Hua Hin and the area around it have wonderful places to shop for virtually all of Thailand's traditional handicrafts. In addition, the town itself has become a centre for contemporary art with several small galleries featuring works by local artists. If you’re looking for a suit or dress, there are legions of tailors that will craft one to your specifications. There are also numerous opportunities to purchase reasonably priced handbags, sunglasses, costume jewellery, prescription glasses, or ready-made clothing. As elsewhere in Thailand, bartering is the norm, and you will achieve the best prices doing so with a friendly approach and big smile.

Hua Hin Market Village

Market Village a shopping mall and entertainment complex, located on the main Petchkasem Road.  It is currently the most popular place in town, attracting thousands of visitors every day.

There is Tesco Lotus, Home Pro and also a lot of small shops and restaurants. A lot of big clothing brands have stores here. Levi's, Lee, and Lacoste are a few of the top stores located in the Market Village. Compared to the other shopping malls in Hua Hin, Market Village offers designer labels, cinemas, arcade halls, bowling and restaurants etc. The restrooms are free of charge and are kept nice and clean. Some Thai youths and tourists are able to spend their whole day here.

Night Markets & Day Markets

The best known of these is definitely Hua Hin night market. A visit here is an absolute must during your stay. It is located in the centre of town and runs up from Petchkasem Road to the railway line and opens from around 18.00.

Most stalls will start to break down at approximately 23.00, however some selling food will stay open longer.

The market is a fascinating insight into Thailand and the way Thais like to live. You will find countless outlets selling delicious food that is freshly cooked and served to you within a matter of minutes. Do also take a look behind the stalls on the pavements because there are plenty of restaurants there as well. Other than the food, you'll discover an overwhelming variety of local handicrafts, souvenirs and clothing on sale. The night market can get very hot and busy at weekends, so take your time here. Prices can also be a bit more expensive than other markets in Hua Hin, but they still represent good value.

Another centrally located market can be found at The Grand Hotel, just a short walk south of the centre of Hua Hin. It is open from 16.00-22.00 and from Wednesdays to Sundays. You can shop for food, toys, clothes, plants, fish, pets and books here.

For an experience of a real Thai day market, look no further than Chat Chai which is situated, undercover, right next to the night market. This is where locals will go to buy their daily groceries and you'll see an amazing variety of meats, fish, seafood, vegetables and fruit being sold. The market has recently gone through a refurbishment and is even more of a delight to visit than before. It starts to set up at between 04.00-05.00 and stays open until around 19.00.

Another market worth visiting is the Pae Mae market. It appears only on Tuesdays and can be found near the driving range. Here you can watch locals shop for anything that can be transported to a once-a-week marketplace. It's great fun and offers a slice of Thai life sometimes missed by visitors. Excellent to shop for Thai trinkets and handicrafts.

For local handicrafts, the Hua Hin Bazaar, about 100 meters west of the beach, should be your first stop. There are hundreds of items in the shops, from shells and wood carvings to dried fish.