Asiatique The Riverfront, the trendy new night bazaar

Opened in 2012, Bangkok's newest night bazaar, Asiatique The Riverfront, has quickly become a favorite place for young and trendy Thais to spend an evening, as it is an appealing combination of street market, mall, riverside dining, shows and strolls.

The largest waterfront see-buy-and-eat venue in the city, Asiatique has more than 1,500 boutiques and 40 restaurants housed in a re-creation of the pier and warehouses that were built for a Danish export company in 1907.

Many of the stalls at Asiatique have been transplanted from the old much-loved Suan Lum Night Market and they make for good souvenir and gift hunting. The main eating area is an open food court with vendors offering mostly Thai food, while closer to the river you'll find more upscale dining options. For after-meal entertainment take a romantic ride on the Ferris wheel or take in a show at the famous Calypso ladyboy cabaret or the Joe Louis Puppet Theater.

What to buy

Tourist goods such as elephant souvenirs, and clothes, bags and jewelry by up-and-coming young Thai designers.

How to get there

Take the BTS to Saphan Taksin station and take the free ferry shuttle from the pier. The shuttle operates from 17:00 to 23:00 every evening.

http://www.thaiasiatique.com

A vendor prepares food at a stand in Chatuchak Weekend Market, a huge flea market in northern Bangkok that has become a must-visit place for tourists.

Chatuchak, the traditional weekend flea market

You'll find almost everything at this enormous exhilarating must-see weekend market, and at local prices - so long as you pick up the local bargaining skills.

Boasting more than 8,000 stalls in 27 Sections you can get practically everything you can imagine, and possibly some things you can't, at JJ Market as the locals call it.

The market is huge, larger than 20 soccer fields, so pick up a free map from one of the information kiosks before you start exploring so you don't get lost. And, as is true of any crowded place, be on alert for pickpockets.

As most of the market is without air conditioning, try to get there early in the morning when it's cooler, and come prepared with plenty of water and energy - you'll need them - as well as plenty of cash as most of the stalls don't take cards.

What to buy

Thai handcrafts, wooden carvings, handmade herbal soaps and essential oils.

How to get there

By SkyTrain BTS to Sapan Khwai or Mochit Station; by MRT to Kamphaeng Phet or Suan Chatuchak (Chatuchak Park) station

The weekend market is open on Saturdays and Sundays, 09:00-18:00, and Fridays 18:00-24:00

http://www.chatuchak.org/

Jim Thompson's shop in Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport is open 24 hours should you run out of time to shop in town.

Suvarnabhumi Airport, duty free shop and souvenir shops

The airport will be your last shopping opportunity during your trip. But first, don't forget to go to the VAT Return desk in the departures hall to get a seal on your P.P.10 VAT refund forms, and once you're through passport control you can pick up your refund in cash for a 100-baht fee. (check http://www.rd.go.th/vrt/howwill.html for more information on VAT Return)

Once that's out of the way, you can get down to the serious business of hitting the duty-free shops for chocolates and cosmetics, perfume, alcohol and tobacco. But don't miss the final opportunity to buy those made-in-Thailand products that make such great gifts.

What to buy

Jim Thompson Thai silk products, Doi Tung handicrafts, coffee and macadamia nuts, dried fruits, and made-on-site snacks like crispy rice cakes.

How to get there

Taxi, bus, Airport Rail Link. The shops are always open.

http://www.suvarnabhumiairport.com

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Thai Favs

(China Daily USA 10/22/2013 page10)