WHAT TO BUY
Many bargains await you in Thailand if you have the space to carry them back. Always haggle to get the best price, except in department stores. And don't go shopping in the company of touts, tour guides or friendly strangers as they will inevitably - no matter what they say - take a commission on anything you buy, thus driving prices up.
Thai silk, cotton, nielloware, silverware, bronzeware, pottery and celadon, pewter, precious stones, finished jewelry and a dazzling range of folk handicrafts make memorable gifts and souvenirs. International standard ready-made sportswear and leisurewear is inexpensive and quality tailors and dressmakers offer reliable 24-hour service in Bangkok and major tourist destinations.
Textiles
Fabric is possibly the best all-round buy in Thailand. Thai
silk is considered the best in world- the coarse weave and
soft texture of the silk means it is more easily dyed than
harder, smoother silks, resulting in brighter coulours and
a unique lustre. Silks, can be purchased cheaply in the North
and North - East where it is made or, more easily, in Bangkok.
Excellent and reasonably priced tailor ships can make you
choice of fabric into almost any pattern. A Thai silk suit
should cost around 400 to 6,500 Baht. Chinese silk is available
at about half the cost - "washed" Chinese silk makes inexpensive,
comfortable shirts or blouses.
Cottons are also a good deal - common items like the phaakhamaa (reputed to have over a hundred uses in Thailand) and the phaasin (the slightly larger female equivalent) make great tablecloths and curtains. Good ready- made cotton shirts are available, such as the maw hawn (Thai work shirt) and the kuay haeng (Chinese -style shirt). See the sections on Pasang in the Northern Thailand chapter and Ko Yo in the Southern Thailand chapter for places to see cotton-weaving.
In recent years, cotton-weaving has become very popular in the North-East and there are fabulous finds in Nong Khai, Poi-Et, Khon Kaen and Mahasarakham. The mawn khwaan, a hard, triangle-shaped pillow made in the North-East, makes a good souvenir and comes in many sizes. The North - East is also famous for its mat-mii cloth, thick cotton or silk fabric woven from tie-dyed threads - similar to Indonesia's ikat fabrics.
In the North you can find Lanna-style textiles based on intricate Thai Lu patterns from Nan, Laos and China's Sipsongpanna (Xishuangbanna).
Fairly nice batik (pa-te) is available in the South in patterns that are more similar to the batik found in Malaysia than in Indonesia.
Clothing
Tailor-made and ready-made clothes are relatively inexpensive. If you're not particular about style you could pick up an entire wardrobe of travelling clothes at one of Bangkok's may street market (e.g. Pratunam) for what you'd pay for one designer shirt in New York or Paris.
You're more likely to get a good fit if you resort to a tailor but be wary of the quickie made of inferior fabric or the poor tailoring means the arms start falling off after three weeks wear. It's best to ask Thai or longtime foreign resident for a tailor recommendation and then go for two or three fittings.
Shoulder Bags
Thai shoulder bags (yaam) are generally quite well made. They come in many varieties, somewoven by hill tribes, other by Northern Thai cottage industry. The best are made by the Lahu hill tribes, whom the Thais call "Musoe". The weaving is more skiful and the bags tend to last longer than those made by other tribes. For an extra-large yaam, the Karen-made bag is a good choice, and is easy to find in the Mae Sot and Mae Hong Son areas. These days many hill tribes are copying patterns from tribes other than their own.
Overall, Chiang Mai has the best selection of standard shoulder bags, but Bangkok has the best prices - try the Indian district, Pahurat, for these as well as anything else made of cloth. Roi-Et and Mahasarakham in the North-East are also good hunting grounds for locally made shoulder bags. Prices range from 50 Baht for a cheaply made bag to 200B for something special.
Antiques
Real antiques cannot be taken out of Thailand without a permit from the Fine Arts Department. No Buddha image, new or old, may be exported without permission - again, refer to the Fine Arts Department, or, in some cases, the Department of Religious Affairs, under the Ministry of Education. Too many private collectors smuggling and hoarding Siamese art (Buddhas in particular) around the world have led to strict controls.
Chinese and Thai antiques are sold in Bangkok's Chinatown in two areas: Wang Burapha (the streets which have Chinese "gates" over the entrance) and Nakhon Kasem. Some antiques (and many fakes) are sold at the Weekend Market in Chatuchak Park. Objects for sale in the tourist antique shops are fantastically overpriced, as can be expected. In recent years Northern Thailand has become a good source of Thai antiques - prices are about half what you'd typically pay in Bangkok.
Jewellery
Thailand is one of the world's largest exporters of gems and
ornaments, rivalled only by India and Sri Lanka. The International
Colorstones Association (ICA) relocated from Los Angeles to
Bangkok's Chan Issara Tower a few years ago, and the World
Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) has established a bourse
in Bangkok - two events that recognize that Thailand has become
the world trade and production centre for precious stones.
The biggest importers of Thai jewellery are the USA, Japan
and Switzerland.
Although rough stone sources in Thailand itself have decreased dramatically, stones are now imported from Australia, Sri Lanka and other countries to be cut, polished and traded here. There are over 30 diamond-cutting houses in Bangkok alone. One of the results of this remarkable growth of the gem industry - in Thailand the gem trade has increased nearly 10% every year for the last 15 years - is that the prices are rising rapidly.
If you know what you are doing you can make some really good buys in both unset gems and finished jewellery. Gold ornaments are sold at a good rate as labour costs are low. The best bargains in gems are jade, rubies and sapphires. Buy from reputable dealers only, unless you're a gemologist.
The biggest gem centres in Thailand are Kanchanaburi - these areas are where the Bangkok dealers go to buy their stones. The Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences (Tel. (02) 513-2112; fax 236-7803), 484 Ratchadaphisek Rd. (off Lat Phrao Rd. in the Huay Khwang district, north-east Bangkok), offers short-term courses in gemology as well as tours of gem mines for those interested. You can bring gems here for inspection but they don't assess value, only authenticity and grading.
The Jewel Fest Club
Jewellery and gemstones from Thailand are favourite items for many visitors to the Kingdom. Their beauty, quality craftsmanship and reasonable prices have earned Thai precious and semi-precious stones an unmatched reputation worldwide.
Occasionally, however, visitors encounter unethical jewelers who sell jewelry at unreasonable prices.
With the cooperation of the Thai Gem and Jewelry Traders Association (TGJTA) and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the Jewel Fest Club was established, bringing together 46 leading jewelry manufacturers and wholesalers. The club's aim is to offer quality products at reasonable prices with a money-back guarantee if buyers are not completely satisfied with their purchases. Retail outlets bear the emblem featured here for ready identification.
When you purchase an item of jewellery from a store that is clearly identified as a member of the Jewel Fest Club, your purchase will be duly recorded and a certificate detailing your purchase will be issued. Not only does this certificate of authenticity clearly state the nature and price of your purchase, it also guarantees your refund should you wish to return the purchase, cut by 10 % it you return the merchandise to the point of sale within 30 days, and by 20 % after 30 days but within 45 days of purchase.
For more details about the club and the benefits offered, contact Tel: (66-2) 235-339,(66-2)267-5233-7 Fax : (66-2) 267-5238,(66-2) 235-3040
Gemopolis
As the name suggests, Gemopolis is a self-contained complex, some 300 acres in size, in eastern Bangkok, that is devoted to every aspect of gemstone and jewellery production and trade, inclusive of gemstone and diamond refinery, jewellery design and manufacture, and retailing and exporting finished products around the world. Visitors who would like to witness the manufacturing processes and shop for quality gemstones and jewellery at fair prices in a secure environment can contact Tel: (66-2) 727-022 (21 lines) for complete details.
Warning
Be wary of special "deals" that are offered for one day only or which set you up as a "courier" in which you're promised big money. Many travellers end up losing big. Shop around and don't be hasty. Remember: there're no such thing as a "government sale" or a "factory price" at a gem or jewellery shop; the Thai government does not own or manage any gem or jewellery shops.
Hill-Tribe Crafts
Interesting embroidery, clothing, bags and jewellery from the North can be bought in Bangkok at Narayan Phand, Lan Luang Rd, at branches of the Queen's Hillcrafts Foundation, and at various tourist ships around town. See Things to Buy in the Bangkok chapter for details.
In Chiang Mai there are ships selling handicrafts all along Thaphae Rd and there is a ship sponsored by missionaries near Prince Royal College. There is a branch of the Queen's Hillcrafts Foundation in Chiang Rai. It's worth shopping around for the best prices and bargaining. The all-round best buys of northern hill-tribe crafts are at the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar - if you know how to bargain.
Ceramics
 Many
kinds of hand-thrown pottery, old and new, are available throughout
the kingdom. Most well known are the greenish Thai celadon
products from the Sukhothai -Si Satchanalai area and Central
Thailand's benjarong or "five colour" style. The latter is
based on Chinese patterns while the former is a Thai original
that has been imitated throughout China and South- East Asia.
Rough, unglazed pottery from the North and North - East can
also be very appealing.
Lacquerware
Thailand produces some good lacquerware, much of it made in Myanmar and sold along the northern Myanmar border. Try Mae Sot, Mae Sariang and Mae Sai for the best buys.
Styles available today originated in 11th century Chiang Mai; in 1558 Myanmar's King Bayinnaung captured a number of Chiang Mai lacquer artisans and brought them to Bago in central Myanmar to establish the incised lacquerware tradition. Lacquer comes from the Melanorrhea usitata tree (not to be confused with "lac", which comes from an insect), and in its most basic form is mixed with paddy-husk ash to form a light, flexible, waterproof coating over bamboo frames.
To make a lacquerware object, the craftsperson first weaves a bamboo frame. If the item is first-quality, only the frame is bamboo; horse or donkey hairs will be wound round the frame. In lower-quality lacquerware the whole object is made from bamboo. The lacquer is then coated over the framework and allowed to dry. After several days is it sanded down with ash from rice husks, and another coating of lacquer is applied. A high-quality item may have seven layers of lacquer altogether.
The lacquerware is engraved and painted, then polished to remove the paint from everywhere except in the engravings. Multi - coloured lacquerware is produced by repeated engraving, painting and polishing. From start to finish it can take five or six months to produce a high-quality piece of lacquerware, which may have as many as five colours. Flexibility is one characteristic of good lacquerware. A top-quality bowl can have its rim squeezed together until the sides meet without suffering damage. The quality and precision of the engraving is another thing to look for.
Lacquerware is made into bowls, trays, plates, boxes, containers, cups vases and many other everyday items. Octagonal-topped folding tables are another popular lacquerware item.
Nielloware
This art came from Europe via Nakhon Si Thammarat and has been cultivated in Thailand for over 700 years. Engraved silver is inlaid with niello- an alloy of lead, silver, copper and sulphur - to form striking black- and - silver jewellery designs. Nielloware is one of Thailand's best buys.
Other Crafts
 Under
Queen Sirikit's Supplementary Occupations & Related Techniques
(SUPPORT) foundation, a number of regional crafts from around
Thailand have been successfully revived. Malang thap collages
and sculptures are made by the artful cutting and assembling
of the metallic, multicoloured wings and carapaces of female
wood -boring beetles (Sternocera aequisingnata), harvested
after they die at the end of their reproductive cycle between
July and September each year. Hailing mostly from the North
and North - East, they can nonetheless be found in craft ships
all over Thailand.
For "Damascene ware" (known as kram in Thai), gold and silver wire is hammered into a cross- hatched steel surface to create exquisitely patterned bowls and boxes. Look for them in more upscale Bangkok department stores and craft shops.
Yaan lipao is a type of intricately woven basket made from a hardy grass in Southern Thailand. Ever since the Queen and other female members of the royal family began carrying delicate yann lipao purses, they have been a Thai fashion staple. Basketry of this type is most easily found in the Southern provincial capitals, or in Bangkok shops that specialize in regional handicrafts.
Furniture
Rattan and hardwood furniture items are often good buys and can be made to order. Bangkok and Chiang Mai have the best selection of styles and quality. Teak furniture has become relatively scarce and expensive; rosewood is a more reasonable buy.
Fake or Pirated Goods
In Bangkok, Chiang Mai and all the tourist centres, there is black-market street trade in fake designer goods; particularly Benneton pants and sweaters, Lacoste (crocodile) and Palph lauren polo shirts, Levi's jeans, and Rolex, Dunhill and Cartier watches. Tin-Tin T- Shirts are also big. No -one pretends they're the real thing, at least not the vendors themselves. The European and American manufacturers are applying heavy pressure on the Asian governments involved to get this stuff off the street, so it may not be around for much longer.
In some cases foreign name brands are legally produced under licence in Thailand and represent good value. A pair of legally produced Levi's 510s, for example, typically costs US$ 10 from a Thai street vendor, and US$ 30 to US$ 40 in Levi's home town of San Francisco! Careful examination of the product usually reveals tell- tale characteristics that confirm or deny the item's legality.
Prerecorded cassette tapes are another illegal bargain in Thailand. The tapes are "pirated", that is, no royalties are paid to the copyright owners. Average prices are from 25 to 35 Baht per cassette for amazingly up-to-date music. Word has it that these will disappear from the streets, too, under pressure from the US music industry.
In 1991 four of the major tape piraters (including market leaders Peacock and Eagle) agreed to stop producing unlicensed tapes, but only on condition that the police prosecute the myriad smaller companies doing business. As of 1996 it was becoming quite difficult to find pirated tapes anywhere in the country except on Bangkok's Khao San Rd. Licensed tapes, when available, cost 70 to 110 Baht each (average price 90 Baht); Thai music tapes cost the same.
Other Goods
Bangkok is famous the world over for is street markets - Pratunam, Chatuchak Park, Khlong Toey, Sampeng (Chinatown), Banglamphu and many more - where you'll find things you never imagined you wanted but once you see, you feel you can't possibly do without. Even if you don't want to spend any money, they're great places to wander around.
For top- end shopping, the two main centres in Bangkok are the areas around the Oriental Hotel off Charoen Krung (New) Rd and the River City shopping complex on the river next to the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel. At the other end, Thailand's two big department store chains, Robinson and Central, offer reasonable priced clothing, electronics and houseware at several branches in Bangkok as well as in the larger towns.
WHERE TO SHOP
 Shoppers
in Bangkok have a wide choice of areas in which to pursue
their search for bargains, most of them located within walking
distance of major hotels.
One such area, for example, is along Silom and Suriwongse Roads in the vicinity of the Dusit Thani Montien, and Tawana Hotels. This includes Robinson's department Store, Central Department Store, the Charn Issara Shopping Centre, dozens of silk shop, antique and decorative reproduction shops, boutiques of ready-to-wear women's clothes, men's tailors and shops selling leather wear and other goods.
From the Ratchaprasong intersection, near the Meridien President Hotel, it is but a short walk to the Amarin Plaza shopping Centre Department Store in one direction and to Ratchadamri Arcade and Narayana Phand Store in another. Directly opposite Narayana Phand is the world Trade Centre, and enormous complex with two department stores and hundreds of boutiques selling everything imaginable. Also nearby are the upscale Peninsula Arcade and Galleries Lafayette.
Off the Ratchaprasong intersection eastward to Sukhumvit Road stands the Emporium shopping Centre, where brand name clothes and fashionable decorative items are found in attractive and unique style.
Shoppers should not overlook Bangkok's many department stores, which offer locally made goods as well as designer name brands and feature alluring sales. Twice a year, visitors can take advantage of the month-long Amazing Thailand Grand Sale, which is held throughout Bangkok and other major cities. Watch for the Grand Sale, which takes place in June, and again in mid-November and offers valuable discounts on all kinds of goods.
Also worth visiting are several air-conditioned shopping complexes the offer a wide variety of goods and prices. The Oriental Plaza. In an atmospheric old building houses jewelry and Thai handicrafts as well as clothing and fabrics. River City Shopping Complex, located adjacent to the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel, has two floors devoted to small shops selling antiques and decorative items as well as a main floor that features exhibits of art, handicrafts, antique furniture, paper products, plants and more, Siam Centre and Siam discovery Centre near the Siam Inter continental Hotel are filled with numerous fashionable boutiques and in the vicinity is Mah Boon Krong.
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A particular favorite with younger Thais, this teeming emporium contains hundreds of shops as well as the Tokyu Department Store.
As comfortable as these centres are, any serious shopper will also want to explore some of the city's markets for their colorful atmosphere and generally lower prices, Pratunam, near the Indra Regent Hotel, specializes in ready-to-wear clothing of all kinds. Opposite the Pratunam shopping complex is Nai Lert Market offering a variety of inexpensive trendy products, ranging from hairpins to shoes. Don't miss the delicious oriental food sold here at very low prices.
Near the Grand palace is Khao San Road filled with clothes, jewellery and accessories popular among the backpackers and younger crowds. Just up from Khao San stands Banglamphu Market, which has authentic Thai goods and contemporary products.
In the older section of town, at the corner of Phahurat and Chakraphet, is the Phahurat cloth Market, where locals go for textile bargains, while Sampheng Lane and Yaowarat, both in Chinatown, have countless shops selling. Gold, jewellery, cooking utensils and other items.
The biggest market of all, and the most fascinating, is the Chatuchak Weekend Market, open on Saturday and Sunday at Chatuchak Park, not far from the Central Plaza Hotel. Here, just about everything Thailand makes or grows is on sale, from blue-and -white porcelain to hybrid orchids, and huge crowds go there to buy or just to enjoy the market atmosphere.
Another much smaller market is the Pat Pong night market
that has good souvenirs, but nothing like what's available
a Chatuchak.
The Floating Market, despite the emergence of the ubiquitous farm pick-ups, paddy farmers and orchard gardeners still continue to meet and barter their products in age-old trading sports on the canals (Khlongs). Early every morning, sampans laden with all kinds of tropical fruits and vegetables and fresh products, wind their way to the floating markets around Bangkok. There is one particular floating market in Bangkok that visitors can enjoy: Taling Chan Floating Market is a weekend market in front of Taling Chan District Office, open from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Boat trip services are available for sight-seeing along the canal where gardens and a village lifestyle are still to be seen. The market is also accessible by bus No. 79 and 83, which pass nearby. Contact Taling Chan District Office on telephone 424-1742 for more information.
Outside Bangkok, the main city for shopping is Chiang Mai,
the unquestioned centre of traditional Thai handicrafts. Visitors
can find beautiful sandstone pieces, antiques and more. The
Night Bazaar, is a good place to sample the full tange
of local products such as cotton, lacquerware, silver hilltribe
clothing, Burmese tapestries, painted umbrellas and woodcarvings.
While in Chiang Mai, make a point of going to some of how
these goods - particularly lacquer, silk, silver and paper
umbrellas - are actually made.
Pattaya also has many shops selling Thai goods and a particularly wide selection of precious and semi-precious stones since the popular resort lies near Chanthaburi, where numerous gem mines are located. Hat Yai, a district in Songkhla province in Southern Thailand is home to the Kim Yong Market, Where tax-free electronic goods, dried fruits and clothes are sold at very low prices.
SHOPPING TIPS
Department stores and a number of shops in Bangkok have
fixed prices; some department stores will even offer a discount
on expensive items like jewelry and fine furniture. No fixed
rules can be given on the process, depending as it does
on the bargainer's skill and the shop keeper's mood, but
the final price may be reduced as much as 30 percent to
that first quoted. An important point to keep in mind is
that Thais admire good manners and a sense of humour and
tend to be put off by a loss of temper. Providing you have
the time, a good general rule is to make a survey of several
shops selling the sort of items you want before coming to
a final decision.
PACKING AND SHIPPING SERVICES
Thanks to the ever-increasing number of tourists coming
to Thailand. Most shops are experienced at shipping abroad
and will attend to all the documents such as insurance,
customs and necessary permits. The Central Post Office also
offers a parcel-wrapping service for those who want to make
small shipments themselves . For larger items or bulk shipments,
there are several Bangkok companies who specialize in such
matters.
TRADING OPPORTUNITIES
{add Neckties.jpg} The Department of Export promotion (DEP),
Ministry of Commerce, Royal Thai Government, offers the "Permanent
Exhibition," a one -stop export showcase where quality products
manufactured in Thailand are on display. The exhibition features
more than 250 selected exhibitors with more than 10,000 items
on display in three exhibition areas. The same services are
also available at DEP regional offices.
You can browse to your heart's content, viewing top quality products ranging from gift item and handicrafts, furniture, toys, leather products, artificial flowers, garments, food products, construction materials, automotive parts, hardware, tools and appliances, stationery and sporting equipment, to name only a handful of the items on hand. All are carefully selected for reliability and a high standard of workmanship.
If you find products that suit your requirements, you may contact the manufacturers directly of DEP staff can provide a variety of services to help make things easy. For example, they will arrange appointments with many companies and also provide meeting rooms with full office facilities. All of the permanent exhibition services are free of charge.
For more information, please contact the Thai Trade Centre or a Commercial Counsellor's Office at a Royal Thai Embassy in your own country. In Bangkok, contact the Department of Export Promotion on Ratchadaphisek Road. Tel: (66-2) 551-5066-77, Fax: 66-2) 512-1075, (66-2) 513-1917 Telex : 82354 DEPEP TH.
VAT REFUND
Visitor to Thailand can now claim VAT refunds at Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hat-Yai and Phuket airports for a minimum purchase of 5,000 Baht with no less than 20,000 Baht/receipt/day. Upon purchase, visitors should request the store to process a Vat refund form (por.por.10) When departing, visitors have the customs stamp the form prior to airline check-in.
When passing through Passport Control, visitors will have the form processed by the Revenue Department and receive a VAT refund. Please note that valuable merchandise such as jewellery, watches, eyeglasses and pens must be declared before customs and revenue officials.
Shopping Information from Tourism Authority of Thailand
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