Do you want to save a piece of the unique Asian flavor from your trip? We tell you what you can bring from Thailand. Prices for popular souvenirs and tips from tourists, where and how to make good purchases.
Thai teas
We love tea drinking, so we bring delicious teas from Thailand. Taste the exquisite blue tea anchan, made from dried clitoria flowers. To enhance its flavor, add a slice of lemon or lime to the freshly brewed anchan.
Tea is popular with tourists matum from dried fruits of the baile tree. The pleasant-tasting drink is used for colds and for the treatment of coughs. An original souvenir - tea made from small rosebuds, which is called here Rose buddha... The brewed herb has a delicate taste lemongrass and safflower tea.
Prices... Teas cost from 20 to 150 THB per package.
Advice... In shops for tourists and on the main streets of the resorts, herbal and fruit teas are sold at a surcharge. Quality and cheap teas are sold in markets and large supermarkets.
Look for author's interesting excursions on the Sputnik and Tripster websites. Individual and group, no crowds of tourists and in Russian.
Siracha sauce
What to bring from Thailand for those who love cooking? The world famous chili sauce is a great solution. It is made in the small seaside town of Siraca, 30 km from Pattaya. Popular brand sauces are sold in large shopping centers Tesco Lotus, Big C and Tops countrywide.
Price... "Siracha" costs 50-80 THB per bottle.
Advice... If you are confused among the many shelves with hot sauces, ask the Siracha seller, and they will definitely show you where the product you need is. Take plastic bottles on the road, not glass.
Mangosteen oil
What medicines can you bring from Thailand? Thai pharmaceutical products are very popular all over the world. The reason is simple - it really heals! One of the unique products is exotic fruit oil mangosteen... It is used externally to heal wounds and relieve inflammation. Mangosteen oil is similar to iodine but works more effectively.
Price... A 30ml bottle costs THB 40-45.
Advice... In Pattaya, mangosteen oil is available in Beauty salons. In addition, it is found in small shops selling organic cosmetics and medicines.
Balms
In Thailand, they sell a huge amount of massage ointments, balms for pain relief and treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system. They use camphor, eucalyptus extract and medicinal herbs. The counters display jars of different colors and sizes. Turmeric is added to yellow balm, pandan leaf extract to green balm, crushed sesame seeds to black balm, and hot chili pepper to red balm.
Price... From 40 THB for a small can to 200 THB for a large one.
Advice... Look for inexpensive healing balms in pharmacies and markets. 7-Eleven and FamilyMart stores sell Tiger balm... This is a universal balm for pain in muscles and joints, insect bites and rheumatism - 40-60 THB.
Toothpaste in round jars
What to bring from Thailand for daily use? Pay attention to the neat jars of toothpaste. It cleans well, whitens and tastes good.
Price... A jar costs 40-50 THB. Three of them sell for 100 THB.
Advice... Large assortment and low prices for toothpastes - in the beauty store, which is located opposite the Buddhist temple Chai mongkhon, on South Street in Pattaya.
What to bring from Thailand - 10 best things
Mini inhalers
The real miracle of the Thai pharmaceutical industry is the small pencil inhaler. Outwardly, they look like lipstick and are sold in any pharmacy, 7-Eleven and FamilyMart stores. If you have not decided what to bring from Thailand, buy medicated inhalers. They help with nasal congestion, colds, motion sickness and headaches.
Price... The inhaler is very cheap - only 20-25 THB.
Advice... The pharmacies are ready to give up in price if you take 10-20 pieces.
Elephant figurines
The elephant in the Land of Smiles is a sacred animal. Thais revere elephants and celebrate the national holiday - Elephant Day on March 13. Images of an elephant can be found on clothes and bags. Souvenir figurines are made of plastic, wood and metal.
Price... Depending on the size and material, the figurines cost from 20 to 500 THB.
Advice... Good selection of elephant souvenirs in large shopping malls Big C and Tesco Lotus.
Coconut oil
What cosmetics to bring from Thailand? One of the most useful souvenirs is coconut oil, which is used for massages, body care, face and hand skin.
Price... Small bottle - 100-150 THB.
Advice... Cheap natural oil is sold in pharmacies and large shopping centers.
Scented souvenirs
If you want to bring the real scents of the East from Thailand, buy incense sticks, candles and oils. There are exquisite wooden and metal coasters for sticks and beautiful ceramic candlesticks on sale.
Price... A set of chopsticks - 25-60 THB, a stand - 50-200 THB, a candlestick - 100-500 THB, a small bottle of oil - 30-60 THB.
Advice... Chopsticks are sold in any store 7-Eleven or FamilyMart... Coasters, candles and aromatic oils can be found in souvenir shops. A large assortment of such goods is in shops next to Buddhist wats, where they sell offerings for monks.
Exotic leather goods
Leather goods in Thailand are cheaper than in Russia and European countries. For the manufacture of original handbags, wallets, belts, wallets, business card holders, briefcases and shoes, Thais use the skin of a crocodile, stingray, python and sea snakes. Beautiful souvenirs are elastic, durable and last a long time.
Price... Keychain - 50 THB, wallet - 800-1500 THB, handbag - 2500 THB.
Advice... Take your time with the purchase. Walk around several stores and you will see that the prices differ by 1.5-2 times. Haggle! Sellers will definitely reduce the price by 20-50%.
Orchids
What to bring from Thailand as a gift for a lover of indoor plants? In Phuket, in the Nong Nooch tropical garden in Pattaya and elsewhere, beautiful orchids are sold. 3-5 seedlings are packed in glass, hermetically sealed flasks with gel. Special precautions are needed to ensure that fragile orchids survive the flight. It is also a legal way to get plants out of the country.
Price... One bottle of seedlings costs 100-150 THB.
Advice... Do not forget to take a special certificate from the seller. It will come in handy during customs control.
Tropical fruits
In addition to durian, which will not be allowed to take on the plane because of the strong smell, you can bring any exotic fruits you like from Thailand. The day before departure, go to the market and ask the vendors to pick you fruit for your trip.
At the sight of tourists, savvy Thai sellers will ask themselves what exactly is needed - fruit for food or on the plane. They will offer the best, strongest fruits and wrap them neatly with paper or soft netting. Moving home perfectly withstand mango, mangosteen, guava, noina, papaya, rambutan, langsat, lychee, pitaya, rose apple, sapodilla, tamarind and carambola.
Price... In Thailand, fruits do not ripen at the same time, so there is a different assortment on the shelves in winter and summer. Depending on the season, 1 kg costs from 25 to 100 THB.
Advice... Buy fruits at the resort - in duty-free you will pay several times more for them. It is allowed to carry up to 10 kg of fruit in baggage, up to 5 kg in hand luggage. We recommend buying a lightweight plastic container with handles from the market or supermarket, which costs 60-150 THB. Pack the fruit inside in plastic bags and carry it in your carry-on baggage. Remember that strong-smelling citrus fruits, spoiled fruits, watermelons and coconuts will not be allowed on board.
What cannot be exported from Thailand
- Images and figurines of Buddha, the size of which exceeds 13 cm.
- Seashells, corals and dried seahorses.
- Rough gemstones and precious metal bars.
- Ivory and turtle shell products.
- Tiger teeth and skins.
- Butterflies, insects, spiders and bats.
- Plants in pots.
- Earth and sand.
- Stamps.
For antiques, works of art and stuffed animals, you need to draw up special documents for departure.
What cannot be exported from Thailand
General travel tips
- High prices for souvenirs near attractions and on the central streets of the resorts. Look for cheaper goods in small shops. Inexpensive souvenirs are sold in huge quantities at Chatuchak Market in Bangkok.
- Use free transfer to large souvenir shops. In Pattaya, tourists are taken from hotels to the popular Lukdot store.
- Even if the cost of goods is indicated on the price tags, bargain! Asian mentality involves bargaining between buyer and seller. If you do it kindly and persistently, you will always make concessions.
- In Pattaya and Phuket, they sell many inexpensive silk products - sets of bed linen and bathrobes. They look good, but they don't last long. The fabric fades a lot and the seams come apart quickly. Look for real Thai silk in Jim Thompson stores... They are in Bangkok, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui and Phuket. Natural silk is expensive: women's bag - from 5600 THB, blouse - 4000 THB, scarf - 2800 THB, dress - 9500 THB.
- Russian tourists popular latex products: pillows for 1800-3000 THB and mattresses - from 4500 THB. Major tourist centers offer free trips to latex factories. Be careful! There are many fakes in the latex market. The latex business in Thailand is mainly aimed at tourists from Russia. Thais and tourists from other countries do not take such goods.
