Popular Shopping Place

Bangkok is actually a great shopping city with everything from international retailers offering haute couture to street vendors selling "antique" opium pipes and phony Rolex watches (which may be confiscated—with no compensation—by customs agents). Bangkok's most popular exports are its lovely silks and silk products, jewelry, celadon pottery, lacquer ware, masks, carvings and antiques. If a price seems too steep, chances are you can talk it down. The language barrier isn't a problem: Every street vendor carries a calculator, and without a word spoken, the calculator passes hands sometimes six or seven times before a settlement is reached. Treasure hunters won't want to miss the Weekend Market at Chatuchak Park on the north end of the city. Silom Road, near Patpong Road, is a hive of activity every night.

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 - PATPONG

Silom Road is the main artery of Bangkok's commercial heart and is paralleled by Surawong Road, while Phatpong runs cross-wise 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 Patpong's famous night market and nightlife entertainment.

SILOM – MAHESAK – CHAROENKRUNG 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 Gems trading centre), Oriental Plaza and River City Shopping Complex.

PHLOENCHIT – RATCHADAMRI ROAD

You can 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 center selling items from all parts of the country.

SUKHUMVIT ROAD

Like Silom, Sukhumvit is one of Bangkok's main thorough fares, and the long road is lined with shops, boutiques and modern shopping plazas. Several good hotels are located on Sukhumvit Road. You can also find several custom tailor shops, mostly owned by Thais of Indian Sikh origin. There are hundreds of establishments, small and large, which can produce the perfect fit in virtually whatever style you want in just a few days or even hours at a very reasonable price.

PRATUNAM - PHETCHBURI

A highlight of this district is Pratunam Market, one of Bangkok's biggest traditional centers for ready-to-wear clothing of all kinds. Famous for great bargains in ready-to-wear fashions, jewelry and leather goods, this vast lively and characterful bazaar is jam-packed with stalls and countless peddlers which attract large crowds. Street level purchases and bargaining can often be more fun for visitors who want a bit more local color than what the high-rise shopping centers offer.

Several ready-to-wear garment shops can be found in Baiyoke Tower. A place of real bargain for ready-to-wear garments. If you are looking for good deal on ready-to-wear garments, then visiting Pratunam market and Baiyoke Tower should be on your list. 

BOBAE TOWER MARKET – TALAT BOBAE

BOBAE market is well known to be the center of garment wholesale for over 30 years. Today, Bobae Tower revolutionizes the garment wholesale business by having well over 700 shops all under one roof with our- condition and facilities for the customer's convenience making Bobae Tower the biggest garment wholesale center in Thailand. By having over 700 wholesale shops selling best quality garment products at reasonable prices is the reason why you should shop at BoBae Tower. Furthermore, Bobae Tower offers you shipping services to send your cargo worldwide. Bobae Tower is situated in the heart of Bangkok where transportation is the most convenient.

BANGLAMPHU

Situated close to the Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Banglampu has a lively market where clothing is a popular buy. New World and Tang Hua Seng department stores are located in this area. You can also get good deal in Banglamphu on leather products. Banglamphu is located in the same area as KHAOSAN, the famous place among budget travelers.


CHINATOWN

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

PHAHURAT
It is the Little India in Bangkok and is the famous cloth market in town. 

CHATUCHAK WEEKEND MARKET
Chatuchak Park located adjacent to Vibhavadi Rangsit 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 renowned ready to wear garment center.

PINKLAO – NAKHON CHAISI ROAD

This area offers a variety of shops located conveniently close to the southern bus terminal. There are a few department stores like Central and Pata Department store located here. 

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


BEYOND BANGKOK

The main city for shopping outside the capital is Chiang Mai which ranks as one of the world's largest centers 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 also offers plentiful shopping for Thai goods, while virtually all other tourist centers give ample opportunity for buying gifts and souvenirs, as well as local specialties.

Thai Government

Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Thailand conventional short form: Thailand former: Siam 

Government type: constitutional monarchy 

Capital: Bangkok 

Administrative divisions: 76 provinces (changwat, singular and plural); Amnat Charoen, Ang Thong, Buriram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Chumphon, Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Krung Thep Mahanakhon (Bangkok), Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Lop Buri, Mae Hong Son, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan, Narathiwat, Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Pattani, Phangnga, Phatthalung, Phayao, Phetchabun, Phetchaburi, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phrae, Phuket, Prachin Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Rayong, Roi Et, Sa Kaeo, Sakon Nakhon, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Sara Buri, Satun, Sing Buri, Sisaket, Songkhla, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Surat Thani, Surin, Tak, Trang, Trat, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Uthai Thani, Uttaradit, Yala, Yasothon 

Independence: 1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized) 

National holiday: Birthday of King PHUMIPHON, 5 December (1927) 

Constitution: new constitution signed by King PHUMIPHON on 11 October 1997 

Legal system: based on civil law system, with influences of common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction 

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory 

Executive branch: chief of state: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet (since 9 June 1946) head of government: Prime Minister THAKSIN Chinnawat (since 9 February 2001) and Deputy Prime Ministers CHITCHAI Wannasathi (since 11 March 2005), PHINIT Charusombat (since 6 October 2004), SOMKHIT Chatusiphithak (since 11 March 2005), SURAKIAT Sathianthai (since 11 March 2005); SURIYA Chungrungruankit (since 3 August 2005), SUWAT Liptapanlop (since 3 August 2005), WISANU Kruangam (since 8 November 2003) cabinet: Council of Ministers note: there is also a Privy Council elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister is designated from among the members of the House of Representatives; following national elections for the House of Representatives, the leader of the party that can organize a majority coalition usually is appointed prime minister by the king 

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly or Rathasapha consists of the Senate or Wuthisapha (200 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon (500 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 4 March, 29 April, 4 June, 9 July, and 22 July 2000 (next to be held by March 2006); House of Representatives - last held 6 February 2005 (next to be held in February 2009) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - TRT 376, DP 97, TNP 25, PP 2 

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Sandika (judges appointed by the monarch) 

Political parties and leaders: Democrat Party or DP (Prachathipat Party) [ABHISIT Wetchachiwa]; People's Party or PP (Mahachon Party) [ANEK Laothamatas]; Thai Nation Party or TNP (Chat Thai Party) [BARNHARN SILPA-ARCHA]; Thai Rak Thai Party or TRT [THAKSIN Chinnawat] 

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA 

International organization participation: APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO 

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: KASIT Piromya chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20007-3681 telephone: [1] (202) 944-3600 FAX: [1] (202) 944-3611 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York 

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph L. BOYCE embassy: 120/22 Wireless Road, Bangkok mailing address: APO AP 96546 telephone: [66] (2) 205-4000 FAX: [66] (2) 254-2990, 205-4131 consulate(s) general: Chiang Mai 

Flag description: five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and red