Must-see shopping in Southeast Asia

  • Puesto

    Manila

    This is the fun sort-of souvenir shop of the late walking-tour legend Carlos Celdran.

  • UD Town

    Udon Thani

    UD Town is an open-air shopping precinct that also stages events from time to time.

  • Viera by Ragazze

    Siam Square, Pratunam, Phloen Chit & Ratchathewi

    This store stocks handsome, high-quality leather items, ranging from shoes to bags.

  • Aramintas

    Coron Town

    Hippy, trippy art and masks, many of them made by indigenous groups around Palawan.

  • Hoang Kim

    Hoi An

    A well-established Hoi An tailor that receives excellent feedback from customers.

  • Maluku City Mall

    Pulau Ambon

    The most central of Kota Ambon's megamalls has a hypermart and fast-food outlets.

  • Liqueur Corner

    Pyin Oo Lwin

    Sells local fruit wines (bottles from K5000), as well as Myanmar rum and whisky.

  • Monument Books

    Siem Reap

    Well-stocked bookstore near Psar Chaa, with an additional branch at the airport.

  • Tuptim Shop

    Northern Bangkok

    A stall at Bangkok's Chatuchak Weekend Market that sells Burmese lacquerware.

  • Kimmy

    Hoi An

    Owned by Vietnamese-Canadians, with an excellent website for online orders.

  • VanSom

    Vientiane

    A well-stocked wine cellar with a good range of international varietals.

  • Oi-Tourism

    Baliem Valley

    The NGO-run Oi-Tourism has a large selection of tribal art and crafts.

  • Pariwat A-nantachina

    Northern Bangkok

    A stall at Chatuchak Weekend Market that sells Bangkok-themed murals.

  • QKS Duty Free Shop

    Pulau Tioman

    This is one of several duty-free shops in Tekek, with cheap alcohol.

  • Hornbill Books

    Nong Khai

    Buys, sells and trades books in English, French and other languages.

  • Thanakar Complex

    Bagan

    Souvenir-filled complex of shops that makes for easy gift-hunting.

  • Plaza Surabaya

    Surabaya

    One of the bigger and glitzier malls in a city obsessed with them.

  • Chaitawat Bikeshop

    Chiang Mai

    Well-stocked bike shop with parts for all the big foreign brands.

  • SC Vivo City

    Ho Chi Minh City

    A sprawling international mall for those seeking retail therapy.

  • Siripat Antique

    Chiang Mai Province

    Reproduction antiques and huge Buddhist and Hindu woodcarvings.

  • Pasar Jatayu

    Bandung

    Search this flea market for collectables hidden amid the junk.

  • Matahari

    Denpasar

    Main branch of the department store plus numerous other shops.

  • Pasar Misi

    Baliem Valley

    In the south of town, this is one of Wamena’s three markets.

  • Aurora

    Mandalay

    Handicrafts gallery known for its lacquerware and puppets.

  • Tondano Indah

    North Maluku

    Minimart that sells beer, as well as whisky and gin.

  • Gekko Books

    Chiang Mai

    Sells used English-language novels and guidebooks.

  • Baruna Art Shop

    Ubud Region

    Has many Barong masks in stock for you to admire.

  • Nyoman Ruka

    Ubud Region

    A workshop producing and selling Barong masks.

  • Dive Supply

    Siam Square, Pratunam, Phloen Chit & Ratchathewi

    A diving supply store in central Bangkok.

  • Pasar Pagi

    Kalimantan

    A wonderfully chaotic morning market.

  • ARMA

    Ubud

    Large selection of cultural titles.

  • Hua Hin Night Market

    Hua Hin

    An attraction that rivals the beach in popularity, Hua Hin’s two-block-long night market is full of tourists every night. There's all the standard knock…

  • Friendship Mall

    Pakse

    This is the closest thing Pakse has to a shopping mall, with all the usual suspects – cosmetics stores, fashion stores, electronics stores, a cinema and…

  • Bee Chin Heong

    George Town

    If you’re after a huge Chinese couch, a household shrine or have RM55,000 to spend on a 2m-tall carved-wood Buddha, this is the place to come. Even if you…

More destinations you need to see