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Thailand Majestic Shopping Paradise
From ancient, historical antiques to latest branded items mixed with imitation goods, make up the unique shopping excitement in Thailand.
A wealth of shopping opportunities awaits you, and bargains abound throughout Thailand in traditional handicrafts, textiles, gems, jewellery and antiques, as well as more contemporary items. Locally produce products can be found in all cities.
Fixed prices are the norm in department stores, but at most other places bargaining is to be expected. Knowing the right price is important, so you know at what price to start your offers. Generally, you can obtain a final figure of between 10-40% lower than the original asking price.
Shopping is not my cup of tea while I travel, but some words of advice if you do.
- Shopping for small items like gifts, decorative or unique in looks but inexpensive is alright.
- Be cautious on expensive items like gems and jewellery. Unless you know about gems or have a "good" referral or you do not need it, don't buy.
- Avoid any offer of "private location" to negotiate.
- Unless you are in a well established outlet, try to pay by cash instead of credit card.
- A customer's greed is a scam expert's most powerful tool.
Antiques
 Antiques from ancient history are increasingly in short supply and Thailand's artisans have turned to creating copies to make them available in the demanding market. The more common are wood, bronze, terra-cotta, and stone statues from Thailand and Burma. Please note that the Export of Buddha images is banned by the Thai government. Deities, animals, children, betalnut boxes, and others in a variety of finishes are very popular. These are mostly available in Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
The Thai art scene is vibrant and there are numerous shops offering original works by local artists. Subjects range from renderings of classical temple murals and manuscript paintings to landscapes, typical Thai scenes and contemporary works of high aesthetic value.
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Baskets
With wicker and bamboo in abundant, creative Thai craftsmen transformed it into various kind of baskets. They are woven into cloth container, fruit baskets, kitchen baskets, flower hanger, giftware, rice box, stationery basket, picnic baskets, storage baskets, cookie baskets, bread baskets, tissue box, food box, tower box and many more types.
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Clothes
Bounty in style and special design clothing are sold from the street vendors to the popular department store. Tailored Thai fabrics into stylish clothes. In northern markets, you can find hilltribe jackets, dark blue farmers' shirts, and casual clothes.
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Fabrics
Thai silk is synonymous with THAI and Thailand. Sold in a rainbow of colours, its hallmark is the tiny nubs which, like embossing, rise from its shimmering surface.
Thai silk is perhaps the country's best known quality product, available at an enormous range of colors, design, and widths. It is also ideal for curtains, wall coverings and other interior design uses. Silk can be bought by the length, as tailor made outfits, or in a huge variety of accessories and decorative items. Best place to buy is at Chiang Mai.
Cotton is popular for shirts and dresses since it "breathes" in Thailand's hot, humid air.Thai cotton has gained an enormous reputation over recent years and today is as as popular as silk. A fabric of fine texture and durable quality, Thai cotton is produced in a broad range of colors, prints and embroidered designs, and is found in a wide variety of goods from clothing to bedspreads, table linen, cushion covers, rugs, bags and more.
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Gems and Jewellery
The country is a major center in the world market for gemstones, as well as an established cutting and setting center for all kinds of precious stones. Thailand has hundreds of gem cutters and jewelery makers. Buyers have the choice of opting for individual gems, finished jewelry, or custom made items. Light green Burmese jade is carved into jewellery and art objects. Costume jewellery is also popular.
Beware of fake, ask for a certificate of authenticity. Gem scams abound in Thailand, from the tuk-tuk and taxi drivers on city streets to the trading towns at the borders.
If you don't know gems, don't buy them.
If you feel you absolutely must buy expensive jewelery in Bangkok, get a reliable and professional recommendation from your home country. If you can't get a professional recommendation check with the Tourism Authority of Thailand for their list of approved shops.
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Pearls
 Pearl farm in Phuket is becoming the Asian center for the cultured pearl industry, Phuket has, in the past couple decades, become the preferred site in Southeast Asia for pearl cultivation. Each year, hundreds of these precious items are sent around the world as a valuable export item as the quality and lustre are in high demand. You can shop for pearl products at most larger jeweller stores. Buyers can choose from a wide range of colors and sizes.
A word of caution: Beware Of Scam.
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Pewter
 Pewter is tin-based alloy composed of at least 90% tin, with smaller amounts of other metals, most commonly copper and antimony. For Thai pewter the composition is 97% tin, 2.5% copper for elasticity and 0.5% antimony for hardness; this alloy contains no lead and is perfectly suitable for food and drink, as well as for a wide variety of decorative purposes. It is used as liquid metal to cast the desired forms. Today's pewter is an attractive white or silvery colour. At the manufacturing facility near Ayuthaya, Thailand's ancient capital, pewter pieces are produced by hand craftsmen in a traditional process. They include cups, saucers, plates, spoons, drinking vessels, soup tureens, candle-holders, vases, picture frames, museum replicas and gifts such as music boxes ....These are available almost anywhere especially tourist spot.
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Umbrellas
 Chiang Mai's most famous product, Chiang Mai umbrellas are hand-painted with nature scenes. Some are four metres in diameter, large enough to shade a patio table. Materials vary from cotton and silk to "sah" paper made from pounded tree bark, one of the oldest papers known. Huge silk fans serve as wall decorations. It's origin is purely cultural and is as much for the local people as it is for visitors. Over the years the tiny village has become synonymous with umbrella making and is now a well known tourist attraction in itself.
A yearly Umbrella Festival is held usually in the 3rd week of January in the village of Bo Sang where hundreds of pretty local girls hold umbrellas in a very colorful parade and beauty pageant.
Visit the village to see how they make them, and to pick up your souvenir at the best prices.
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Prohibited export items
Buddha images, Bodhisattva images or fragments there of are forbidden to be taken out of Thailand.A license must be obtained from the Department of Fine Arts in order that such objects of antiquity or objects of art, irrespective of whether they are originals or reproductions. may be taken out of the country.
You can register at the Fine Arts Department in Bangkok on Na Prathat Road across from Sanam Luang, together with two postcard-sized photos of it. The export fee ranges between 50 and 200 baht, depending on the antiquity of the piece.
Also, check first with your own embassy regarding regulations on bringing back agricultural products like fruits or orchid seedlings.
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Antiques