Chiang Mai

Outside Bangkok, the main city for shopping is Chiang Mai, the unquestioned center of traditional Thai handicrafts. The Night Bazaar, is a good place to sample the full range of local products such as cotton, lacquerware, silver, hilltribe clothing, Burmese tapestries, painted umbrellas, and woodcarvings. While in Chiang Mai, make a point to go to some of the factories that offer demonstrations of how these goods, particularly lacquer, silk, silver, and paper umbrellas are actually made.

Pattaya also has many shops selling Thai goods and wide selections of precious stones since the popular resort lies near Chanthaburi, where numerous gems are located.