Thailand is a gem of a country with something to offer just about everybody. From its ancient ruins and golden temples to tropical beaches and verdant mountains, it’s replete with intrigues to keep you traveling back for more.
But you can keep your holiday fresh in your mind with a well-chosen souvenir or two from the Southeast Asian nation, whether you’re staying in the middle of Bangkok or heading off for a backpacking adventure in more rural locales. There’s just about everything on offer here, from tasty snacks and traditional spices to unique pottery and local crafts.
Table of Contents
What to Buy From Thailand
Khon mask (or puppet)
Khon is Thailand’s famous dance drama that has been performed across the nation since the Kingdom of Ayutthaya was in power (1351-1767). Originally performed for the royal court and nobles, with performers using masks to tell traditional tales — such as the Ramakien, the Thai version of the Ramayana — today it is recognized by UNESCO.
The colorful masks made for Khon performances, each with different personalities, expressions, and decorations, can be found for sale in specialist shops and markets across the country.
Thai silk
Thailand, in general, is a perfect destination for fashion enthusiasts. The country’s markets, boutiques, and fabric stores are great hunting grounds to pick up a variety of local garments and materials. One of the most sought-after is Thai silk. Made from the cocoons of two varieties of Thai silkworm, silk in Thailand accounts for millions of dollars worth of exports.
Once produced, Thai silk is woven together in an array of different colors and patterns; it can be found throughout Bangkok and other cities, but often at a high price point for genuine, high-quality silk. Further north, you can visit communities that produce and weave their own silk products.
Thai spices
Thai cuisine is known across the globe for its aromatic, highly spiced dishes, which wouldn’t be the same without the prized herbs and spices that go into the country’s gastronomic repertoire. After you’ve spent your time in Thailand devouring delicious local dishes, you can head home with a veritable store of local spices and try to recreate favorites from your Thai vacation.
Cinnamon, coriander seeds, and chilies are one thing, but picking up some holy basil — essential in many dishes — will help your food taste exponentially authentic. And let’s not forget roots like galangal and aromatic ingredients such as lemongrass.
Benjarong (Thai porcelain)
Benjarong is Thailand’s version of porcelain — fine china, often ornately decorated. This richly adorned ceramic tradition uses delicately detailed symmetrical and geometrical patterns, with a particular use of gold to accent motifs that include native flora and fauna and Thai royal symbols.
With its origins in Ming dynasty China, benjarong was originally made exclusively for the royal court but has since become more readily available. It comes in many forms, from small jewelry boxes and covered bowls to delicate bells and vases.
Health and beauty products
Thailand is renowned for health and wellness — from massages and fish pedicures to the country’s wealth of ingredients for aromatherapy and spa treatments. But this isn’t just a traditional industry; many modern brands have cropped up, growing popular in recent years for their contemporary approach to Thai wellness.
One such is Karmakamet, which began life in 2001 at a weekend market in Bangkok, and is now a high-quality cosmetic brand known for its soaps and moisturizers. Elsewhere, Siam Botanics has a focus on organic ingredients for its all-natural products, whilst Erb takes inspiration from the Thai royal court, using local flower pollens for an indulgent experience.
Mekhong
If you’re a fan of trying out local tipples, then Mekhong is something you’ll be interested in seeking out to take home. Though it’s called whiskey, it’s more similar to rum, being almost entirely made from sugar cane (95%; the other 5% is distilled rice). This concoction is blended with several native herbs and spices to produce its unique taste.
Mekhong is actually Thailand’s first domestically produced branded spirit, dating to 1914, and is made — as it always has been — on the outskirts of Bangkok. You’ll be able to find it quite easily on your travels.
Koh Kret pottery
This distinctive style of pottery has been handmade by the Mon people on the island of Koh Kret for centuries. The orange-hued earthenware is shaped into a variety of vessels with eye-catching shapes, often tapering into a point at the top, with intricate decorations depicting things like lotus leaves and flower petals.
Designs are carved into the pottery using a traditional tool made from the thorns of a coral tree — the same as it has been done for hundreds of years. Locals from the area still create the ceramics, with many workshops and places to purchase your own piece of Koh Kret pottery abounding on the island.
Paper parasols
Hand-painted paper parasols have long been associated with East Asia, not least with Thailand, where the northern region of the country is the center for these decorative accessories. Places like Chiang Mai and the wider Lanna region are awash with vendors selling a rainbow of these parasols.
Made using sa (paper made from the mulberry tree), the hand-crafted parasol is then painted and doused with oil polish to make them effective against the elements. You can purchase them in all shapes and sizes — even in miniature if you don’t have the luggage space.
Elephant pants
Thailand has long been a magnet for backpackers. The Southeast Asian nation has seen many travelers come and go from far and wide, and with that, a distinct kind of fun-loving, hippie-adjacent culture has popped up, resulting in everything from lifestyle products to clothing.
One of the most iconic is elephant pants. These baggy harem pants are comfortable, lightweight, and breathable, which is ideal for protecting you from insects but also keeping you cool. More patterns are available than just elephant-print, however, and they are perfect for days spent lounging around at home.
Jewellery
Jewellery is a particularly good souvenir option in Thailand: it’s small, can easily fit into your luggage, and doesn’t weigh very much. You’ll be able to find all manner of unique jewelry throughout Bangkok, from traditional fertility pendants and ornate Thai-style bangles all the way to funky earrings made by young Thai designers.
Thai-made jewelry is particularly well represented at markets, while Chinatown in Bangkok is a good place to hunt for unique silver and gold jewelry.
Local Thai snacks
Thailand, like many Southeast Asian nations, is a food-obsessed country. You can’t go far in any town or city without finding a restaurant, roadside eatery, or tiny food stall hawking any number of delicious snacks. Luckily, you’ll also be able to find a whole host of nicely packaged snacks to safely stow away in your luggage to enjoy at home.
From Nin Jiom’s lemongrass herbal candy and tom-yum flavored crisps to puffed rice crackers flavored with pork floss and the ever-present Koh-Kae peanut varieties, there’s a whole world of snacks that could potentially fill a whole new suitcase. Having a selection of Thai snacks to munch on back home means you can keep your vacation going long after the tan fades.