***Whether you are looking for luxury buys, such as silks and gems, fashion items, artworks, handicrafts or attractive souvenirs and gifts, you'll discover an exceptional range of quality buys offering excellent value.

The variety of what to buy is fully matched by an exciting choice of where to buy. From the ease of modern airconditioned shopping plazas and department stores to the fascination of traditional markets and street stalls, there is every scope for both the browser and the dedicated bargain-hunter.

Royal Crafts
Thailand is justly renowned for the quality and variety of its traditional handicrafts. And no finer examples can be found than those produced under royal patronage.

In 1976, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit sought a way both rural Thais alternative sources of income and to revive some of the Kingdom's time-honoured crafts. The result was the establishment of the Foundation for the Promotion of Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques, popularly known as SUPPORT. The project has flourished and today craftmen working under SUPPORT guidance produce a wonderfully rich collection of many kinds of traditional handicrafts.

Among items available are exquisite handwoven silks, including the famous tie-dyed mat mee silks of the Northeast ; elegant yan liphao woven handbags, Thai cottons and many other reasonably-priced souvenirs. These SUPPORT crafts may be purchased from the Foundation's chain of exclusive outlets, known at Chitrlada Shops, and all proceeds go to the on-going development of the project.

Five Chitrlada Shops are in Bangkok : at the Decorations Pavilion in the Grand Palace : at the Oriental Plaza shopping centre; at the Hilton International Bangkok Hotel ; in the compound of Wimanmek Mansion, and at the Bangkok International Airport. Other Chitrlada Shops are located at the Rose Garden in Nakhon Pathom Proovince ; in Pattaya and at Chiang Mai Airport.

Rattan and Wickerwork

Thailand has earned a fine reputation for its high-quality rattan and and wicker furniture. Both elegant and durable , items are available in a wide variety of designs and atyles. Decorative objects in rattan and wickerwork again display an excellent standard of workmanship, and are ideal for lending a light tropical touch to any interior decor.