Chiang Mai Shopping Travel Guide

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May be it's the endless amount of stuff, the ridiculously low prices, the colourful assortment you've never ever seen before, or it could be the emotional high that hits you when you're on vacation that finds an outlet in a wild shopping spree. Whatever the reason, chances are you'll pack an extra piece of luggage with all the must-have knick knacks you accumulated while on your trip. [more]

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The Night market is where it's all at and there's no way you're going to miss it. The sheer energy of the event is sufficient to carry you forward through to an experience you'll never forget. Take in the colours, lights, smells, and of course, the humongous amount of stuff on sale. You'd never have believed that so much art resided in a piece of wood, or a roll of cotton. You'll marvel at the sheer creative imagination of a people, who seem to be able to churn out works of art as a matter of course with their bare hands and a few simple tools. Stock up on souvenirs in the form of wooden, handicrafts, jewellery, silks and cottons, metal art, parasols, hill tribe products, and pottery.

But ironically, this shopper's haven is sometimes more of a cultural trip for tourists who often tote cameras rather than shopping bags. If you're one of them, then you should head to Sankampaeng for your shopping. Everything you saw at the Night market and more in much larger quantities without the fair atmosphere that distracts. You can even watch as they are made. But remember, this is a tourist hot spot, and so shopping here calls for at least basic bargaining skills.

Though exquisite handcrafted stuff is available everywhere, there are areas that specialize and a visit to these places can be enlightening, to say the least. Bo Sang is umbrella land with all sorts of colours and designs that will see you leave with at least four. If wood art is your passion, head for Baan Tawai for anything knife handles to furniture. This is a great place to visit, as you'll see, with modern showrooms and an upmarket feel. For anything silver, visit Wualai Rd.

For some upmarket shopping you'd have to head to Nimmanhaemin with its fashion boutiques, quaint art shops selling souvenirs, and even furniture. You'll find more of the same in the Pae area shops such as the Lost Heavens and Nova Collections. For a shopping mall experience you have the Central Airport Plaza and Kad Suan Kaew which would be the typical super mall with everything.