Every region of Thailand has its own crafts: carved wood and embroidery in the north, hand-woven silk in the north-east, painted porcelain in the centre and shadow puppets in the south. This guide covers what to look for, where to buy in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, how to bargain and what you may take home.
Opening hours and prices below were checked in September 2026. Confirm them with the market, museum or shop before you go.
Traditional Thai crafts by region
Northern Thailand (Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai)
- Wood carving: elephants, bowls, frames and decorative panels.
- Lacquerware: boxes, trays and bowls, often black with gold decoration.
- Hill-tribe crafts: embroidered textiles, woven bags and silver jewellery.
- Celadon: stoneware with a pale green glaze, sold as bowls, plates and tea sets.
North-eastern Thailand (Isan)
- Mudmee silk: the threads are tied and dyed before weaving, so the pattern appears as the cloth is woven. Slightly soft edges on each motif are a sign of the technique, not a fault.
- Triangular cushions: firm, folding floor cushions covered in woven cotton, useful as a back rest.
Central Thailand (Bangkok and Ayutthaya)
- Benjarong: porcelain painted in several bright enamel colours, often with gold details. Good pieces have fine, even brushwork.
- Puppets and masks: made for Thai theatre and sold as decorative pieces.
Southern Thailand
- Batik: cloth decorated with wax and dye, sold as sarongs, shirts and wall hangings.
- Nang talung: flat shadow puppets cut from hide, used in southern shadow theatre.
- Yan lipao: fine basketwork woven from lipao, a climbing fern, made into handbags and small boxes.
Where to buy crafts in Bangkok
SookSiam at ICONSIAM
If you have one afternoon, start at SookSiam on the G floor of ICONSIAM. It is an indoor, air-conditioned zone built to look like a floating market, with food, snacks and crafts from all 77 provinces of Thailand at market-style prices. It is a good place to compare regional crafts side by side.
- ICONSIAM is open daily 10:00–22:00.
- By boat: the shuttle boat from Sathorn Pier (BTS Saphan Taksin) is no longer free. It costs about 12 THB per person one way and runs about 09:00–22:50, every 15–20 minutes.
- By rail: take the BTS Silom Line to Krung Thon Buri, change to the Gold Line and ride one stop to Charoen Nakhon, which connects to the mall.
Chatuchak Weekend Market
Chatuchak has more than 15,000 stalls in 27 numbered sections, with ceramics, wood carvings, textiles, home decor and art alongside clothes and food.
- The whole market is open Saturday and Sunday 09:00–18:00. A smaller, wholesale-focused night session runs on Friday 18:00–24:00.
- Stations: MRT Kamphaeng Phet (west end), MRT Chatuchak Park (east end) and BTS Mo Chit.
- Most stalls accept only cash; some take QR payment. Bring small notes (20, 50 and 100 THB).
Pick up a map at the market and arrive soon after 09:00, before the heat and the crowds.
Jim Thompson House
To see fine Thai silk and traditional art before you buy, visit the Jim Thompson House museum at 6 Soi Kasemsan 2, Rama 1 Road, near BTS National Stadium (Exit 1).
- Open daily 10:00–17:00.
- Admission: about 250 THB for adults, 150 THB for ages 10–21 (bring ID), free for children under 10.
- The main house can only be visited with a guide, in Thai, English, French, Chinese or Japanese.
Where to buy crafts in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is a good place to buy northern textiles, embroidery and hill-tribe crafts:
- Chiang Mai Night Bazaar: on Chang Khlan Road between Tha Phae and Sridonchai roads, east of the old-city moat. Ask your hotel for the current opening hours.
- Warorot Market: on Wichayanon Road in the Chang Moi area, with clothes, textiles and embroidery, plus northern foods such as sai ua sausage and nam prik chilli pastes. Its Trok Lao Zhou alley, with Chinese and Hmong goods, opens daily 07:00–17:00.
Planning the trip north? Read our guide on how to get from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.
Getting around with a private driver
A car with a driver who waits for you makes it easier to carry bags and fragile pieces between shops.
Full-day private tours (up to 10 hours, price per vehicle):
| Tour | Sedan | SUV | Van |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangkok Tour | 2,700 THB | 3,000 THB | 3,700 THB |
| Chiang Mai + Doi Tour | 3,300 THB | 3,500 THB | 4,000 THB |
A VIP van costs 4,000 THB for the Bangkok Tour and 4,500 THB for the Chiang Mai + Doi Tour. Pickup in another province costs +500 THB. You plan the stops with the driver, for example SookSiam and the Jim Thompson House in one day. See private tours and day trips.
Flying into Bangkok and going straight north? A private transfer from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Chiang Mai costs 7,500 THB by sedan, 8,500 THB by SUV and 10,000 THB by van. Book a sedan from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Chiang Mai. Extra stops on a transfer cost +250 THB per hour.
- Fares are fixed and per vehicle, not per person, with expressway tolls included.
- A sedan takes up to 3 passengers and 2 bags, an SUV up to 5 and 4, and a van up to 7 and 5. If you plan to buy large items, choose a bigger car.
- You pay the driver in cash (THB) at the end of the trip. If you can only pay by card, message the team for a PayPal payment link; a 5% fee is added.
- Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup.
- You can request an English-speaking driver when booking, subject to availability.
All routes and fares are on the fare list.
How to tell good work from mass-produced souvenirs
- Look for small irregularities. Hand-woven silk, hand-painted porcelain and hand-carved wood are never perfectly identical. A pile of items with exactly the same pattern was probably made by machine.
- Ask what the material is. Is the scarf pure silk or a blend? Is the carving solid wood? Is the jewellery sterling silver? Shops that label their goods are easier to trust.
- Check the finish. On lacquerware and Benjarong, look at the inside and the base, where cheaper pieces are often rough.
- Buy from shops you chose yourself. Politely refuse suggestions from strangers or drivers to visit a "special" craft, gem or tailor shop.
- Keep the receipt with the shop's name.
Bargaining politely
- Bargain only at markets and street stalls, never in malls, department stores, convenience stores or where prices are marked.
- Smile and stay calm.
- Only make an offer you are ready to pay. Once you and the seller agree a price, buy the item.
- When you buy several pieces from one stall, ask for one price for all of them.
Useful Thai phrases for shopping
- "Tao rai?" (เท่าไหร่) – How much?
- "Paeng pai" (แพงไป) – Too expensive.
- "Lot dai mai?" (ลดได้ไหม) – Can you lower the price?
- "Ao an nee" (เอาอันนี้) – I will take this one.
- "Mai ao" (ไม่เอา) – I do not want it.
Antiques, Buddha images and export rules
- Works of art and antiques need an export licence from the Fine Arts Department. Ask the dealer about it before you buy, not after.
- Buddha and Bodhisattva images, and fragments of them, may not be exported without permission. Medallions and small statues are the exception; if you are unsure, ask the shop and Thai Customs.
- Buddha images are sacred in Thailand. Do not buy Buddha heads as decoration, and handle all images with respect.
- Thai Customs Care Center: 1164. Tourist Police, for scams or problems with a shop: 1155.
VAT refund on crafts
Shops that show the "VAT Refund for Tourists" sign can give you back part of Thailand's 7% VAT:
- Spend at least 2,000 THB, including VAT, in one shop on one day.
- Show your original passport when you pay, and keep the P.P.10 form and the original tax invoice the shop gives you. You cannot get the form later.
- The goods must leave Thailand with you within 60 days of purchase. You claim the refund at the airport on your departure day.
- Refund offices are at 10 international airports, including Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai and Phuket.
- A refund of up to 30,000 THB can be paid in cash (THB) or to Alipay or WeChat Pay. A larger refund goes to a credit card only.
- If your goods total 20,000 THB or more, have them inspected by customs before check-in.
- A processing fee is deducted, so you receive less than 7%. Malls advertise "up to 6%".
Wrap ceramics and lacquerware in clothes and carry them in your hand luggage. For large items, ask the shop whether it can ship them for you.
FAQ
Where do I buy crafts in Chiang Mai? At the Night Bazaar on Chang Khlan Road and at Warorot Market on Wichayanon Road, which is good for textiles, embroidery and northern foods.
Where can I see crafts from all over Thailand in one place in Bangkok? At SookSiam, on the G floor of ICONSIAM, which sells food and crafts from all 77 provinces.
When is Chatuchak Weekend Market open? Saturday and Sunday 09:00–18:00, with a smaller wholesale session on Friday 18:00–24:00.
Can I take an antique carving home? Only with an export licence from the Fine Arts Department. Ask the dealer before you buy.
Can I claim VAT on crafts? Yes, at shops with the "VAT Refund for Tourists" sign, when you spend at least 2,000 THB in one shop on one day.
Want a driver for a day of craft shopping, or a transfer between cities? Message us on WhatsApp or LINE.