Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Welcome to a true buyer's market. Home to one of the world's largest outdoor markets,
numerous giant upscale malls, and sidewalk-clogging bazaars on nearly every street, it's
impossible not to be awed by the amount of commerce in Bangkok. However, despite the
apparent scope and variety, Bangkok really excels in one area when it comes to shopping:
cheap stuff. Although luxury items and brand names are indeed available in Bangkok,
prices are high, and you'll find much better deals at online warehouses in the US or
bargain-basement sales in Hong Kong. Ceramics, dirt-cheap T-shirts, fabric, Asian knick-
knackery -and yes, if you can deal with the guilt, pirated items - are Bangkok's bargains.
The difficulty is finding your way around, since the city's intense urban tangle some-
times makes orientation difficult. A good shopping companion is
Nancy Chandler's Map
of Bangkok,
with annotations on all sorts of small and out-of-the-way shopping venues
and
đà·làht
(markets).
