Bangkok is the first city outside my own country that I have ever visited. Now, it’s the most-visited city for me. Although shopping is not really at the top of my agenda when visiting Bangkok, I couldn’t help but put it on my itinerary.
For those who are after cheap commodities, from clothes and apparel to souvenir items to household stuff and pets, you will find a wide array of products at the weekend market, Chatuchak. The market is so big, divided into clusters to make it easier for a shopper to navigate. To get to Chatuchak, one can take the sky train or the subway. But it’s easier to get to the market via the subway because it leads commuters right at the entrance of Chatuchak.
The only thing you have to be ready when going to Chatuchak is the crowd, which sometimes cause the temperature to rise in the market. To be prepared for the warm condition, wear simple and cooler clothes.
I am a shopper who wants to strike a balance between a good buy and comfort, so I often prefer MBK. It’s a large mall that houses stalls and restaurants. The products here also range from shirts to souvenirs to gadgets and food. But the mall is air-conditioned and neat. Haggling is also practised by shoppers. MBK is accessible via the Siam BTS station. There is a walkway that leads to the mall.
Just across MBK are Discovery Mall and Siam Center. They are a bit towards the high-end level and stores mostly are branded and are more expensive. There are other malls in Bangkok, like Union Mall, which have become a favorite of shoppers.
Night markets are also popular in Bangkok, most especially Patpong, which is also the red-light district of the city. Others go here not to shop but to satisfy their curiosity. Be careful though because products here are more expensive. You can visit Patpong through the Sala Daeng station.
It’s interesting that many are looking towards Bangkok as a shopping destination. Make sure you hone your bargaining skills and you’re ready to go.