Today Bangkok's fashion is next only to Paris and Milan as can be seen from the fact that the latest trendy clothes and accessories are available at almost all corners of the metropolis. The locations for buying vary from upscale boutique malls to bustling street markets and from everyday artisans' workshops to glittering jewellery showrooms. Whatever your taste is, Bangkok has a wide choice for all. You can shop at any of the following places at your convenience. Their names are in alphabetical order.

Bang Lamphu:
Located near Khao San Road. Open daily.
Bang Lamphu is an interesting local shopping centre adjacent to Khao San Road. Items sold here mostly are clothes and accessories. If you are hungry, try Indian food available there next to 7-11 convenience store. Bang Lamphu, like Khao San Road, will be more lively at night.

Chatuchak:
Located on Phahon Yothin Road near Mo Chit BTS Station and Kamphaengphet MRT Station. Open on Saturday and Sunday.
Chatuchak (or locally known as JJ) is one of the world's largest weekend markets with more than 5,000 booths selling goods from all over Thailand. You will be dazzled by a bulk of almost all souvenirs that tourists can imagine; whether it is a beautiful vase, a cuddly puppy or a replica of an antique. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes and beware of pickpockets.

Emporium:
Located on Sukhumvit Road, Phrom Phong BTS Station
Emporium, a fabulous mall on Sukhumvit Road, has many luxury boutiques including a modern Thai designer decor and accessory section. Emporium is directly accessed from Phrom Phong BTS station.

Esplanade (The):
Ratchadaphisek Road
This shopping mall was established to be an "Arte-Tainment Avenue". The Esplanade consists of upscale shops, a 12-screen cinema megaplex, a 26-lane bowling alley , an ice skating arena and a 1,500-seat musical theatre. As an "Arte-Tainment Avenue", the Esplanade also highlights art exhibitions and activities.

Khao San Road:
Located near Bang Lamphu and Ratchadamnoen Road.
Khao San Road has been known for a long time as a backpackers' mecca due to its cheap accommodations. Today it is also famous for reasonable-price souvenir shops. What's more, fashionable clothes and accessories are what you will see along the street. Many shops are open all day but some are usually open after dark when nightlife is begun.

MBK (Maboonkhrong) Center:
Diagonal to Siam Discovery Center. Open daily.
MBK is another shopping mall where you will find myriad goods on sale. Besides clothes and accessories, reasonable-price mobile phones are what people heading for. Upper floors of this downtown mall are devoted to mobile phones and electronic accessories.

Naraya Phand:
Opposite Central World Plaza. Open daily.
Naraya Phand, the Royal Thai Government Handicrafts Centre, showcases handicrafts of fine craftsmanship at low prices. Popular items are fabrics, handbags, cosmetic bags, and so on.

Phahurat:
Located on Phahurat Road, connecting to Sampheng. Open daily.
Phahurat Indian Market features a wide array of fabrics and clothes, especially cotton and silk. Apart from being a cloth centre, Phahurat is renowned as a spice source as well. And when you are hungry, search the tiny alleys for Indian specialties or other local dishes.

Pratunam Area:
Located near Central World Plaza and Pantip Plaza. Open daily.
In this area inexpensive clothing and cloth are available both in the air-conditioned department stores like Pratunam Center and the Platinum Mall or in open-air shophouses and stalls at Pratunam Market.

Ratchaprasong Area:
Around the Ratchaprasong Intersection
The area consists of boutique malls such as Erawan Plaza, Gaysorn Plaza, Amarin Plaza and Central World Plaza. They are open daily. At all these shopping centres, brand-name retail shops are concentrated.

River City Shopping Complex:
Located at the Chao Phraya riverside, near Si Phraya Pier. Open daily.
River City Shopping Complex is one of the largest antique centres of Thailand. Art lovers will find the complex striking as over a hundred art and antique shops line the entire space.

A monthly auction is also held here. And after the sun sets, you can opt to dine in one of the cruisers berthing at the Shopping Complex's pier.

Siam Square Area:
Diagonal to MBK Center. Open daily.
The Siam square area consists of Siam Discovery Center, Siam Center, Siam Paragon and Siam Square. Siam Square is divided into several small alleys full of shops selling trendy clothing. However, the prices here are relatively higher than those of other places of Bangkok.

Silom Area:
Located near Sala Daeng BTS Station, Silom Road. Open daily.
Silom Road highlights Silom Complex which houses a Central Department Store and Thaniya Plaza, which specialises in golf equipment and luxury decor. From Sala Daeng BTS Station to Silom Soi 4 in the evening and at night you can find various kinds of souvenirs, clothes and CDs at the side-street stalls.

Suanlum Night Bazaar:
Located on Rama IV Road, easily accessed from Lumpini MRT Station
This night bazaar offers you a wide variety of goods, particularly decorative items such as handicrafts, fine arts and pottery ware, as well as clothing. Restaurants are available and live concerts are staged regularly. Above all, the Traditional Thai Puppet Theatre (Joe Louis) winner of the Best Traditional Performance Award, is situated here and provides its audiences with a spectacular show nightly.

Tips for Shoppers

• Beware of your belongings. Ladies, keep your purse in front of you, not beside or at the back.
• Please bear in mind that if a seller agrees to your price then the deal is done. Reneging on an agreement is very rude.
• Dress comfortably and wear comfortable shoes.
• As for shoppers at Chatuchak and Suanlum Night Bazaar, if you come across something you like, buy it immediately. It is hardly possible for you to walk back and buy it after observing the whole sections of these markets.