I've read all about the shopping in Bangkok but will have only two days to shop. Should I concentrate my effort at Chatuchak market, or diversify to River City, etc. I am looking for unusual handicrafts, antiques or well made copies, textiles and some small stuff to take home for gifts. I don't like the designer stores, which I can find in any large city. Also, are stores generally open both Saturday and Sunday. Thanks very much!

forget the weekend market....go to jim thompson, both the main store on suriwong and its outlet on soi 93, sukhumvit....also river city next to the sheraton...narayana phand in back of gaysorn plaza...OP Place in back of the oriental hotel and the shops in that area along oriental lane and other sois in the area...this will take up plenty of time....also a walk along silom road in its mid-section you will find nice shops...

forget the weekend market and the big shopping malls ...

mbk might interest you also at national stadium skytrain stop...

Shop at different places. River City will be high end goods and prices. But they have some excellent antiques. Pull up my thread,"Siam Ocean World". I talk about shopping in that thread. Happy Travels!

Thanks so much! And I was prepared to spend the entire weekend at the market. River City sounds pretty intriguing though. And I leave today...breathlessly excited for our first trip to Asia.

Many of the shops in River City are closed on Sunday, so it's best to hit it on Saturday. Everywhere else will be open on Sunday.

Two places not mentioned: Narayanaphand, accross from Central World, has some very nice and unusual local handicrafts. Also, there's a 'Thai' section on the 4th(?) floor of the newly opened Siam Paragon that has some very nice stuff.

Yes, the Thai craft shops on the top level of the Siam Paragon Mall...at the Siam skytrain station... are great. The complex is called,"Exotic Thai" and it consists of individual vendors. I lost my mind in there. Got some GREAT stuff. When you walk in the front door go straight ahead, to your far LEFT...and all the way back. The vendors in that section have some gorgeous items. I've written about it under my,"Siam Ocean World" thread of Dec 2005/Jan 2006. There's also an Exotic Thai store in the Emporium Mall at the Prom Phong skytrain station and there's another shopping complex, similiar to Exotic Thai that's also in Emporium...at the north end of the mall...the same end that the skytrain entrance is located, but a different floor...an upper floor if I remember correctly. There's also another Naryaphand store in the Amarin Plaza right at the Chitlom skytrain station. It's a smaller store, but has some very nice things,too. I bought some things at that location that weren't carried at the main location. Happy Travels!

Personally i would still go to Chatuchak go early sunday morning areas 24 -26 nice trendy homewares, gifts ,BAG BAGS BAGS, candles, Buddhas.... You really can pick up some great stuff (I bought a LARGE beautiful leather hand bag for £30- it would be about £150 here in the Uk) so allow a couple of hours but go early and get out before it gets too hot and too crowded. Buy Nancys map and checkout AREAS 24 FIRST

River city and OP are nice but expensive. It depends what your budget is. Again though i would squeeze them in.

Hope that helps
Smeagol

Don't forget the shops at the Oriental (a Jim Thompson shop). I also like Siam Square Mall. You can find those lovely temple bell souvenirs outside any tourist site.

I like Jautujak and think along wtih prices it is an experience to see Asia's largest flea market. I'd say go there early Sat morning and beat the crowds. Then go to River City. I;m not sure for the stuff you want the Jim Thompson outlet makes much sense - it's a half day and they have limited handicraft type stuff. All department stores are open Sunday so Siam Paragon and Emporium are doable Sunday. My favourite store for textiles is Sop Moei - www.sopmoeiarts.com. You could do it Sunday as it is closed Sat.