Souvenirs from Thailand

Small things from Thailand to take home. For the places to buy see Shopping in Bangkok .

OTOP stands for "one tambon (sub-district) one product". For many years the Thai government has been stimulating the population to develop their specific local products and helping them to promote and sell them. Products vary from handicrafts, cotton and silk garments and pottery to fashion accessories, household items, and foods.  OTOP

Used for the traditional Thai game takraw, a kind of football played with a volleyball net. The players are only allowed to touch the ball with head, feet and body, not the hands. Played anytime, anyplace, anywhere in Thailand.

Have your picture taken in traditional Thai clothes and jewellery in old-style setting. I had a whole series taken when I came to Thailand and it's fun. Most shopping malls have at least one shop where they provide this service. Costs vary depending on whether they apply make-up too, do your hair and give you just one photo (they will take several, from which you can choose) or a whole series.

If you get to Thailand near the end of the (western) year (Thai new year is in April) you will find Thai calendars, diaries, Christmas and new year cards all over the place. They depict traditional Thai images, the Thai royal family and examples of Thai handicraft. Some Christmas decorations, especially lights and garlands are very bright and tacky and a treat for the eye.

Real flower garlands of course won't survive the trip back home, but traditional jasmine garlands made of soap are also a popular buy for Thai people. They smell good and keep their smell a long time, unlike their fresh counterparts that die within a day. Also available are little plastic boxes with a soap flower in various types and colours.

Here an example of an ointment to be used in case of muscle pains etc. A traditional Asian product (originally Chinese) that is used all over the world. Whether it really works or not I am not sure, but it does feel good when applied on painful areas, for example the day after a workout in the gym. Different brands and nice packaging available.

Chinese-Thai custom is hanging a fish mobile over the new-borns crib for good luck. They're usually made of palm leaves. The plain ones are just that, a natural light brown. They also come in wildly painted patterns, where red with gold seems to be a favourite combination. I have made quite a few friends happy with this gift for their new-born. Of course you can also just buy it for yourself, it is a great decoration item too.

Make your friends at home happy with local beer or wine. Bia Singh (Singha beer) and Bia Chaang (Chaang beer) are the most popular ones and I think you have found already that they taste well. Quite special is the local wine, which is called Chateau the Loey. It comes from the north of Thailand, and although not a great taste it will make a good present.

Sold in and near temples, gold leaf is normally used to stick on holy Buddha images. They also make for an interesting gift. Little leafs of real gold are wrapped in a piece of paper, sometimes with an official stamp on it. Many other temple decorations like (hand-carved) candles, gold and silver umbrellas and little dolls for spirit houses are widely available and cheap. Treat them with respect.

Thailand has an enormous variation of sweets, sometimes in the most horrible colours. I myself don't fancy most of them, but most of them look really delicious and would make a great gift. My personal favourite is Khanom Babin, made with coconut and almonds. Buy it in a bakery, the taste is considerably better than on the streets and you can usually keep it longer.