Koh Samui Hotels » Koh Samui Guide » Chaweng Shopping Guide
If the beaches of Koh Samui were to have a beauty contest, then Chaweng - a true epitome of a tropical paradise - would take the prize! The softly glowing white sand, the heavily laden coconut palms lining the beach, the warm turquoise waters of the Gulf of Thailand lapping lazily at the shore and the infinite blue sky above all contribute to the overall beauty of Chaweng. As such, it has become the unofficial capital of the island of Koh Samui and a shopping destination second to none! This area draws the greatest crowds of people who throng around the shops, stores and outdoor markets during the day and then make their way to the night ba-zaars and thumping beach parties after sunset.
Because of the popularity of Chaweng, massive developments and construction initiatives have transformed this once quiet fishing village into a densely-packed vibrant town and premier shopping destination just thrumming with excitement, possibility and activity! There are literally hundreds upon hundreds of shopping stores in Chaweng and their combined force means that regardless of the product, service or bargain you are looking for; chances are you are going to find it here!
Chaweng, the busiest, most developed and vibrant beach and shop-ping district on the island (and probably all the surrounding islands too) offers the full suite of boutiques, specialty stores, arts and crafts workshops, restaurants, bars, cafes, dressmaker and tailor shops, clothing, fashion, sports, music, furniture, jewelry, souvenir stores and much, much more! You will find the densest shopping area packed around the main beach road, which - hence the name - follows the contour of the beach from southwest to northeast.
For tourists looking for something traditional to take home as a souvenir of Koh Samui and Thailand, the silk trade, wood carvings, lacquer ware, metalwork, beautiful oil paintings and Eastern-style ornamentation, jewelry and furniture are the best places to start, depending on what you want and the size of your budget. For those with a little extra to spend, Thailand features some of the most exquisite hand-crafted teak wood furniture in the world and with most stores providing full delivery and export services, you need only make your choice of their outstanding selection and pay!
Thai oil paintings also deserve a mention here: with some of the most fantastic and skilled artwork you will ever see - and at a paltry price compared to the West - those with a love of art should definitely pay Koh Samui's Chaweng shopping district a visit! Artists often advertise their work on the street while toiling over a fresh canvas. Bargains can be struck with these men and women, but often visitors are so awe-struck with the quality of the work that they are happy to pay the full price! The Thai jewelers and craftsmen also enjoy a fantastic reputation for skill and keen artistic capabilities, which is thoroughly visible in the quality of the work they produce. As such, if you feel that it's time to add another jewelry piece to your collection - or if you are perhaps planning on 'popping the question' to your partner - then there's no better place to go shopping than in Chaweng Beach area!
If, however, cheap and charming is what you're after, the Chaweng shopping district has its share of open-air marketplaces and night bazaars for the intrepid explorer. The Talad Laem is the largest and best known of these Thai marketplaces where visitors can peruse the great mounds of fresh vegetables, fruit, meat and seafood (caught that very morning). There are also a great number of vendors peddling cheap brand toiletries, other miscellaneous items, fake sunglasses and clothing brands as well as pirated CDs and DVDs. Overall, the best shopping experience and bargains you are going to get are from the street shopping. Although prices are aimed at tourists, at least you can negotiate your way down a few hundred Baht on the more expensive items and learn a great deal about Thai culture and communication in the process!
If you're looking for a place to go that offers all the modern and recognizable conveniences of home, then Chaweng has a great selection of International shopping brand names too, including Tesco Lotus, Big C, Makro, Family Mart, Tops Market Place and 7-Eleven, which can literally be found on every single street, in every suburb, city and town in Thailand. The Home Pro store is a useful shopping destination if you are in need of any household objects (perhaps for those enjoying a longer stay on the island), such as batteries, camping gear, tools, drills, kitchen appliances, TVs, radios, etc. There are also several pharmacies - perhaps the most recognizable being Watson's and Boots - so the visitor to the pristine island of Koh Samui need not worry about being cut off from any conveniences or necessary services / facilities. The island has it all!
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