Shopping in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is one of the largest and most culturally important cities in northern Thailand. In the recent past, Chiang Mai has emerged as an increasingly modern city attracting almost 5 million visitors each year. Chiang Mai city and its adjoining areas is a virtual paradise of spectacular shops. From cheap goods and art to beautiful home made products, to fake brand name, you get it all here. Basically there is something or the other for everyone here.

The true shopping lure of Chiang Mai lies in its street markets. There are stretches and stretches of hastily constructed stalls that sell a wide variety of things at very reasonable rates. One such popular night street market is the Night Bazaar, which is located between The Phae Road and Si Donchai Road. It lights up only when everything else is shutting down. There are stalls along the road as well as dedicated shopping buildings that are filled with handicraft and antique stores. The Galare Night Bazaar across the street sells home décor and up market clothes.

Walking street market is held on Sundays along Rachadamnoen Road from about 16:00 until 23:00. It is the perfect stop to pick up local art and craft along with the flavorsome snacks that will keep you going. Pantip Plaza is located on the main street leading off from the night bazaar. This is indeed the best place while shopping in Chiang Mai to buy gadgets, computer and licensed software.

Baan Tawai is one of the cheapest places in Thailand to find silk, antique products, wall hanging, frames, vases, bamboo products, lamps, ornaments and much more. Most of the produce sold here are typically Thai and hand made from natural materials. Borsong is yet another popular shopping destination in the city as you will find hundreds of pattern and sizes of umbrellas made from silk, bamboo, cotton and Sa paper. Borsong is associated with umbrellas as the villagers there have been engaged in their manufacture for almost 200 years.

Wualai Walking Street is situated at Wualai Road and opens up every Sunday from 5 in the evening. The famed old silver street sells silver products, souvenirs, home décor and more. Nimmanhaemin is a great little shopping area in the west side of the town, towards the Chiang Mai University. It is a perfect shopping destination to pick up gift items like original hand painted ceramics, home décor items and many more. Sankampaeng Road is highly popular among the tourists as it homes to massive craft industries and showrooms. It offers traditional crafts like silk, silverware, wood carving and weaving. It is situated thirteen kilometers East of the city.

The airport plaza and central Kad Suan Keaw are two of the most significant shopping centers in Chiang Mai. Visitors will most likely find many well-known shops and brands, as these shops are catering mainly to foreigners. While shopping in this Thai city, international shoppers can buy varied products like branded jewelry, cosmetics, electronics, stationary and soft furnishing.

Shopping in Chiang Mai is real pleasure and fun and the entire shopping experience is a journey in itself.

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Article Source: Jeff_Molenda