Top Five Best Things to Buy in Thailand

There Are Many Incredible Products to Buy in Thailand, but These Five Are the Best

Cassandra James, Yahoo! Contributor Network

Nov 13, 2008 “Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here.”

The shopping in Thailand is some of the best in the world. Quality is great, the choice is amazing and prices are cheap. If you come on a trip to Thailand though, what should you buy? Out of all the choices you will have, what are the best things to buy and why? I’m an expert shopper and, having lived in Thailand for five years, I know the best things to buy. Here are the top things you should consider buying while you’re in Thailand and why.

1. Thai Silk - Thai silk is known world-wide as the best in the world. The quality of Thai silk is excellent, the weave is beautiful and the colors and designs are gorgeous. In Thailand, you can buy silks in either plain colors or hand-painted. You can buy silk shirts, silk jackets, silk skirts, silk scarves, silk shawls, silk purses, silk wallets, silk bags, silk pajamas, silk cushion covers, silk tablecloths – you name it, it’s available in Thailand in silk. One of the best places for silk is Jim Thompson House. Jim Thompson House sells top-quality silk products, at a much higher price than most other places in Thailand, but still much cheaper than in the USA or Europe. There are several Jim Thompson House branches, but most of the large malls have one so they’re easy to find. For cheaper silks but that are still good quality, check out Mahboonkrong Mall, Chatuchak Market or any of the silk shops scattered all over Bangkok. You can also have clothing made to measure in silk, in any color and any design.

2. Orchids - Thailand is world-famous for its orchids. Orchids are shipped all over the world fromBangkok and Chiang Mai and many other towns in Thailand. In the West, orchids are incredibly expensive. In Thailand, they are cheap. Last week, I bought a bunch of orchids at the supermarket for 10 baht (around US 28 cents!). You can buy orchids and arrange to have them shipped to your own country from any florist in Thailand. You can also order orchids from the orchid farms near Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. It’s also interesting to visit the orchid farms, as you can see how they are grown and the enormous number of orchid varieties they have. If you buy orchids, they will usually be shipped out the next day, although you can choose what day they will be mailed. The orchids or orchid plant will be packed perfectly and will arrive in your home country within 48 hours, looking just as perfect and beautiful as they did in Thailand.

3. Carved Wood Furniture - There are carved wooden furniture factories in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. They have the most beautiful carved wood furniture you have ever seen and at a fraction of the cost of the US or Europe. Every piece of carved wood furniture you could require is available and most factories will also make anything to your specifications. An intricately carved wooden cabinet, which opens out to become a full bar, will cost less than $1,000. In the US, these pieces of carved furniture are retailing at between $4,000 and $8,000. Even paying the shipping from Thailand, you can still buy a gorgeous piece of unusual made-to-order furniture for much less than in the US. Shipping will take from between 4 to 8 weeks. You can also buy wooden garden furniture, dining room tables, statues, clocks, decorative panels, screens, chairs, coffee tables – you name it, it’s available and if you don’t see what you want, ask them to make it for you.

4. Lacquer Products - Lacquer ware is all over Thailand and very beautiful. These products are usually made of bamboo or teak wood and then lacquered through a very long process to create brightly colored, shiny objects that shimmer in the light. You can buy lacquered trays, boxes, table mats, bowls, cups, vases, ornaments, even candlestick holders. There are many lacquer factories in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Bangkok. You can also buy lacquer ware at Chatuchak Market, the Night Bazaars in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, and any number of department stores and shops all over Thailand. The highest priced items are usually at the factories and department stores, but the quality is impeccable. These places will also ship anything you buy back to your home country for you, so you don’t have to worry about excess baggage costs or struggling with them on the plane.

5. Gold, Jewelry and Gems - Thailand has become one of the world hubs for gold, jewelry and gem stones. Kanchanaburi, near Bangkok, is known for its gem mines, especially for rubies. Thailand is now a world supplier of jade and sapphire. There are also gold shops all over Thailand, even in the very small towns, as Thais prefer to keep their money in gold, feeling like it is more secure and a better investment. The quality of much of the gold and jewelry is superb and, because Thai craftsmen are experts but paid a lower salary than their Western counterparts, they can sell the gold and jewelry cheaper. Friends have bought gold and ruby or jade bracelets in Thailand for under $150, and then had the bracelet valued in the US for more than $500. If you buy gold, jewelry or gems though, make sure you buy from a reputable dealer. There are scams in Thailand, like anywhere else, especially with gems. You will have many market stall owners trying to sell you rubies or jade, if they know you’re interested, but these will not actually be the genuine product. Buy from a reputable dealer and make sure you get a certificate of authenticity and the agreement you can return it if it is not what they say it is. Thailand also doesn’t charge export or import duties on gem stones, so much of the world’s gems are cut in Thailand, which also opens up the availability. For gold, almost all gold shops are reputable. Prices will differ slightly at each shop so shop around for the best deal before you buy.

There are many gorgeous, beautifully-crafted items available to buy in Thailand. For best price and quality though, you cannot go wrong buying silk, orchids, carved wooden furniture, lacquer ware or gold, jewelry and gems.

 

Top Five Best Things to Buy in Thailand