Where to find real Thai crafts, vintage goods, and tourist souvenirs — from high-end antique shops to street stalls.
Thousands of vendors; the antiques section (northern end) has genuine old Buddhist sculptures, lacquerware, wood carvings.
Scattered throughout the Old City, especially near temples — small amulets and religious items, mostly for locals but fun to explore.
Sukhumvit and the Old City near Khao San Road have countless shops selling 'typical Thai' items (wood elephants, silk, etc.) — quality and authenticity vary wildly.
Real Thai silk is expensive and thick; genuine lacquerware is hand-applied (not plastic sprayed); antiques have provenance documentation.
Genuine Buddha images and certain antiques require an export licence from the Fine Arts Department — reputable antique dealers handle this for you, but ask before buying anything that looks genuinely old.
Expected at markets, less so in fixed-price antique shops; a friendly smile and starting around 60–70% of the asking price is normal market practice.
Reputable antique dealers can arrange international shipping for furniture or large sculptures — worth asking about upfront if a piece is too large to carry home in luggage.