Hua Hin all sorts of shopping experiences lines up for
visitors. Local markets like the Day and Night market offer a diverse array of
merchandise, while Cicada market epitomizes Hua Hin’s artistic heritage with
its lineup of boutique craft shops, live music entertainment and a hip,
next-gen crowd as its patrons. Cha-Am and Pranburi are rather quiet on the
shopping front, so for variety and choice you’d be better off exploring in Hua
Hin.
Hua Hin Night Market (after 19.00hrs)
Primarily, Hua Hin Night Market is a place to indulge in
tasty street food and cheap cocktails but that is not to say that the shopping
should go unmissed. The sort of stuff you can expect to see goes along the
lines of jewelry, crafts, some Buddhist tokens, beachwear, funky lamps and some
counterfeit goods. Nearby Chat Chai market (day market), where locals pick up
groceries, fresh seafood, flowers and textiles, it worth checking out.
Cicada Market, Khao Takiab
Divided into four sections, the market offers mainly
everything art-related, such as paintings, sculptures, home accessories and
handicrafts. The landscaped garden features live music and dance, performances
most Friday and Saturday evenings, starting 19.00hrs. Cicada Market is as
chilled out as lounging on the beach but with a bit of colour and festivity
throw in.
Hua Hin Market Village
This is the town’s first large-scale shopping centre and
entertainment complex, signifying the area’s
gradual transition from quaint fishing village to a world-class resort
town. Some of the reasons to head down here are the Multiplex Cinema and food
hall. It is air conditioned and has a reasonable selection of fashion and brand
name goods spread over three floors. Open : 10.00 – 22.00hrs.
Plern Wan
Plern Wan is like a living museum where you can experience a
slice of life in 1950s Hua Hin. The two-storey courtyard building houses a
community of period-style shops, a food court, an outdoor cinema screen and a
20 room of guesthouse. Open : 10.00 – 22.00hrs.
Cha-Am Night Market
Known as ‘Talat nad’, the market is popular mainly with locals,
who come here to check out new clothes, DVDs, CDs, cutesy accessories and Kid’s
products. Other than this, there are food stalls. Fridays are usually the
busiest when more traders turn up. This Market is not necessarily loaded with
things that you would want to buy, but it has a great atmosphere and is a good
way to gain an insight into the Cha-Am market experience. Wednesdays (after
18.00hrs)
Premium Outlet Cha-Am
If you are looking to buy branded clothes at discounted
prices then the Premium Outlet should be your first port of call. Some items
are discounted as much as half of what you would usually pay. Some stuff even
competes with the prices you would pay for counterfeit brand-name goods in
Thailand ‘s market. Open : 10.00 – 20.00hrs.
Khomapastr Hua Hin
Founded in 1949, Khomapastr is one of Thailand’s most
cherished and highly regarded brands. Largely featuring cotton products, the
Hua Hin branch was the first to open over 60 years ago and deals in
hand-printed classical patterns, especially on ‘Pha Kiao’, the fabric adorning
royal palanquins. Nowadays you will find near enough the same stuff but of course
modernized to meet the demands of the new consumer.
Saphira
Special in unique handcrafted jewelry made from anything up
to 18K. gold to 925 sterling silver, Saphira is Hua Hin’s primary jewelry shop.
Here you are guaranteed top-notch pieces, validated by warranties and the
stones a certificate of authenticity. If you are interested to see how a piece
of jewelry is made then you can actually watch your order in production. The
shop has been around since 1958. Open : 11.00 – 21.00hrs.
Hua Hin Antique Shop
This flea market style shop specializes in ‘antiques’, with
everything from home furnishings to gramophones to unique forms of transport –
think unicycles and vintage children’s bikes. You will be able to spend a good
hour rummaging through this treasure trove of bygone gems. The shop is housed
inside a gorgeous two=storey wooden shop-house at the corner of Naresdamri
Road. Open : 12.00 – 20.00hrs.
Hua Hin Grand Night Market
Hua Hin Grand Night Market has two main sections. The part
fronting the main road contains typical mass market type goods. The section towards
the back has a more hip, artsy vibe. Here, you will find unique handmade
crafts, a few bars, Pet Shop and a small air-conditioned zone with more shops,
as well as a fish spa. Street food is also plenty, consisting mostly of Thai
fare and a few Asian delicacies and steaks.
