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Home > Activities > Shopping
SHOPPING
PARADISE
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 Silom-Surawong-Patpong:
Silom Road is the main artery of Bangkok's commercial
heart and is paralleled by Surawong Road, while Patpong
runs crosswise between the two. In addition to housing
dozens of specialist shops and boutiques representing
all the major buys, this area also boasts many branches
of well-known retailers and several shopping plazas.
Street stalls also abound, most notably at Patpong's
famous night market.
Sukhumvit:
Like Silom, Sukhumvit is one of Bangkok's main thoroughfares,
and the long road is lined with shops, boutiques and
modern shopping plazas ranging from Soi 3 (Nana Nua)
up to Soi 63 (Ekamai). Most shops and restaurants
are concentrated between Soi 3 and Soi 21 (Asoke)
and along shortcuts between Asoke and Ekamai.
Pratunam-Phetchaburi:
A highlight in the district is Pratunam market,
one of
Bangkok's biggest centres for ready-to-wear
clothing. |
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Ploenchit-Ratchaprasong:
Top department stores and luxury shopping malls are
concentrated in the area, namely Central, Sogo, Gaysorn
Plaza, Isetan, Zen, Amarin Plaza, Peninsula Plaza,
all of which together make the largest shopping promenade
in Bangkok. Furthermore, the World Trade Center and
Narayana Phand Pavilion, host the official handicraft
centre selling items from all parts of the country.
Ratchaprasong intersection is the gateway to several
shopping areas such as Ploenchit-Sukhumvit, Siam Square-Mah
Boon Krong, Silom and Pratunam-Phetchaburi
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Shopping
in Bangkok is not limited to one or two major streets,
but offers many areas throughout the city affording
ample choiceand easy access. The following is just
a selection of some of the principal shopping districts.
Silom-Mahesak-New
Road:
Silom leads into New Road which parallels the Chao
Phraya River, and notable shopping opportunities include
gems and jewellery stores (Mahesak Road is a gem trading
centre), Oriental Plaza and River City shopping complex.
Bang
Lamphu:
Situated close to the Grand Palace and Temple of the
Emerald Buddha, Bang Lamphu has a lively market where
clothing is a popular buy.
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Bo-be
Market:
Situated close to Bangkok Railway
Station, Bo-be is one of the city's
renowned ready-to-wear clothing centres,
both wholesale and retail.
Bangkok
International Airport:
Centre for an extensive range of shops
offering a full selection of Thailand's
top buys.
Beyond
Bangkok
The main city for shopping outside
the capital is Chiang Mai, which ranks
as one of the world's largest centres
for handicrafts and cottage industries.
The extensive range of local products
includes cotton and silk, hilltribe
clothing, Burmese tapestries, hand-painted
umbrellas and lacquerware, and many
such items can be found at its fascinating
Night Bazaar. Pattaya also offers
plentiful shopping for Thai goods
while virtually all other cities and
resorts provide ample opportunity
for buying gifts and souvenirs, as
well as local specialties.
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Amazing
Shopping Street
The project is jointly initiated by TAT,
the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration,
and members of the private sector
representing hotels, department
stores, shopping malls and other business
interests around Bangkok's famous Ratchaprasong
Intersection. It is set to be held from
December 1 until January 15 as part of
the festive New Year celebrations.
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promotional "Amazing Shopping Street"
campaign sees the city's streets and buildings
in the vicinity of Ratchaprasong intersection
sporting a bright, fresh and fun look
with a "Star of Happiness" theme.
The harsh lines of the buildings are softened
with trees, plants, landscaping, and a
touch of Thai to make the area aesthetically
appealing.
All electrical wiring is buried underground.
Street furniture and new lighting are
installed and sidewalks smoothly paved
with all the shopping malls in and around
the intersection linked by covered elevated
walkways.
The "Amazing Shopping Street"
campaign features shopping discounts,
special offers and festive celebrations
as well as leisure and entertainment extravaganza
held throughout the promotional period.
However, the highlight of the event is
the "Bangkok Countdown" held
in front of the World Trade Centre on
New Year's Eve in which Thai and foreign
visitors gather and join the rest of the
world in welcoming the New Year. The 2001
"Amazing Shopping Street" is
set to take place once again during the
same period.
VAT refunds
Shopping
centres and other retail outlets around
Bangkok sporting the "Amazing Thailand
Grand Sale & Grand Service" symbol
are offering special price reductions
during the Grand Sale. Visitors should
therefore look out for this sign plus
the VAT refund symbol when shopping.
Vistors
to Thailand can now claim VAT refunds
at Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai and Phuket
international airports for a minimum purchase
of 5,000 baht with no less than 2,000
baht / receipt / day. Upon purchase, visitors
should request the store to process a
VAT refund form (Por Por 10). When departing,
visitors have the form sealed at the customs
checkpoint prior to airline check-in.
W
hen passing through passport control,
visitors will have the form processed
by the Revenue Department officials 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.
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