Bargain Battle

Buzz: Jam-packed with hordes of housewives and office workers who squeeze a little retail therapy into their lunch breaks, this maze of a market boasts a smorgasbord of stalls with a comprehensive collection of ready-to-wear clothes, counterfeit bags, accessories and shoes.
Bargains: Snappy outfits and fake bags that look just like the real thing. Fight for a seat at the sweaty and busy food court, or buy nuea khem (salted beef), freshly baked buns and salads from the sprawling stalls. Get extra to take back to your co-workers, who will be grateful.
Silom Soi 5, beside and behind the

Bangkok Bank headquarters. Mon-Fri 10am-3pm.
 

Buzz: Another lunchtime market with a fairly good selection of clothes, shoes and accessories—mainly for women. The DJ at the CD stall spins hot Thai and farang tunes.
Bargains: Familiar casual wear for the office along with fun Hello Kitty stuff. Food favorites include finger-licking fried chicken wings, grilled squid and apple bathed in tangy buay (plum) dip, and an Oreo and banana smoothie to wash it all down. You won’t return to the office with an empty stomach.

Saladaeng Soi 1 (past Zanotti). Mon-Fri 9am-2pm.
 

Winner! Soi Lalai Sup

The chicken wings at Talad Saladaeng are addictive, and you’ll inevitably find yourself singing along to “Way Back into Love” which is being played constantly. Shopping-wise though, Soi Lalai Sup is a winner because of its wider and well-stocked selection, especially if you love labels, but not price tags.
 

Buzz: You won’t find any designer labels here, but every inch of Pratunam is packed with clothes and shoes in almost every color imaginable. The market sprawls over a dozen ramshackle open-air alleys around the Baiyoke towers, attracting retail shop owners with bargain wholesale goods.
Bargains: If you like anything here, just buy it, because you probably won’t find it any cheaper elsewhere. Delicious noodles can be found at Raad Naa Paramount and saap Isaan fare at Larb Pratunam.

Between Petchaburi Rd. and Rama 1 Rd. Daily 10am-9pm.
 

Buzz: If you like things cheaper by the dozen, Sam Peng’s the market for you. Toys, boxes, carpets, Hello Kitty stationery, clothes, shoes and more are up to half off if you buy in bulk. Careful of the Vespa-riding and cart-pushing vendors, though, who don’t like to stop.
Bargains: Cuddly dolls, mobile pendants and pouches, colorful beads and so on. Street food is cheap and yummy.

Chinatown, Yaowarat Rd. Wanit 1 Rd. Daily 10am-5pm

Winner! Pratunam

These two leading wholesale markets weigh in almost the same with a large stock of goods sprawling in labyrinth-like bazaars. But based on our experience, the vendors at Pratunam are more welcoming to retail buyers than the surly sellers at Sam Peng. Plus, you can focus on your shopping without worrying about being hit by motorbikes.
 

Buzz: Teenyboppers and young professionals duck in here for more sale action at this “sidewalk” market when the shops in Siam Square close up.
Bargains: Colorful Paul Frank watches under B200. Retro dress and tees, B100-150, at a stall by the foot of the BTS station. Hungry? Well, there’s a 7-Eleven nearby.

Footpath by Rama 1 Rd., from Bangkok Bank to Lido Theater, BTS Siam, Siam Square. Tue-Sat 9(ish)pm onwards.
 

Buzz: The open-air night market is frequented by moviegoers killing time before their film begins. You can ogle celebrities and their honeys here while grabbing both current and fleeting clothing and accessory trends.
Bargains: Grade-A brand name fakes, fashion accessories.

Beside Major Cineplex Ratchayothin, Phahonyothin Rd. Tue-Sun 4-11pm.
 

Winner! Siam Square

“Star” gazing at Major Ratchayothin is fun, but it’s not enough to put the flea market on our regular shopping agenda. Siam Square’s central location makes it easily reachable, and with its night “market,” Siam Square is cheaper than ever.
 

Buzz: Early in the day, it’s slow, but fully awakens once schools are let out and high school and university students invade the narrow lanes of the market in pursuit of hip fashion and yummy bites.
Bargains: Chic tees and pants for trend-conscious ladies on a budget at the Playground and Zhamoo shops. Enjoy tasty bua loy in the middle of the soi and refreshing smoothies at 71/17 Hub.

Waterside, Charoen Nakorn Rd., opposite Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel. Easy access by bus and shuttle boat from Si Phraya pier. Daily noon-4pm.

Buzz: An Indian microcosm with shops and stalls offering Indian food and fabrics spread across several blocks. Bargain-hunters, students and local Sikhs drop by for sarees, fabrics, sewing items, accessories, cosmetics, and chow.
Bargains: Vivid sarees, shisha pipes, miniature syrupy sweets. Delicious Northern Indian fare at Royal India, and comforting leuad muu soup at Lek Muu Sam Yang. Also, if you are a fan of Bollywood flicks, Sunny Video is the place to stock up for your VCD collection.

Chakrapetch Rd., Adjacent to Sam Peng and The Old Siam Plaza. Daily 10am-9pm.
 

Winner! Pahurat

Talad Klong San is stocked with trendy designs and enjoys a good location by the river, but we love people-watching and the exotic atmosphere at Pahurat. If you look closely, you can find shoes and bangles that look just like the ones you saw in the big malls but for so much less.
 

Buzz: This bustling riverside market is an absolute treasure chest for second-hand chic. Uni students, dek naew and lots of doctors, nurses and medical students drop by to pick up hand-me-down shoes, t-shirts and handbags. Go on a Wednesday for the freshest catches.
Bargains: Vintage shoes, brand-name handbags and sneakers in good condition and at nice prices. Khao chae, roti saimai (cotton candy wrapped in thin dough) and Isaan dishes available at Pa Inn.

Easy access from Wang Lang Pier. Daily 10am-4pm
 

Buzz: More of a graveyard for all unwanted items (furniture, vehicle parts, porn VDOs, toys, cassettes—you name it) than a market per se. The highlight is on Saturday, when, after 5pm, Talad Klong Thom turns into Talad Fai Chai, and attracts hordes of male clientele, who are looking for mechanical or electronic equipment. You really need a fai chai (flashlight) to hunt through heaps of things and find what you’re looking for. But if you forget it at home, you can buy one there.
Bargains: A wide range of old items: amulets, furniture, artifacts and even digital cameras.

Worajak Rd. Klong Thom Center and Sriworajak Bldg. Open daily 8am-5pm. On Saturday, the sidewalk market is bustling from dusk ‘til dawn. 
 

Winner! Wang Lang

When it comes to second-hand goods, we all have heard that one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. But at Talad Klong Thom, it’s all junk. (That digital camera you get for more than half off might not last a week.) And ladies, you don’t want to brave the crowd through that dark pathway of Talad Fai Chai alone. We’ll definitely go to Wang Lang for a more relaxed treasure hunt.
 

Buzz: A.k.a. Talad Lang Karn Bin Thai. Divided in two zones, there’s the open-air, canteen-like Talad Loong Perm (crowded and cheap) and the air-con Talad Pa Choo (more brand names and more expensive). A fab selection of clothes, accessories, shoes, cosmetics and beauty care draws in a slew of office workers, celebrities and cabin crew.
Bargains: Top-quality fake brand name accessories and some real ones brought to you courtesy of the girls in purple (and other colors) next door. Korean series DVDs. Those with time to spare, queue up for the “original” kuay tiaw lui suan at Khun Thip’s.

Vipawadee Rangsit Soi 22, behind Thai Airways Headquarters. Mon-Sat 10am-5pm.

Buzz: The market mecca for everything and anything—clothes, furniture, plants, pets, books, food and antiques to name a few categories.
Bargains: Secondhand jeans and sneakers, stylish clothes in Section 3 and 4. Saap somtam at Foon Talob, cooling chao guay in Section 2. Rest your feet at Viva in Section 26, where coffee and cocktails are accompanied by live acoustic music.

Kamphang Phet 2, Rama 6 and Phaholyothin Rds. BTS: Mo Chit, MRT: There’s a Chatuchak stop but get off at Kamphang Phet. Sat-Sun 8am-6pm; Fri (wholesale) 7am-6pm; Wed-Thu (plants) 7am-6pm.
 

Winner! Chatuchak (“JJ”)

Since all the hi-so shoppers of Talad Loong Perm and Pa Choo arrive in their big cars, the traffic in the small Vipawadee Soi 22 is awful and it’s hard to find a parking space. Chatuchak has easy access through the MRT and BTS, and prices are easier on your wallets.
 

Buzz: Divided in zones labeled from A-J, this smaller version of Suan Lum Night Bazaar boasts affordable and trendy looks for both sexes, accessories, furniture, pets and electronics items. Also: a food court and spas are located on the premises.
Bargains: Mobile accessories, models of your favorite Japanese animated characters like Gundam and Dragon Ballz in Zone G. Spicy Southern fare at Nang Talung and chilly cocktails at Toilet, Zone E.

Next to The Mall Bangkapi, Ladprao Soi 142. Daily 4-10pm.
 

Buzz: This hiso-oriented market offers plenty of light and clean space with tidy rows of high-quality fresh food with high prices to match. The shopping area features jewelry, home décor furnishings, paintings and clothes (most, though, are suitable for your mom). Also: a gym and tutoring centers are nearby. 
Bargains: Cute jewelry and watches can be found at Sakura and jazz CDs at Labeng. Hit up the food court by the pond for the famous kuay jap and roti mataba and some Thai desserts.

105/1 Tedsaban Prachasongkroh Rd., Chatuchak. Daily 8am-4pm.

Winner! Tawanna Square

The shopping at Bon Marché is poor, save for food and groceries, as the clothes and jewelry are better suited for the grey-haired set. Tawanna Sqaure is younger, hipper and up-to-the-minute.
 

Buzz: Mecca for backpackers, pushy cabbies and counterfeiters. It’s sleepy during the day, though the daytime stalls on both sidewalks do operate, but it picks up at night with a vengeance when the road is strewn with street stalls selling tees, jewelry, pirated CDs and cocktails.
Bargains: Nifty second-hand high heels and sneakers, bikinis, hammocks and funny t-shirts. Yummy roti near Lava Club.

Khaosan Rd. Daily (picks up at) 6-11pm.

Buzz: The clean and tidy bazaar welcomes a mix of tourists and fresh-from-the-office locals who can’t stand the heat of a lunchtime market. It carries everything from stylish furniture, colorful lamps and outfits suitable for a first-date to exotic accessories.
Bargains: Chic and unique home décor items. Juicy grilled pork at the food court/beer garden/concert venue. Classical puppet performances at the Joe Louis Theater are fun, too.

Corner of Wireless and Rama 4 roads, MRT Lumpini. Daily 5-10pm.
(The fate of Suan Lum is still uncertain. For more details of the possible closure of this market, see BK Magazine issue 179, Mar 30-Apr 5, 2007.)
 

Winner! Suan Lum Night Bazaar

We are fond of both tourist attractions and it’s a tough call, but let’s admit it, you can’t do really serious shopping at Khao San (unless you can wear “I Love My Boyfriend” or “Good Luck F***k a Lot” tees to work). Suan Lum Night Bazaar has more variety and one-of-a-kind items that attracts both fashionistas and shoppers looking to do some home décor improvements.
 

Pratunam

Soi Lalai Sup is a great lunchtime market, but your boss wouldn’t like the idea of you skipping work at 11am and returning to the office two hours later covered with sweat. That’s where an all-day market like Pratunam fills in the void.

Suam Lum Night Bazaar

Tawanna Square is fantastic, but only for the people living around Bangkapi. Suan Lum Night Bazaar, on the other hand, is more accessible and offers chic items to spruce up your wardrobe and your abode.

Siam Square

Though we like the Bollywood look, sarees and bangles aren’t that practical. Besides, it’s almost impossible to find a parking space at Pahurat, and when you finally find one, it’s bloody expensive. Siam Square has a convenient location and trendy everyday wear.

Chatuchak (“JJ”)

While Wang Lang attracts mainly dek naews and office workers, the giant weekend market woos both youngsters and families with everything and more that Wang Lang can offer.

Suan Lum Night Bazaar

Sure, Pratunam is a lot cheaper, but what you can get here tends to be cookie-cutter fashion. Suan Lum Night Bazaar is more expensive, but things are still reasonably priced. And you don’t have to buy in bulk.

Chatuchak (“JJ”)

Though the pretty boys and girls at Siam Square draw us to shop there, we can’t actually bag them home, like the stuff we buy. We drop by Siam Square simply out of habit and location. But when we want to shop, we head to Chatuchak, where there is a better selection of goods and clothes for real-size women.