Shopping in Thailand
As I mentioned before, you’re going to want to pack light so that you have room to bring goodies home! Thailand is known for its exotic food and spices, as well as some of the most fantastic textiles. I nerd out about fabric after years in the costume industry. My shopping list may be slanted a bit – I’m not going to buy a custom silk suit or triangular wedge pillow. I prioritize light, package, and durable treats. Let me walk you through my favorite Thai souvenirs. Read all the way through for a note on what you can’t bring through customs.
Favorite sharing snacks to bring home
- Curry powders, dried soup mixes, and Thai red or green tea. The mixed packs made great gifts. These travel so easily, too. Flat and light. Mixed curry pack 25 baht = $0.80!
- Thai candy – pandan, lychee, plum, tamarind, mango, ginger – yum! The green tea Kit Kat is always a hit. The coffee shots are actual shots of coffee and revered by teachers all over the world!
- Thai snacks – fish jerky, odd spiced nuts like anchovy or seaweed almonds. Chips don’t travel well, unfortunately! However, the ramen packs do.
Favorite things to buy AND use there
- Beauty products – I love Tiger Balm and the Siam Oil. My first stop would also be the Pond’s Powder and these acne dots – wear it to sleep and pimple be gone the next day (ish)!
Favorite Textile Treats
The textiles are so colorful and magical! Here are some cool things to keep an eye out for. Buzz words like Hmong and Hill Tribe may even direct you to a wholesale market where you can really go wild!
- Sarongs – great for gifts that you can use while you’re in Thailand. The colorful cotton versions aren’t great for the beach, but they can be turned into pillow cases and such with a sewing machine at home.
- Elephant pants – these are a huge tourist thing and the most comfortable pant you will find! Usually the women’s has a stretchy elastic waistband and the men’s version has a drawstring waist. They’re made of cool, light material, they are brightly patterned and available in every color of the rainbow. Again, buy a couple to wear in Thailand and give as gift at home! I’ve seen women of all shapes and sizes find a decent fit. I prefer the ones with elastic at the ankles since I have ridiculously short legs (I went home with a pair of children’s pants, actually!). They’re great for a restorative yoga class or Netflix and chill once you get home. You can buy them online at home as well, for triple the price. Around 200 baht in Thailand.
- Fisherman pants aka harem pants. The Hill Tribe style of intricate embroidery can be found on these waistbands. They have the dropped crotch area and are usually made of a thicker material. Also light and breezy. Aka Hammer pants… hee hee!
- Indigo. Another uniquely Thai fashion statement is the blue and white Indigo tie dye from Northern Thailand (Thai tie dye, anyone?). You’ll find shirts, dresses, rompers, and more in a variety of patterns and my favorite ombré. Go dark on your heavier end and light to attract attention.
- Hill tribe textiles. There are so many gorgeous Thai textiles and the Hill Tribes make gorgeous things! Look for Hmong textiles and be awed by the array of beautifully embroidered fabrics – bags, purses, coin purses. Get a handful of small sizes to give as gifts to ladies at home, we all need more little bags for things right? I still use my Hill Tribe wallet and purse today! I did have to replace the lining of the purse after about a year. I think I spent $40 on these 8 beautiful pieces and I still use the pink wallet and multi colored purse on the right 2 years later. My Mom got the swan bag and Auntie got the pink mandala, spotted in their purses!
- Thai silk. You can find an array of beautiful silk products. Make sure to look for the 100% Thai silk tag. Scarves are another great packable treat to take home. Buy an array of colors and patterns for gifts!
- I was lucky enough to stumble on this Thai Boho dressmaker in Nakhonsawan. Every day, she’d have different things out front and it was impossible to pass up! After a photo shoot with her, I left with 2 dresses for myself and one as a gift. Lovely! She’s not even on the map but we’re Facebook friends.
Custom Items
Some custom items you can pick up in minutes, others take days. Plan accordingly. If you want a suit made, don’t wait until the last day – make it your first stop!
- Leather work. In the larger markets, there’s usually someone who customizes leather goods on the spot. I got a beautiful blue passport holder, keychain for a friend, and wallet. Custom leather sandals are also a great souvenir.
- Thai art. I have several beautiful paintings that I wouldn’t be able to afford in the States. The artists were awesome to meet. Some even do custom work, like photo-realistic paintings of your photograph (this does take a day or two). I got my sister a portrait of her dog for 1500 baht. The artists will roll up the canvas in a tube for easy packing or shipping!
- You can also get all sorts of clothes made for relatively cheap in the larger cities. Perfectly tailored to you!
Other shopping notes
- Night markets happen once or twice a week in a standard location. You may see areas completely shut down during the day that come alive at night. Walking street markets close down major streets for a few hours once a week. These can get insanely congested and frustrating, but I still recommend going for the experience and great deals! If you need a break, let the fish nibble your feet or stop for a quick massage.
- Wholesale market prices are non-negotiable. They’re already a steal. This makes for a very comfortable shopping experience since you don’t have to haggle for the best price. The Hmong Market in Chiang Mai was anything but comfortable though. It’s a maze of tiny stalls packed to the brim under sweltering hot tarps. Still totally worth it!
- There are big box stores that are full of a thousand tiny vendors as well. Think Walmart with a street market inside including giant food court. These are a great place to cool off and find specific items or a new suitcase to bring extra goodies home. Look for Big C or Tesco Lotus. They usually have a Watson’s Drug Store where you can find familiar beauty products as well.
- Big malls are also fascinating breaks from the heat. Just remember to change out of your beach clothes! They often have amazing grocery stores and food courts in the basement and movie theaters on the top floor. Any indoor shopping center is going to be COLD relative to the outside temp. Bring layers!
What might a night market look like? Take a spin in this slideshow to see some of the trinkets and treats offered. These were all taken at the Student Night Market in Chiang Mai, very local style. You’ll find a lot more trinkets like hand painted elephants in the more touristy spots.
Customs
Make sure to read through the Customs Advisory before you go shopping. Most things are pretty obvious like weapons and live animals. No obscene materials, no counterfeit DVDs. The one big thing to keep in mind that may be tempting: no Buddha images. That’s right! Not a statue, painting, nor wall hanging of Buddha shall you bring home. Bummer, right? I guess there’s always World Market.
What are you looking forward to finding in Thailand?
