Hi

Will be visiting Bangkok for 3 days shortly ... what are the best markets to visit to buy cheap souveniers, handbags, DVDs and watches.

Many thanks

MBK shopping center
Chatchak (JJ) market
Siam Square

fred
Are you looking for copy bags and watches? If so, MBK has plenty. And it's a mall, so you can shop in air con.

Chatuchak (JJ) is only on the weekend. It's amazing! But very crowded, hot, sticky, and HUGE. You can see everything there, but I think your best bet for copies will be MBK.

If you want to shop a market during the daytime, try the Pratunam area. You'll find your DVD's at Pantip Plaza, which is just a little bit beyond Platinum Mall (part of Pratunam). Platinum has clothing, purses (not many knock-offs) and shoes galore. Thais love to shop here. It's cheap cheap cheap.

Have fun!

the nite market at the coner of rama IV and wireless is a good no nonsense place for souveniers....sp...not particularily cheap but easy to shop

the top floors of mbk are good for stuff...its huge however...the fashion plaza mall is also good...pantip for electronics...

The nite market pp refers to is the Suan Lum night bazaar, which is in the process of shutting down. The court just issued the final eviction notices, so I wouldn't expect to find much there.

Both Silom Road and Sukhumvit Road are lined with stalls at night selling what you're looking for.

Hi

If you are there in the weekend you should go for the weekend market. Here is my Bangkok trip report with pictures and links http://gardkarlsen.com/Bangkok_trip_report_2007.htm . I hope that you can find some useful info there

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

just went to the suan lum night market last week in bangkok. didnt' seem like it was shutting down. i would recommend it.

The Suan Lum market is definitely under final eviction. If you do go then be aware that your are participating in something that is not legally or morally right. There are armed gunman, not security guards but thugs, hired by the people being evicted patrolling the grounds so that they can squeeze more free rent from the Crown Property of Thailand.

Pratunum Market...on the street that is in front of Central World Plaza Shopping Mall in the heart of town. If you walk about a block past Central World Plaza Shopping Mall,you will see tons of vendors and then keep walking and there will be side streets loaded with stuff. I shop there regularly. It's on the same side of the street as Central World Plaza Shopping Mall...formerly known as World Trade Center...in case you have an old map of Bangkok. The Indra Hotel is in the heart of Pratunum Market. Happy Travels!

Pratunam is a great place to shop. From Central World you just have to walk a longish block, cross a busy canal bridge, and there you are. Crossing the street to get into the "belly" of the market can be tricky. Just watch the locals and GO when they do!! haha

You will find two air conditioned malls in the Pratunam area. One is Platinum Mall. It's nice. Mostly clothing, shoes, purses, a few DVD's. Then, on the opposite corner, you will see Pratunam Center mall. Not nearly as busy as Platinum. Many stalls are empty in PC. Platinum is near capacity, and most stalls are open regular hours.

I should mention that these two malls are not your typical malls. They are like air conditioned markets. All stalls, no "stores" as we know them. Bargain, bargain, bargain!! Fun, fun, fun!!

Carol

Also Silom night market (8pm - 1am). Sala Daeng skytrain station or Si Lom subway. Bargain to get a better price. Sukhumvit is a lot more expensive, as is Suan Lum.

MBK should be one of your first stops (open 11am - 9pm). National Stadium skytrain stop.