Fun & Affordable Shopping Adventures in Thailand

Shopping Experiences In & Around Bangkok.

One of the most common leisure activities for medical tourists visiting Thailand is of course shopping! In between,or after trips to the hospital or clinic, we are frequently asked about places to go for deals, and tips on where to have great shopping adventures.

Thankfully, Bangkok has an amazing scope of options for every type of shopper. For those that want to buy high end luxury brands like Gucci, Hermes, Rolex, etc, they are readily available at upscale malls – most notably at places such as Siam Paragon Mall, Emquartier Mall & Icon Siam.

But this blog is geared more towards shopping adventures and non luxury shopping in or around Bangkok. We will review some of the best places to shop and have amazing experiences including at vintage markets where you can find hidden gems and rare items, premium outlets where you can get brands like Nike with massive discounts, world famous outdoor weekend markets, and fun trade show experiences. We compiled a list of  5 of the best shopping locations below.

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The Red Building (Vintage Market)

Many people love the experience of going to vintage markets where you can bargain for items, find amazing treasures and fun items at reasonable prices. One of the best spots to spend an amazing day doing this is at Thoog Dang  (In Thai this means “The Red Building”), which is located in the Chatuchak district, just a short walk from the Mo Chit Skytrain station. You can also access this market by the subway train system known as the MRT, and exit at the Chatuchak Park Station. It is in Bangkok but more towards the outskirts of the city, not in the city center (About 20 minutes from central Bangkok). If you search for “Red Building Vintage Chatuchak” in English on Google you will find it. The Red Building is actually located directly across from the world famous Chatuchak weekend only market (the largest open market in Asia with more than 8000 stalls), however The Red Building is open daily. At this vintage market you will find floors of antiques, clothing, hats, toys, jewelry, watch shops (some of the best 2nd hand swiss watch dealers exist here, on the 1st floor), weapons and lighters, furniture, imported items from Japan, posters and fanfare, records and music, and much much more. Everytime you go to this market you find something you didn’t expect to see. Without a doubt the spending a day at The Red Building Vintage Market is one of the most fun shopping experiences in Bangkok. You can interact with locals, haggle for deals, find interesting items at fair prices, search for valuable antiques & rare items, and of course eat authentic Thai food while you are there.

MBK Center

Located in the heart of the Bangkok, MBK is one of the most famous and popular markets in Bangkok located directly outside the National Stadium BTS Skytrain station. It is easily accessible and offers a shoppers abundant choices, a truly dizzying amount of shops with a wide variety of items, restaurants and more (there is also arcades and a cinema). At MBK you will find a mix of brand name stores and local small businesses with scores of stores that range from clothing, video games, antiques, furniture, paper and stationary, souvenir shops, toys , bags, jewelry and more. Many of the stores are run by locals and bargaining can be done (It is fun to bargain but keep in mind not to go to far and allow the local dealer to make a little money). There are also several chain restaurants like McDonalds, as well as local Thai restaurants, a food court, and street food stalls on the ground floor outside the mall. You can easily spend the entire day at MBK and most people wind up doing just that. This shopping center is affordable and fun, offering a wide variety of items and a memorable cultural experience. Adjacent to this mall is the famous “Jim Thompson House”, a popular tourist destination – so many people like to combine a day of shopping at MBK with a visit to the Jim Thompson House.

Chatuchak Weekend Market

Chatuchak Weekend Market is Asia’s largest outdoor market with over 8000 stalls in what can be accurately described as unending maze of stores and thai culture. It is easy to get to about 20 minutes from Bangkok’s city center accessible by BTS Skytrain at the Mo Chit station and via the MRT Subway at the Chatuchak Station. As described in its name, it is only open on the weekends from Friday to Sunday, however on Fridays it will be less crowded and less vibrant, more geared towards wholesale buyers as stalls tend to be setting up and preparing for Saturday and Sunday. Chatuchak market is world famous and a must visit for most tourists. There is something for everybody here and most is getting lost in the maze is the best part (unless you get separated from your family then it can be scary, so make sure you arrange a meeting spot in case of separation and have your phone’s ringer loud. It is a loud and buzzing market so it can be difficult to hear the phone). Chatuchak boasts an incredible range of items for purchase including art galleries that feature local up and coming artists, the famous or infamous pet market depending on your perspective, which features a wide range of animals and fish, antiques, clothing, furniture, toys, rugs, souvenirs, handmade local crafts, watches, and much more (I don’t think I am able to accurately list what is available here, there is just too many items and types of items). There is also an abundance of Thai street food vendors, fruit drinks stands, ice cream, smoothie stalls and fresh fruit. Spending a day here is easy and typically ends of being one of the highlights of a visit to Bangkok.

Siam Premium Outlet

Shopping for name brands in the city center at malls in Bangkok can be expensive. You will pay full retail price with costs similar to western countries. But for those that want a bargain on name brands like Nike, Polo, Adidas, Swarovski, Under Armor, The North Face, Timberland (And many more household names), Siam Premium Outlet makes for an amazing day trip. The outlet is located about 45 minutes from Bangkok and you will need to take a car to reach it, but once you arrive you will understand it was well worth the trip. This beautiful and modern outdoor shopping destination offers discounts typically between 40%-70% on big brands with incredible selections. There are also plenty of dining options and restaurants so you can make a whole day out of the trip.

IMPACT Arena

Located in the Pak Kret District of the Nonthaburi Province (A northern suburb of Bangkok), Impact is about 30 minutes outside Bangkok and easily accessible by car. The Impact Arena is a commercial mega structure which hosts trade shows, fairs, exhibition halls, and maintains a massive convention center with shopping and dining. Throughout the year, there are huge sales happening at the Impact center across a wide variety of shopping categories (Electronics, Computers, Furniture, Household items, Clothing & more). There are also fun events the take place here such as international car and motorcycle shows, music concerts, science fairs, and trade shows with both international and local sellers and their products. If you are in Bangkok, you may want to should search for what is going on at the Impact Arena during your stay – something happening at here might catch your eye and peak your interest. Visiting Impact is a fun day exploring outside the city center of Bangkok where you can often shop for amazing items at a huge discount. In addition you can often find local products and new items made in Thailand. Make sure to wear comfortable footwear as the Impact Center is quite vast with a lot to explore!

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