Thailand
Information
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When arriving
in Thailand ask for free copies of Thaiways magazine and Thaiways
maps from the information counter at airports or hotels.
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There are many things that attract large numbers of
people from all over the world to Thailand, making it a leading tourist
centre in this part of the world. Among the main attractions are its great
varieties of valuable products that can be bought at favourable prices.
To give you an idea of what are the really good buys in this country and
where to buy them, here is a brief description of some of the products.
Related Link : VAT Refund for Tourists
| Thai Handicrafts |
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| There are several other kinds of handicrafts that
are of artistic value, such as pearls, dolls, brassware, bronzeware
and artificial flowers, and adorable Thai-style gifts such as mulberry
paper products, candle products, and aroma incense box sets. All of
these you can conveniently obtain from large department stores, shopping
plazas or in the shopping areas in tourist cities such as Bangkok,
Chiang Mai, Phuket and Pattaya, where you will find that there are
just too many good things to buy and you may be at a loss how to make
a choice. |
| Y Development Cooperation Co.,Ltd. |
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Y-development is an organization that helps
the poor villagers in the Northern Thailand earn their living by selling
Thai handicrafts. Various kinds of quality products are available
such as candles, incense box sets, lacquerware, jewellery, wood and
mulberry products, etc. more
details… |
| Ceramics & Pottery |
| Of the various styles of Thai ceramics,
Sangkhalok stoneware (the bluish green celadon) and Bencharong porcelain
(the five-coloured porcelain) are the most desirable among both Thai
and foreign collectors. |
Bencharong |
| Most of the pottery and ceramic
items being sold today are reproductions of traditional styles.
The products come in various forms, for example, vases, lamp bases,
dinner sets, tea sets and souvenir articles. There are a good number
of celadon factories in some northern provinces, especially in Chiang
Mai.
According to the export growth of ceramics, many communities all
over Thailand have produced and develooped ceramics in their own
styles.
Where to buy: Big department stores and
shopping plazas, ceramics & pottery shops and centres in Bangkok,
Chiang Mai, Phuket and other provinces. |
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“Phuket’s most delicate and
memorable souvenirs”
Ceramics of Phuket is a perfect combination of arts and everyday objects.
Our products are interesting in their unique style of living arts
and natural tones. Visit us to see the prime quality of Phuket’s
clay! more
details… |
|  Introduced
to the world market only after World War II, Thai silk is perhaps
already too well known to need further recommendation. It is hand
reeled and hand woven and so has a natural uneven look and a soft
shimmering texture which give it its uniqueness. Thai silk is sold
by yard and as ready-to-wear clothing or souvenir items such as
neckties, scarves, handkerchiefs, shawls, handbags and photo frames.
The main production centres of Thai silk fabrics are Chiang Mai,
Bangkok and the Northeast.
Where to buy: Big department stores and shopping plazas,
silk fabric shops in Bangkok and major tourist provinces, especially
in Chiang Mai.
 Tips
about silk: Local
hand-woven silk can be classified by the way the thread is woven--
one-, two-, or four-thread pattern. To make it easier, silk can
also be categorized by weight. Light weight silk, or silk that is
woven in one-thread pattern, is suitable for making overblouses,
silk skirts which flare out, or any lightweight outfits. Medium
weight silk, also known as two-thread pattern, is recommended for
making jackets, trousers, skirts, dresses, and men’s shirts.
And the thickest type of silk is called heavy weight silk, or four-thread
pattern, which is the best choice for making tuxedos and household
decorations. Silk must be washed by hand without rubbing and wringing.
Try using lukewarm water with low acidity soap. Putting a few drops
of baby oil into the final wash will keep your silk sleek and shiny.
However, to preserve silk in its best quality, dry cleaning is recommended.
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Matmi is a kind of Thai silk produced in the Northeast
of the Kingdom. It is so called because of its peculiar dyeing process,
by which the silk threads are tied in the desired pattern before dyeing.
It was introduced to the outside markets by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, as
part of her rural development efforts.
Where to buy: Big department stores and shopping plazas, silk fabric
shops in Bangkok and major tourist provinces like Pattaya, Chiang Mai and
Phuket.
Besides being famous for its exquisite hand-woven silk, Thailand has many
high standard tailor shops with superb craftsmanship. Therefore, after selecting
your favorite pieces of Thai silk, you can have your garment tailor-made
while enjoying your vacation here.
Thailand, especially Bangkok, has plenty of tailor
shops where you can have shirts, trousers, suits or any other articles of
clothing delicately designed, cut and sewn at reasonable prices. Thai tailors
are also good at copying your favourite style of designer clothing. However,
one important thing that you should bear in mind is fabric selection, especially
for those promoted package deals.
Where to buy: Tailor shops in Bangkok and major tourist provinces.
The wide variety of antiques available in Thailand
allows buyers to compare and select freely. At present, what foreigners
particularly like include wood carvings, silverware, pottery and other handmade
objects. Apart from Thai antiques, most shops also have pieces of neighbouring
countries, i.e. Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and China. And like elsewhere in
the world, they stock both authentic and fake items. When the authenticity
is in doubt, ask the dealer to guarantee the return of the item.
Where to buy: Antique shops in major tourist cities such as Bangkok,
Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Phuket.
You are advised to select and buy them from a shop instead of a street stall
whose dealer may not be found when you come back to the site again..
Hand-woven cotton fabrics of the North and Northeast
are internationally well known because of their fine flexible texture and
durability. They are often used for both clothing and household items like
table linen, bedspreads, cushion covers, rugs and curtains. Among them,
the most attractive are those made by the hilltribes living in the North,
with fine and delicate embroidery. The Northeast is also famous for cotton
weaving. Each province has its own distinctive weaving style and patterns.
Where to buy: Big department stores and shopping plazas, cotton &
silk fabrics shops in Bangkok and major tourist provinces, especially in
the North and Northeast.
Thai garments not only sell briskly on local markets,
but have been the number one export commodity of Thailand in recent years.
That is because of the low labour cost, cheap raw materials, fashionable
designs and fine workmanship.
Where to buy: Bangkok: Big department stores and shopping plazas
and garment markets such as Pratunam, Bobe. Other tourist provinces: shopping
plazas and garment shops.
Thailand has become a new leader in the world of
gems and jewellery since the early '80s. This has been possible because,
first, rich mines of high-grade gemstones, notably rubies and sapphires,
have been found in Kanchanaburi and Chanthaburi provinces; secondly, Thailand
has plenty of skilful craftsmen and expert designers; thirdly, the cost
of labour and the overhead costs are comparatively low in this country;
and fourthly, Thailand imposes no import or export duty on raw or cut stones.
That is why all kinds of precious stones are sent to Thailand for cutting.
Where to buy: Gems and jewellery shops in Bangkok and major tourist
provinces.
Most of the large gold shops are located on Yaowarat
Road in Bangkok. Some are about a century old. They are all thriving. They
have many foreign customers, especially those from other Southeast Asian
countries. Foreign tourists prefer to buy gold ornaments in Thailand because
of the large choice, excellent workmanship and beautiful designs. Pure gold
ornaments are also available in some jewellery shops.
Where to buy: Gold shops on Yaowarat Road and other business areas
in Bangkok and in other major provinces.
Lacquerware is articles made of wood or woven bamboo
and coated with layers of lacquer to make it smooth, shiny and durable.
To add to its beauty, paints, gold foil, silver foil, eggshells or mother-of-pearl
is used in producing designs or pictures on it. It may be in the form of
a vase, tray, cup, bowl, picture frame or other utensils and ornamental
items. The lacquerware factories in Thailand are concentrated in Chiang
Mai.
Where to buy: Big department stores, shopping
plazas and souvenir shops in Chiang Mai and elsewhere.
 With
plentiful supplies of high-quality raw materials and cheap manpower,
Thailand is an ideal place to shop for leatherware of good workmanship
at reasonable prices. Some of the products are exported to foreign
countries to be re-exported after foreign brands are stamped on
them.
Where to buy: Big department
stores and shopping plazas and leatherware shops.
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Nielloware has been made and has enjoyed popularity
in Thailand for centuries. The main production centre is Nakhon Si Thammarat
in the south of Thailand. Thai nielloware is mostly made of silver and sometimes
plated with gold. Its delicately etched designs are filled with a black
material (called niello) which is a combination of silver, copper, lead
and sulphur. Niello makes the surface more smooth and lustre. Some niello
items are bowls, cigarette cases, teapots, picture frames, caskets, necklaces
and bracelets.
Where to buy: Big department stores, shopping plazas and souvenir
shops especially in southern provinces.
| Pewterware |
Some of the best handmade pewterware of the world
come from Thailand. Thai pewterware is made of 97% pure tin and 3%
antimony and copper,
and is lead free. |
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Where to buy: Big department stores and shopping
plazas, pewterware shops in major tourist provinces, especially in the South.
| Silverware |
 The
making of silverware is a very ancient art in Thailand. Its use has
enjoyed great popularity among the Thai people for centuries. Thai
silverware, especially ornaments, is also in great demand on the world
market with the United States, European countries and Australia as
its main customers.
This is because Thai craftsmen have maintained the traditional fine
workmanship of their ancestors and the quality of the products is
under the strict control of the government which prescribes that the
content of pure silver in silver products must not be less than 92.5
percent. The two main production centres of silverware in Thailand
are Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
Where to buy: Silverware
shops in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and other tourist provinces. |
Yan Lipao |
Several kinds of indigenous
plants in Thailand can be used to make designed furniture and various
kinds of wickerwork and souvenir items.
Some well-known materials are rattan, bamboo, sedge and bulrush. However,
the most famous wickerwork is the basketry made of a southern fern-vine
called yan lipao. |
The refined yan lipao woven handbags,
which have been popular among high society for many years, are now
promoted as a precious souvenir from Thailand. Besides handbags, yan
lipao is also made into other objects such as hats, trays, picture
frames, cigarette cases and coasters.
Where to buy: Big department stores and shopping plazas in Bangkok
and other tourist provinces, especially in the South. |
Wood carving is an ancient art of the Thai people
handed down from the Sukhothai period about 7 centuries ago. Thai wood crafts
are famous for their traditional patterns and intricacy. Today, most of
the wood carving workshops are concentrated in the northern provinces, such
as Lampang, Phrae, Nan and especially Chiang Mai. The products may be divided
into 4 categories; furniture, household utensils, decorative objects and
souvenir articles.
Where to buy: Big department stores and shopping plazas, woodcarving
shops and centres in Chiang Mai and other northern provinces.
These are high-quality
hand-made goods and folk handicrafts under the One Tambon One Product
(OTOP) Project. The products range widely from food to consumer goods
and decorative objects.
Where to buy: OTOP products are available at most
souvenirs shops, shopping plazas and department stores nationwide.
The Department of Export Promotion (DEP) has established two medium
size outlets in Bangkok and Chiang Mai to display the products, which
have been developed to meet world market standards and provide business
convenience between local craftsmen and foreign traders.
Bangkok: 6th Fl., Thailand Export Mart Building,
Ratchadaphisek Rd.
Tel. +66 (0) 2511 5279 to 84
Chiang Mai: 29/19 Singharat Rd., Muang
County
Tel. +66 (0) 5322 1174, (0) 5322 3164
The fantastic complete
works |
Exotic beauty of artificial
flowers
from rubber les |
| Famous OTOP products are as follows: |
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Textiles and other related products such
as ready-made clothes, table cloths, scarfs, etc. |
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Wickerwork |
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Pottery |
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Artificial flowers |
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Wooden furniture |
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Furniture from water hyacinth and rattan |
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Flowers, stationery and lampshades made
of paper mulberry, banana leaves and pineapple leaves |
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Ornaments and home decoration items from
silver or brass |
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