Like most big cities, there are two main types of
shopping places in Bangkok. One is markets, and the other, shopping
centres & department stores. Foreign shoppers who would like to
touch the atmosphere of Thai-style market, seek for low-priced goods
or love to bargain should go to markets. Prices in some shops and
stalls in shopping centres can also be bargained, but not as much
as in markets.
Shopping Centres & Department Stores
Bangkok has quite a number of good quality department store
and superstore chains such as Central and Robinson. They have
many branches located around Bangkok and other big cities. The
following are some leading shopping centres grouped into areas.
Apart from markets and shopping centres, Bangkok has many shopping streets where you can buy anything from clothes, souvenirs, leather goods, watches and jewellery to all kinds of antiques and electrical goods. Generally, you can make a bargain of about 10-30% of the marked price. Some well-known shopping streets frequented by Thai and foreign shoppers alike are Sukhumwit, Siam Square, Ratchadamri, Silom, especially in Soi Lalai Sap and Patpong Road, and Ramkhamhaeng.
Markets
There are lots of markets in Bangkok, but the most well-known and interesting, especially to foreigners, are the following:
Silom Complex
This six-storey building consists of Central Department Store, clothing
shops and restaurants. Thaniya Plaza A smaller and less busy place.
This area abounds with many modern department stores
and shopping centres including Amarin Plaza,
Gaysorn Plaza and Times Square. Other leading ones are:
Central World Plaza
(formerly World Trade Center) A huge shopping and entertainment
complex.
Narayana Phand Located
opposite Central World Plaza (formerly World Trade Center), this
is a handicraft centre, under government supervision.
Peninsula Plaza contains
some brand-name clothes shops, top local designer shops and restaurants.
The lanes in this area are lined with shops and stalls
selling clothes, books and antiques. Besides, there are three favourite
shopping centres of the young and young at heart.
Siam Center features
various designer label clothing shops as well as coffee shops, fast
food shops and more.
Siam Discovery Center,
the newest in this area, contains more designer stores.
Mahboonkrong (MBK center),
this market-style shopping centre is packed with stalls selling
everything from clothing and leather goods to cosmetics, gift items,
electrical equipment, furniture and travel and camping equipment.
This place is popular for its wide variety of products with inexpensive
prices.
River
City Shopping Center is located near
Royal Orchid Sheraton, off Charoen Krung and Si Phraya
roads. It is well known for its high quality art and
antique shops. Auction sales of antiques are held occasionally
at its exhibition hall.
Buses : 1, 16, 35, 36, 75, 93
The
Oriental Place Shopping Arcade at Charoen
Krung 38 near The Oriental Hotel boasts of being one
of Bangkok's finest antiques centres, offering a wide
variety of shopping items for the buyers of all interests.
Buses : 1, 16, 35, 36, 75, 93
The
Old Siam Plaza Located in the Chinatown-Phahurat
area, this old Bangkok-style shopping centre has numerous
shops selling guns, gems and jewellery, Thai handicrafts
and stalls selling Thai food, sweets and snacks.
Buses : 3, 6, 7, 10, 19, 21, 37, 40,
53
The
Emporium This modern shopping complex
on Sukhumwit Road contains brand-name clothing and other
shops like most shopping centres.
Buses : 2, 25, 38, 40, 48, 71, 98
Seacon
Square Located on Si Nakharin Road in
the southeast of Bangkok, this gigantic shopping centre
attracts thousands of suburban people on weekends. It
has all types of shops.
This is the biggest and most popular weekend
market located on Phahonyothin Road in the north of Bangkok.
Thousands of people come here on weekends to
view and buy many kinds of goods ranging from clothes to handicrafts,
from garden plants to pets, from utensils to antiques. For
shopping lovers, this is one of the best places to try out
your bargaining skills. The main part of the Weekend Market
is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. It
can be reached by:
Buses : 3, 8, 28, 38, 39, 44, 59, 77, 134,
136, 138, 145 Metro (MRT) : to Kamphaengphet Station Skytrain (BTS) : to Mo Chit Station
Located on the intersection of Phetburi and
Ratchaprarop roads, this vast bazaar is packed with countless
stalls and peddlers selling numerous kinds of goods. By the
way, it is an ideal place to buy fabrics and ready-to-wear
clothes at low prices.
Apart from hundreds of guesthouses, this area
is a popular market for both Thai and foreign tourists. Some
good buys are ready-made clothes, handbags, men's and ladies'
shoes, cosmetics and curios.
Buses : 3, 6, 15, 19, 30, 32, 33, 43, 56, 64, 68,
82
This is an old business centre covering a large
area around Yaowarat Road and the nearby section of Charoen
Krung Road. There are many small side streets full of shops
and stalls selling all types of goods including household
wares and Chinese foodstuffs. Yaowarat Road is also a centre
of gold shops which attract both Thai and foreign customers
for their large selections and excellent workmanship.
