is Asiatique Riverfront Good for Shopping?
Asiatique Riverfront is more of a hang-out promenade than a shopping space. When we visited the Asiatique Riverfront in hopes of shopping to our heart extent, we were expecting stores along the riverfront, but what we found most were eateries and super exclusive shops (quite pricey). Locals visit the Asiatique to hang out, while foreigners mostly go there for the iconic Ferris Wheel and the Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise which sets off from the Asiatique.
While it may not be the best place to shop, it's surely a great place to visit in Bangkok.
Best Things to Buy In Bangkok
If you're travelling to Bangkok, people back home will surely expect some souvenirs, and they're not clothes. When we were in Bangkok, we struggled a lot to find the right souvenirs to bring back home, until we went to Chatuchak market.
We know you'd struggle too, so we listed down some amazing traditional Thai things to take back home:
Thai Silk - They come in pretty patterns and good prices
Green and Red Curry Mix packets
Herbal Massage Oils and Lotions
Inhalers (Ya Dom and Nong Thai Brand were our picks - They work magic! It's a must-buy in Thailand! You've got to try them if you haven't)
Thai Spice Packs, Chili pastes and Sauces
Mango and Durian Chips
Handmade porcelain and wooden crafts (Only if your baggage allows space - we didn't want to risk our space)
Korean Skin Care Products (Yes, they're much cheaper here than back home)
Some may shop for Bags, but Bags are not so cheap in Bangkok. Yes, they're cheaper than in the West, but not as cheap as in China. So don't plan on buying bags as souvenirs. Not only would it take luggage space, it's expensive, and is not authentic.
Is Bangkok Good for Street Food?
Absolutely! Bangkok did not let us down in the food department. Chinatown, the famous street - Khaosan Road and all the malls pretty much lived up to their standards and all the street food was very cheap. Even if you're broke, you'd never go hungry in Bangkok. Our favourites were the meat kebabs, noodles, mango sticky rice and the highlight - Pomegranate juice.
Best Time for Shopping in Bangkok
Thailand is a tropical country, so you must be ready for the scorching heat and sudden rainfall. The best times to visit Bangkok for shopping are from November to February, with December being the coldest month. During this time, the climate is somewhat less humid. When we were in Bangkok in November, there were daily evening showers that cooled down the warm streets and our walking journeys were much tolerable.
Our Personal Take On Shopping in Bangkok
Shopping Streets Are Modernizing
This is something that we got to experience first time. When we were in the Chatuchak market, we found delicious coconut water and street food stalls for the binge. However, the atmosphere as a whole didn't feel so exotic. It felt like an outdoor mall or promenade.
There's nothing wrong with this, but shopping streets in Thailand are a tourist attraction. So it's a bit of a letdown when you see them westernizing and slowly losing their authentic touch.
The surprise for us was the prices of clothes and accessories. There were some great T-shirts that my husband wanted to buy for his friends. As it's more than one piece of clothing, we figured there was no harm in bargaining a bit. To our dismay, the vendor firmly stood on his grounds.
And this is not the only time we encountered such an incident in Bangkok. Whether it's food, drinks or souvenirs - bargaining was just out of the window.
Why you may ask;
Economic Difficulties Are Posing A Challenge
Unlike back in the day, Thailand, like many other nations, is going through a particularly rough economic patch, and Tourism is one of the most booming industries, so it takes a larger portion of the hit.
Street markets in Bangkok are now switching to a mall-like concept where prices and discounts are all displayed prominently on boards. Many sellers don't leave space for any negotiation.
When we headed to the Pratunam market in hopes of shopping till we dropped, we were shocked at the prices.
It sure is cheaper than shopping in the West, but we found that prices at street markets were on par with those at malls like MBK, Platinum and Union Mall. As a result, we had some concerns about the quality we were getting for the price we paid.
We couldn't resist buying a few items just for the fun of it. With so many options, it's easy to get carried away! However, just a heads up - bargaining may not be successful at most of these roadside shops.
Is Bangkok Expensive for Shopping?
It depends on what you're looking for. If you're looking for original designer products, they'd be no cheaper than the designer brand stores you find in the US and Europe. But if you're heading there to explore novelty fashion styles, regular clothes without big brand tags, and in hopes of bringing back home a whole upgraded wardrobe, Bangkok is the place.
Just keep in mind that bargaining might not always work as it did before.
In Conclusion;
After scouting through all the shopping streets in Bangkok and the malls, we understood that the bargaining culture is slowly ending. Of course, everyone's experience is different, so we're curious to hear about your own shopping adventures in Bangkok.
Let us know in the comments below!