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Chiang Mai is famous as a centre for Handicraftsand Antiques and the range of products available is simply stunning. Everything from souvenir gifts to high quality furniture, Silverware, Pottery, Silk, Woodcarvings, Lacquerware, Porcelain, Candles, the list goes on and on. Whole villages are involved and you can find these products all over Chiang Mai and of course in the famous Night Bazaar. At many of the centres, like Borsang and San Kamphaeng, you can watch the skilled craftsmen & women at their work and get an explanation of the processes involved in manufacture.. There are professional Shipping Agents in the centres should you get carried away on your shopping spree and just don't have any more room in your suitcase.
Located about 15Km from the city on the Chiang Mai - Hang Dong Rd.
If it's made from wood then you will find it here, from chopsticks and back-scratchers to qua
lity carvings and amazing teak furniture. You can find many suppliers of good reproduction furniture as well as several Antique shops.The shopping arcades cover a vast area and you will need to allow at least half a day to get round. Ban Tawai is already one of the largest craft centres in Thailand and is still expanding. There are craft shops all along the Chiang Mai - Hang Dong road. If you are tempted to make a purchase you will find that prices here are much lower than elsewhere.
Restaurants, Coffee shops and of course Banks and ATM machines are here too.
There is an annual wood carving fair held at Ban Tawai. See our Event Calendar for more details.
Borsang
is famous throughout Thailand as the Umbella Village and is Chiang Mai's centre for hand made umbrellas. Umbrellas have been made in Borsang for many generations and,whilst initially the umbrellas were plain and undecorated, today they there are a huge number of decorative designs available. The umbrellas made here are not just for keeping out the rain but are useful for warding off the sun.
There is an annual festival held in Borsang with colourful displays and competitions. See our Event Calendar for more details.
Borsang Umbrella Festival 2009
criptions from the slightly tacky to incredible wood carvings are on sale at the hundreds of stalls lining both sides of the street and in the two storey Vieng Ping Bazaar. Silk, Silver and other jewelry, wooden artifacts, toys and games are in abundance. Here you can find Antiques, Designer clothing (à la Night Bazaar), the latest and often not yet released DVD Movies, and great looking copies of just about everything worn by the rich & famous. You can have your portrait painted by one of the highly skilled artists and it can usually be collected the following day. They do incredibly detailed work from just a photo. 
t Phra Singh along the whole length of Ratchadamnoern road is the Sunday Walking Street. Open Sundays from late afternoon until about 10pm, it has become incredibly popular with both locals and tourists. It's a traffic free zone which is just as well as there's hardly room to move. Packed with stalls selling a huge variety of handicrafts and souvenirs it has become real competition to the better known Night Bazaar. Here prices are possibly better also. There are coffee shops , restaurants and food stalls for when you need to get out of the throng and rest your feet. A really great addition to Chiang Mai's shopping scenebut be sure to go early to miss the crowds.
