Shopping in Bangkok is not limited to one or two major streets, and there are many areas throughout the city affording ample choice and easy access. The following is just a selection of some of the principal shopping districts.

Silom-Surawong-Phatpong :

          Silom Road is the main artery of Bangkok's commercial heart and is paralleled by Surawong Road, while Phatpong rus crosswise between the two. In addition to housing dozens of specialist shops and boutiques representing all the major buys, this area also boasts branches of Central and Robinson's department stores and several shopping plazas. Street stalls also abound, most notably at Phatpong's famous night market.

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.

Phloen Chit-Ratchadamri :

          Found here are, among other, Central, Sogo, Gaysorn Plaza, Isatan, Zen, TAT's Thailand Duty Free Shops, Amarin Plaza, Peninsula Plaza with a host of luxury shops, World Trade Center and , not least , Narayana Phand pavilion, the official handicraft centre selling items from all parts of the country.

Sukhumvit :

          Like Silom, Sukhumvit is one of Bangkok's main thoroughfares, and the long road is lined with shops, boutiques and modern shopping plazas.

Banglamphu :

          Situated close to the Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Banglampu has a lively market where clothing is a popular buy.

Chinatown :

          Centred on Yaowarat Road and Sampheng Lane, Bangkok's Chinatown offers a profusion of gold shops as well as two nearby traditional shopping places, "Thieves Market" and Phahurat Cloth Market.

Pratunam-Phetchaburi :

          A highlight of this district is Pratunam Market, one of Bangkok's biggest traditional centres for ready-to-wear clothing of all kinds.

Chatuchak Weekend Market :

          Located at Chatuchak Park, adjacent to Vibhavadirangsit Highway (leading to the airport),the Weekend Market, open on Saturday and Sunday, is a Bangkok landmark where you can buy just about everything from clothing to potted plants -- a paradise for browsers and bargain-hunters alike.

Baiyoke Tower :

          Located next to Bangkok's tallest building is one of the city's renowed garment centres.

Pinklao-Nakhon Chaisi Road :

          This area offers a variety of shops located conveniently close to the southern bus terminal.

Ratchadaphisek Road :

          An up-and-coming commercial district with a branch of Robinson's department store and the offices and showroom of the Department of Export Promotion

Bangkok International Airport :

          Here there is an extensive range of shops offering a full selection of Thailand's top buys.

Beyond Bangkok :

          he 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 silverware, lacquer ware, cotton and silk, hill tribe clothing, Burmese tapestries and hand-painted umbrellas Pattaya alos offers plentiful shopping for Thai goods, while virtually all other tourist centres give ample opportunity for buying gifts and souvenirs, as well as local specialities.

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