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The shopping scene in Thailand is as diverse and varied as can be found anywhere, with a vibrant mix from the East, West and Asia leading to products, goods and services from all cultures being readily available.
Thailand is famous for its handicraft industry and Pattaya has the full range of products from all regions of Thailand. Gift shops and handicraft shops and centres are everywhere, in malls, in markets, in shop houses, selling fine products from local craftsmen who are excellent artisans. Pay special attention to wooden products - impressive carvings in all types of wood, ranging from small figures to complete furniture sets and clothe products - silks, cottons, with all manner of items. Pewter, brass and steel items are available and northern Thailand jewellery pieces in silver are popular with younger visitors.
The department stores stock a full range but the prices will be fixed and more expensive than the smaller shops or the market stalls, where the same quality goods will be available at a better price, with haggling an option.
Please see the listings for a list of handicraft shops and handicraft centres in Pattaya.
Thailand is also a shopper's destination for the variety and low prices of goods sold in markets and malls. From native handicrafts to jewellery, antiques to furniture and leather goods to clothes, everything can be found under one-roof.
While the northeast is notable for silk, the north for silver, the south for basketry and handicrafts, Pattaya is one of the main trading centres for these items and more, such as lacquerware.
Introduced by the Chinese centuries ago, lacquerware is confined mainly to Chiangmai where it remains part of the thriving handicraft industry.
It starts with a series of wooden pieces that are polished and repeatedly painted with black lacquer. Inlaid designs are created: hand-painted gold leaves, mother of pearl inlay are popular with tourists. The bigger household items, including tableware and kitchenware, are often coated with a synthetic. Also very saleable are small elephant images.
Pattaya is one of the main trading centres for lacquerware. There's also a lot of Burmese and Vietnamese lacquerware sold in some shops. While Thai lacquerware is best known for the gold-on-black paintings, those made in Burma stand out for their subtle hues of brown, muted orange and yellow. The Vietnamese items are more artistic.
The most important things to consider when buying contemporary lacquerware items are quality of the material used and thickness of coating. Most of the high quality items are made of bamboo, teak or mango wood, with at least six layers of natural resin lacquer. Some have 10-12 layers.
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