On your Thailand getaway you’re sure to create enough memories to get you through the morning commute for years to come, but that’s not all you can bring back. There are countless souvenirs from Thailand that you can buy as a memento, or as gifts for loved ones for when you return.
Whether you’re checking out the delights of Chiang Mai on a Northern Thai Highlights tour or island hopping on the nation’s Western coast, you’re surrounded by fantastic Thai souvenir options. Here’s a list of some of the best!
1. Thai spa products
Thailand is famous for its spa culture, which encompasses everything from the famously vigorous massages to beloved cosmetic products. While you’re not able to bring back your masseur, some of the best souvenirs you can buy from Thailand are the wonderful essential oils, soaps, and candles used to create such a warming, relaxing atmosphere in spas around the nation.
Many of these spa products utilise local ingredients like lemongrass or Thai honey, or are made from materials native to Thailand. Most importantly, though, they can bring you back to your Total Thailand trip with just one sniff.
Cost: Costs for these products vary, depending on the brand and the product in question. You can get a bar of floral smelling soap for around a dollar, or spend twenty or thirty times that on luxury hair products.
Best places to buy: Local spas and shopping centres are likely to have the best quality. Street stalls may sell cosmetics and spa products, but these come at a slight risk as they might not have been as rigorously safety tested.
2. Thai silks
Thai silks are known for their quality. Usually handwoven, garments made from this material genuinely can last a lifetime if well cared for, and their unique beauty is the definition of eye-catching. Add in the fact that they’re light and easy to pack, and you have one of the best souvenirs from Thailand.
Cost: The cost of your Thai silk will depend on the size of the fabric and the item itself. The cheapest kind, plain weave will set you back between 10-25 dollars per yard.
Best places to buy: Old Siam Plaza in Pahurat. Most street stalls selling Thai silk for cheap will not be selling the authentic material.
3. Thai coconut oil products
Most of the best dishes in Thailand have coconut oil as their base, but this versatile ingredient isn’t just for cooking. Depending on how the oil is refined, it can make for a great moisturiser, massage oil, or even as a way to give your hair develop a lustrous shine.
With all of these uses, it’s no surprise that coconut oil is a serious business in Thailand – there are hundreds of shops up and down the nation that sell nothing but this product. If you are getting some as a souvenir of your time in the country, just make sure you get the right version for whatever you want to use it for!
Cost: Good quality coconut cooking oil can be as cheap as a couple of dollars. Skin and haircare products can be more dear, but you can still get some great options without breaking the bank.
Best places to buy: Specialist coconut oil shops and street stalls can be found up and down the country. Brick and mortar stalls associated with physical buildings are likely to have higher quality control though.
4. Muay Thai shorts
In Thailand, children as young as ten engage in bouts of the national sport, Muay Thai. This means that if you’re looking for a souvenir from Thailand that is both authentic and modern, you can’t do better than Muay Thai shorts.
Cost: A good quality pair of Muay Thai shorts can cost anywhere from 30 to 50 dollars.
Best places to buy: Shorts are available all over the country, from the bright lights of Khao San Road to the more laid back beaches of Phuket, but getting one from near a fighting arena guarantees quality.
5. Thai spices
Thai cuisine has fans all over the globe, and what better way to honour this delicious aspect of Thai culture than by choosing Thai spices as your souvenir?
You can take home flavours that are well known in the West like dried chillies and fresh lemongrass, but there are also some brilliant options that are much harder to find at home, such as Thai peppercorns and holy basil – although transporting this fresh will likely cause some difficulties, so it’s better to find dried versions. If you fall in love with the food while island hopping on Thailand’s eastern coast, then there’s no better souvenir from Thailand.
Cost: Spices are incredibly cheap, and you can load up for just a few dollars.
Best places to buy: Local markets deliver quality and quantity when it comes to Thai spices.
6. Wooden carvings
The history of Thai wooden carvings goes back centuries, and these gorgeous pieces make for perfect mementos of any trip to the Southeast Asian nation. Some of the most popular options include small, handheld pieces like elephants and cats, which are said to bring good luck. If you have more space in your luggage or the ability to post items home, you can secure a heftier piece like a carving of the Buddha, or animal masks.
These pieces are designed by artisans and are of a high quality, which means they’re pretty durable too. However, you should still ensure you handle and pack with care, as you wouldn’t want to see your perfect souvenir from Thailand sustain any damage before you have the chance to admire it in your own home.
Cost: Small items can cost as little as a dollar or two, but larger, more ornate items can be well over a hundred dollars.
Best places to buy: From local artisans at markets.
7. Thai snacks
Red hot rice crackers, fragrant, spiced nuts, dried fish…okay, maybe not every Thai snack is immediately appealing, but the plethora of delicious (and easily transportable) options means that they’re a great souvenir. This is true whether you’re a sweet tooth or more of a savoury lover.
While some Thai snacks are unique to the country, others are similar to what we know and love, but with more local flavours. So, don’t be surprised if you fall in love with Tom yum crisps or pandan crispy rolls – and don’t be too upset when you devour them within a few days of returning! The perfect souvenir from Thailand for any food lover.
Cost: Snacks are incredibly cheap, with many costing less than a dollar.
Best places to buy: 7-Eleven or other convenience stores.
8. Soap carvings
Even if you’re zooming through Thailand in a week, you’re sure to see these ornate and colourful carvings all over. Soap carving is an evolution of the popular Thai art of fruit carving, and these pocket-sized gifts make for the perfect Bangkok souvenir thanks to their beauty and utility. You can get them in all kinds of shapes and sizes, from flowers to animals.
Cost: Anywhere from one to ten dollars, depending on sizes and designs.
Best places to buy: Stores with physical locations at any major town or city.
9. Local handicrafts
A lot of the best souvenirs from Thailand are both unique and ensure money flows into local pockets. Local handicrafts like earthenware pottery or hand woven baskets fall into this category, although any local handicrafts are great options. Often these products combine ancient techniques with modern sensibilities, and best of all they can be found in markets all over the country, utilising all kinds of materials, from bamboo to clay.
Cost: Prices for this kind of gift will vary greatly depending on what it is, and where you are buying it from.
Best places to buy: Market stalls and cultural hotspots like temples.
10. Thai silver
As far as souvenirs from Thailand go, few options are as precious or long-lasting as Thai silver. With an incredibly high silver content (between 95 and 98%), Thai sterling is renowned worldwide for its quality, as well as its simplicity when compared to silver from nearby locations like Bali.
Cost: A simple ring can cost as little as 20 dollars, but more ornate pieces can be very expensive thanks to the purity.
Best places to buy: Malls and other higher-end locations.
What is the best souvenir from Thailand?
Thai silk is probably the Thailand souvenir the country is most famous for. With that said, some other popular souvenirs from Thailand include buddha statues, Thai silver, and local sweets. Really, the best Thai souvenirs depend on the person you’re buying for!
What is a traditional Thai gift?
Traditional Thai gifts range from handmade jewellery to Buddha statues, but the most common are undoubtedly food related. This will be of no surprise to anyone who has visited the country, which is known for its wonderful culinary culture and hospitable locals.
What are the cheapest things to buy in Thailand?
Broken the bank a bit with your travelling but still want to get something for your friends and family back home? Some of the cheapest things to buy in Thailand are funny slogan t-shirts, wooden and metal animal key chains, street market jewellery, and incense.
