Your Bangkok trip is finally coming to an end and it is time to think of things to bring back home for your family and friends.
There is no shortage of souvenir items to buy in Bangkok, from delicious Thai snacks, unique silver jewelry, and rare antiques. Your head will surely spin when trying to decide on what to buy.
To help you with your dilemma, here is a rundown of 10 best souvenirs to buy in Bangkok. These items are uniquely Thai and will surely remind you of your wonderful time at Southeast Asia’s “City of Angels”.
Image credit: Isen MajenntAnything made of authentic Thai silk is special because of the hand weaving process in its production. Caterpillars that produce the natural protein fiber are also specially fed on a strict diet of mulberry leaves. The result is the soft and delicate cloth that can be made into a scarf, a tie, a pillow cover, a cushion cover, a bag or a wallet.
Any woman on the receiving end of this souvenir would be delighted with the beauty of the gift. A silk tie or shirt also has the power to bring a smile to a man’s face. These souvenirs can be folded and fit easily in your luggage.
BEST GIFTS FOR
Wife, mother, and female friends
PORTABLE LEVEL
Easy to manage
PRICE RANGE
150 to 6,000 bath ($4.00 to $170.00)
WHERE TO BUY
Image credit: Wendy HarmanIf you want to bring the taste of Thai home, then you must grab some Thai spices before your flight. These come dried and in vacuum-sealed packs so you don’t need to worry about their strong aromas while traveling on a vehicle. Chili pastes and hot sauces are also bottled in air-tight containers. Just check your country’s customs regulations to avoid problems.
This souvenir is perfect if you love to cook and want to recreate that yummy Pad Thai or Tom Yum you had in Bangkok.
BEST GIFTS FOR
Yourself, family members, friends, and co-workers who are fond of cooking
PORTABLE LEVEL: Manageable
PRICE RANGE
10 to 300 baht ($0.30 to 9.00)
WHERE TO BUY
Image credit: HarnnAfter coming back from a long overseas journey you might want to soothe your mind and body with essential oils and scented candles. Thailand is a great source for such spa products and bringing home some for yourself as well as family and friends is a wonderful idea.
Herbal massage packs, carved soaps, foot soaks, and body scrubs are also among the top favorites. If you are buying for a man, choose massage and soothing balms.
BEST GIFTS FOR: Wife, mother, female friends and co-workers
PORTABLE LEVEL: Manageable
PRICE RANGE: 40 to 1,000 baht ($1.00 to $28.00)
WHERE TO BUY
Image credit: Paradise Coconut OilCoconut oil has been gaining more and more popularity in recent years because of its numerous benefits. For ladies, it is an effective natural beauty product that helps in moisturizing skin and protecting hair from damage. It also acts as a sunscreen.
This magical oil is practically available anywhere in Bangkok (and anywhere in Thailand, the mother land of coconut). Look for English labels to know the kind of coconut oil that you are buying. Popular products include virgin coconut oil, coconut oil hair products, and coconut oil bath items.
BEST GIFTS FOR: Wife, mother, female friends and co-workers
PORTABLE LEVEL: Manageable
AVERAGE PRICE: 250 baht ($7.00)
WHERE TO BUY
Image credit: tykhyi A quick exploration of Bangkok’s popular markets will introduce yourself to a myriad of Thai handicrafts. These beautiful products are works of art in themselves and are painstakingly handcrafted by local artisans. You can choose from triangle cushions, wicker baskets, pottery dishes, lacquerware, or wooden carvings.
If you want to breath new life into your living room with a touch of Thai, then Thai handcrafted cushions are just the right things. Instead of buying stuffed cushions, you can go for the uniquely designed covers and stuff them yourself when you get home.
Check your country’s customs regulations before making a purchase. Make sure that the natural fibers used in your wanted souvenir items are accepted at the customs.
BEST GIFTS FOR: Parents, boss and yourself
PORTABLE LEVEL: From manageable to hard to manage
PRICE RANGE: 300 to 1500 baht ($8 to $42)
WHERE TO BUY
Image credit: Ian FullerCan’t get enough of durian chips? Don’t fret! You can easily buy and take home these “love it or hate it” munchies as well as other popular Thai snacks.
Certified foodies will love the durian chips and other exotic snacks. Buying for children? Get some coconut candy! Other recommended items include dried squid, seaweed snack, pork floss, crispy pork sticks, and exotic-flavored potato chips.
Thai edible souvenirs are readily available in the snacks section of any leading supermarket.
BEST GIFTS FOR: Children, friends, and co-workers
PORTABLE LEVEL: Easy to manage
PRICE RANGE: 50 to 300 baht ($1.40 to $8.24)
WHERE TO BUY
Image credit: nstudiocmJewelry as gifts is always a hit. In Bangkok, you can buy high quality silver jewelry at good prices.
To make sure that the silver items you are going to buy is genuine, look for the .925 stamp which means the item is made of 92.5% silver. You can also opt for the higher quality hill tribe silver pieces that are made of 99% silver. These unique bracelets, ear rings and necklaces are painstakingly handcrafted by tribal folks in Northern Thailand.
Be aware that some vendors sell replicas of hill tribe silver products. If you want to help the tribes, you can shop online through their official sites. This guarantees the authenticity of the products and the financial rewards the tribes will have.
BEST GIFTS FOR: Spouse, girlfriend/boyfriend, parents
PORTABLE LEVEL: Easy to manage
PRICE RANGE: 180 to 18,000 baht ($5.00 – $500.00)
WHERE TO BUY
Image credit: badztuaIf you are doing some last-minute souvenir shopping for your friends back home, you can easily pick up various knick-knacks that are still uniquely Thai.
Accessories, key chains, coin purses, and small elephant-designed items are just some of the stuff that you can buy from almost all souvenir shops in Bangkok. If you are running out of time, buy these trinkets at the airport’s souvenir shops.
For best bargains, buy in bulk. Many of those souvenirs come in packs of 5 or 6 at cheaper prices, compared to when purchasing individually.
BEST GIFTS FOR: Friends and co-workers
PORTABLE LEVEL: Easy to manage
AVERAGE PRICE: 40 baht ($0.50)
WHERE TO BUY
Image credit: shark749Genuine antiques are expensive and rare in Bangkok. Taking home these items are made harder by strict government regulations.
Take note that bringing Buddha statues out of Thailand is prohibited. The same goes for other items that are considered as part of Thai national heritage. You need to secure a permit from the Fine Arts Department before you can bring them out of the country. Most antique dealers can assist you in processing the permit.
The antique souvenir items that you can readily bring back home are mere replicas, which look so much like the originals. These replicas are still worthy souvenirs for decorative purposes.
BEST GIFTS FOR: Collectors, boss, yourself
PORTABLE LEVEL: Hard to manage
PRICE RANGE: From 2,000 baht ($50.00) and above
WHERE TO BUY
Image credit: Scott GriffithMuay Thai gears have recently become a favorite souvenir item among tourists. You can give these inexpensive, comfortable-to-wear shorts to your husband, son, or a male friend who is a big Muay Thai fan.
These wearable souvenirs are practically available anywhere in Bangkok, from air-conditioned malls to open-air markets.
To complete the experience, you can even visit a Muay Thai camp and watch fights or be trained by professionals!
BEST GIFTS FOR: Husband/boyfriend, son, male friends, martial arts fans
PORTABLE LEVEL: Easy to manage
PRICE RANGE: 300 to 1,300 baht ($8.00 to $36.00)
WHERE TO BUY
