Planning a trip to Thailand? Don’t forget to bring this must-buy list in Thailand! For travelers who set foot in Thailand for the first time and are looking for unique souvenirs or local specialties, Big C is definitely a shopping hotspot you shouldn’t miss. Not only does it offer a wide variety of food, cosmetics and handicrafts, but there are also many irresistible product selections. This list will reveal the most popular must-buy products in Thailand for you, easily plan your shopping trip, and make your free trip to Thailand more fulfilling and unforgettable!
Big C: Thailand’s large supermarkets meet all your daily needs
Big C is a well-known large-scale supermarket chain group in Thailand, with more than 700 stores across the country. Then Big C acquired its competitor "Carrefour" and transformed its mall into a new branch brand "Big C Extra". The main difference between the two is that Big C Extra offers a more spacious shopping environment and a richer selection of merchandise, and the prices are usually slightly lower than traditional Big C.
This difference makes Big C and Big C Extra each attract different customer groups. In the Chit Lom business district, foreign tourists often go to Big C for large-scale shopping, while local residents prefer to buy daily necessities at Big C Extra because the prices there are more affordable. Whether you are a tourist or a local, Big C and Big C Extra are ideal for all your lifestyle needs.
▲ Other brands and counters are stationed on the first floor of Big C Extra to facilitate consumers to purchase daily necessities.
Why is buying souvenirs at Big C recommended by officials and travel experts?
When traveling abroad, we always crave enthusiastic recommendations from local people. Whether it is hidden delicacies, private attractions or popular local products, these can make our trip more unique and unforgettable. Every year, the Thailand Tourism Bureau in Taiwan invites media, travel agency employees, and bloggers to introduce various information about food, drink, and entertainment through carefully arranged itineraries, with the goal of providing feedback to readers in Taiwan. In addition, many travel books also recommend Big C's popular products, making it an ideal place for shopping.
Discover the must-buys in Thailand: a comprehensive guide to the top 50 classics
In the reveal of the must-buy items in Thailand in 2024, Big C Supermarket is a shopping hotspot not to be missed in Novice Village! Whether for personal use or as exquisite souvenirs, these cost-effective products will make you fall in love with them. We will update this list regularly to ensure that everyone has the latest and most popular product information as soon as possible. When shopping at Big C, don’t forget to pay attention to these hot-selling products, which will add unique souvenir value to your trip to Thailand and make every shopping trip an unforgettable memory!
The first stop on your must-buy list: ready-to-eat snacks and food
Common trophies are often some snacks and food. Because they are low in price and small in size, they are very suitable for one-time purchases and can be easily filled in a suitcase and taken back to Taiwan as souvenirs. You can share it with your colleagues during your free time at work to enhance mutual feelings! However, as mentioned before, these products can be easily found at "Bichen Hiang" at Bangkok Riverfront Night Market and MBK Center in the city center (near BTS Siam Station). Therefore, it is recommended to buy them when passing through these places, which is convenient and affordable.
- Instant noodles│In particular, the hot and sour seafood flavor is the most popular, and has been introduced and sold in Taiwanese supermarkets in recent years.
- Nestlé Thai milk│When I went to Bangkok in 2011, the shelves were still sold out. When I visited in 2023, there were still a lot of them on the shelves.
- Hand-labeled Thai milk bag│right! Seeing that Nestlé is making a lot of money, how could it miss the market for instant packs?
- Bird’s nest, collagen, compound drink│When traveling with a group, most people will take them to shopping malls to buy a bucket of bird's nests. In fact, the golden bird's nests and various brands of collagen sold by Big C are worth buying and not expensive.
- Hand-labeled tea, Sanhua condensed milk│I always drink a cup of hand-labeled Thai milk when I come to Thailand. If I want to make it myself when I go back to Taiwan, I can buy tea, condensed milk, etc.
- Pocky, glico biscuit sticks│The former are mostly sweet or fruity, while the latter are mostly salty (Anya personally recommends the biscuit sticks made by glica in collaboration with Little Boss!)
- Various dried fruits│Among dried fruits, dried durian is the most popular, and brands recommend the ones sold by Kim Thompson Farms.
- Koh-Kae Big Brother Peanut Bean│It is sold in all major stores and supermarkets, and Wendy’s buys it to go with wine as a side dish.
- Little Boss Seaweed│In addition to seaweed slices, there are also seaweed rolls. Even the nanny at home said they were delicious.
- Bento super flavored squid slices│A super spicy and mouth-watering snack
- Various cooking packages│The deliciousness of Thai cuisine lies in the proper use of spices. The cooking bag plays an important role in helping you prepare the dishes properly and become a chef by cooking by yourself!
- RICCHO Giant Spicy Shredded Squid│That one pack is enough to last till eternity
- Banana Cookies│It tastes crispy and a little sweet
- Various flavors of cashew nuts│Phuket produces a large amount of cashew nuts. Eating more nuts is good for your health. It is highly recommended to give them to your elders.
- Fried pork rinds│It’s best to buy it with their sauces, it tastes great when dipped
- Various kinds of shrimp paste and dapai sauce│People who have attended Thai cooking classes can come to the supermarket to buy sauces and cook them themselves
- Lin Zhenxiang, various kinds of meat floss rolls│Souvenirs for colleagues, relatives and friends (according to customs regulations, meat processed products are not allowed to be brought into the mirror, it is recommended to buy them locally and try them)
- Royal Project Honey│A project hosted by the Thai royal family assists small farmers in cooperating with channels to sell honey that is affordable, natural and has no additives.
- Royal Milk Tablets│It has become quite popular and can even be purchased through online shopping platforms.
▲ There are so many flavors of instant noodles in Thailand, all of them are quite delicious!
▲ Nestle Thai milk tea bag.
▲ Brand's various health complex drinks are cheaper than Taiwan, and they can also be supplemented.
▲ The seaweed biscuit stick jointly launched by Glico and the small boss.
▲Sometimes you buy something with local people, and you will find good things.
The second stop on your must-buy list: beauty, hair and makeup products
Usually, when buying beauty products from overseas brands, people always go to Japan or South Korea, because the two countries launch dazzling new products and unique uses every season. However, Thailand has more advantages in terms of price and cost-effectiveness. Therefore, Thai beauty and skin care products have also become hot-selling products in the purchasing circle. If you have the opportunity, you may wish to travel to Thailand in person and purchase these high-CP value products in person. It is even more wise to stock up and take home!
- Shampoo│The shampoos sold by several major international brands in Thailand are more diverse than those in Taiwan. Anya will come to the supermarket to look for new products.
- Talcum powder│Snake Brand's various scented talcum powders are quite easy to use. In recent years, they have also launched Cool Cool, which can really relieve the heat for people who are afraid of heat.
- Perfume│Thai supermarkets will sell a bunch of small bottles of perfume. The smell is fresh but not strong, and the price is very cheap.
- Underarm sweat control│Thailand is like summer all year round, and there is a huge demand for this type of product. In addition to its anti-perspirant effect, it also has whitening properties.
- Various fragrance soaps│Starting from fruits and essential oils, this type of soap is not expensive and easy to wash. It’s good to buy it and give it away.
- Mrs. Xing, Grandpa Soap│These two are time-honored brands in Thailand. They have a very comfortable fragrance and good cleaning power.
- Herbal toothpaste│It is different from Taiwanese black toothpaste, the herbal taste is not spicy; some people recommend MARVIS, the “Hermès” in the toothpaste industry.
- SNAIL WHITE Whitening Mask│Almost in the past few years, people in the club often asked where to buy it, and the fever has gone away a lot this year.
- Snake venom mask│The fever has gone down just like above.
- Products related to acne treatment│This is a well-received route in the purchasing industry, but Anya still recommends seeing a dermatologist directly.
▲ Butterfly Pea Flower Shampoo and Conditioner
▲ Start with this black sesame shampoo, it won't be dry or knotted after washing.
▲ Snake brand super cool body powder.
▲ A little perfume.
▲ There are so many choices for toothpaste alone.
▲ Sometimes you can find these celebrity endorsement products in stores, and you can use them with peace of mind.
The third stop on the must-buy list: medicines and daily necessities
Large Big C shopping malls usually have small pharmacies for customers to purchase medicines. If you need medicine, it is recommended to consult a professional at the pharmacy first. For topical drugs, the risk is relatively low, and most are used to relieve symptoms; but if they are taken internally, they should be used with caution. There are many hospitals in Thailand that provide multilingual services. If you feel unwell, it is best to go to the hospital for treatment. In addition, it is recommended to purchase travel insurance when traveling abroad to reduce the high costs of medical treatment.
- Five Pagodas│This is also a must-have medicine at home that has been circulated on the Internet for a long time. It is mainly taken when you get motion sickness or have diarrhea.
- Flying Rabbit Gastric Milk│It is inevitable that you will be acclimatized or have a bad stomach when you go abroad. You can also buy some at this pharmacy.
- Mybacin / Nude throat lozenges│When traveling to Thailand, first familiarize yourself with some basic medicines. If you encounter a situation, you can first relieve the symptoms and return to Taiwan for medical treatment.
- Nasal aspirator (mint stick)│Very easy to use, the top one has the refreshing mint scent to refresh your mind, and the bottom one is suitable for wiping on mosquito bites
- Mosquito repellent│Mosquitoes are inevitable outdoors in Thailand. This bottle is a common brand in Thailand. It is easy to use and recommended.
- Green grass ointment│The tour guide recommended this product when I was on a group tour in 2005. It was very useful for relieving fatigue.
- Counterpain Soreness Ointment│There are three colors: gold, red, and blue, which are suitable for different inflammatory symptoms. I also take it with me when I go abroad. Sometimes my legs are so sore and can be massaged to soothe them.
- Sabai Home SPA│Their grass ointment is available in several different flavors with floral scents, and the thermal shoulder compress is highly recommended as it helps relieve stiff shoulders and neck. It has become a common product in Big C Extra stores in recent years.
- Cool sanitary napkin│When the menstrual period comes in the summer, I am most afraid of the sweltering heat. Anya has used cool sanitary napkins, and all she can say is... super cool! (trembling)
- Laundry detergent travel bag│When I go on vacation in Thailand, I sometimes choose an apartment-type hotel with a washing machine that can wash all my clothes together. At this time, the travel package in the store is very useful. I recommend it to readers who are also new parents.
▲ Many restaurants will also provide this anti-mosquito liquid for guests to use.
▲ There are also people in the pharmacy who can consult and administer medicines properly.
▲ The stall of Sabai is commonly seen in Big C Extra stores.
▲ These cool sanitary napkins are pretty easy to use.
▲ These are the must-buy lists that go viral on the Internet.
▲ After the shopping trip, you can also go to the food court to eat!
2023 Big C super value recommended products revealed
In recent years, many foreign tourists have chosen to purchase souvenirs and trophies here. The combination packages, Chinese product names and purchase rankings of foreign tourists provided in the supermarket help them easily find popular products. However, since Thailand opened up to cannabis, supermarkets have also started selling cannabis water and related products, giving tourists the opportunity to try novel options. However, remember! These products cannot be brought back to Taiwan because Taiwan has not yet opened up cannabis. (Reminder again!)
In addition, large shopping malls usually have 3C areas to facilitate tourists and local consumers to purchase electronic products. If you encounter problems with the electrical appliances you carry, you can find solutions here. I personally highly recommend buying cut fruits here. The prices are affordable and the taste is great. Compared with the night market stalls, the fruits here are not stuffed with peels at the bottom, making people mistakenly think that the quantity is large. During this month in Bangkok, we often went to the supermarket to replenish fruits, which was really a good choice.
▲ Isn't it super cheap!
▲ This bag of shredded squid makes the small burger last for a long time.
▲ The legendary "Adidas". (laugh)
▲ These beers are highly recommended, super delicious!
▲ The taste of ICE is also very diverse, push it!
▲ The nasal aspirator of the herbal medicine bag has a superb effect of refreshing the nose!
2024 Big C Foodplace Asiatique comes to the tourist night market!
In mid-November 2023, Big C, a popular Thai retail brand, grandly opened a new branch at the Riverside Pier Night Market. It mainly provides tourists' favorite "Thailand must-buy" souvenirs, as well as various daily necessities and fresh cooked food. In addition, there is a tax refund counter in the store to provide foreign tourists with a convenient shopping experience. During this visit, we discovered the new milk tablets and various dried fruits launched by Royal Project. These products are carefully made using natural ingredients in cooperation with small farmers. These dried fruits have an excellent taste, are delicious and not greasy, and are very affordable. They are really worth buying and tasting.
▲More chocolate flavors!
▲ The top two rows are dried fruits launched by Royal Project.
▲ Little Burger insisted on buying this sachet, but the artificial smell was too strong and stinky!
▲ Later, I bought nearly 40 bags at the airport and took them back to Taiwan. (I regret buying too little, it’s really delicious and not expensive)
Bangkok shopping day trip
📍 Applicable objects: Shopping enthusiasts & novices
📍 Transportation for the outbound journey: Get off at BTS Chit Lom station and head towards Central World on the overpass
📍 The one-day tour itinerary is as follows:
- The first stop Erawan: When I take novices to Bangkok twice, they will most likely ask the Erawan Buddha for smooth work. It’s better to go there in a relaxed way while you don’t have too many things on hand (you don’t have to go there at night to worship if you are sincere and spiritual)
- The second stop Pratunam Market: There are more than 500 stores in three major buildings, with products ranging from clothing accessories, men's clothing, children's areas, etc. I can spend three days and three nights shopping!
- The third station indy night market: The food and snacks are quite diverse, including grilled shrimps, fried rice noodles, desserts, fruits, etc., and the prices are similar to other night markets. If you are new to Pratunam Market, this is the place to go for Chinese food.
- The fourth stopAfter You: On the first floor of Pratunam Market, there were not many people passing by both times, but we recommend eating at Termial 21 Rama 3 branch.
- The fifth stop: Hainanese chicken rice (pink, green): Leaving Pratunam Market, you can reach it across the road. Many veterans have Hainanese chicken rice on their pocket list. These two restaurants in Pratunam Market can be said to be the first time for novices to try.
- Sixth stop Big C: After dinner, take the overpass in the same direction to Big C. You can buy a bunch of must-buy souvenirs in Kuthai. Tax refunds are available for purchases of 2 baht or more. However, it is recommended that you do not need to pay for the tax refund. You can collect the money at the airport and customs. Long people will think it's a waste of time
- The seventh stop, Central World: On the occasion of Christmas at the end of the year, the square will be decorated with beautiful installations for tourists to take pictures. The theme of 2023 is to invite Japanese Pokémon to sit here. You can come here to take pictures before going back to the hotel.
📍 Return transportation: Since there are too many trophies on hand, it is recommended to call Grab Taxi or Bolt directly from Big C. It is much easier to go back to the hotel in one car.
▲ The red dotted line means there is an air bridge, and the orange line means going indoors.
Comprehensive evaluation: Online rumors that "Must Buy in Thailand" are all in single-brand supermarkets
In the past, in addition to the recommendations of travel writers and books, the so-called "must-buy items in Thailand" often relied on the introduction of group tour guides or shopping stations, such as green grass paste, five pagodas, and pearl fish wallets. However, with the increasing amount of information on the Internet, many compiled lists have made it easier to obtain information. However, the contents of these lists are often repetitive, which has led to the weakening of the definition of "must buy" among the Taiwan and Hong Kong Love Tai communities.
Fueled by the "Must Buy in Thailand" article, many colleagues, relatives and friends will entrust them to buy it on their behalf even if they don't intend to buy it themselves. If you are looking for cheap and affordable products that are "must-buy in Thailand" or "must-buy in Bangkok", a trip to Big C Extra is your best choice. In addition, tax refunds are available for purchases over 2,000 baht. This article has sorted out all kinds of products for you. You can also find more product photos in the following two articles, so you can choose slowly.
Related Post:
Big C Bangkok main branch location summary
In the Big C supermarket, you can see all kinds of Thai delicious and easy to use. The cheap price always makes people unable to bear the big bags and small bags back to Taiwan. Most of the stores are open from 09:00-23:00.In addition, the products displayed in the Big C Extra store are more diversified. The main branches in Bangkok can also meet the needs of souvenirs. Anya has compiled the information of the branches near the city center and MRT station as follows. For more branch addresses, please refer to the official Big C. Website (https://corporate.bigc.co.th/en/).
Big C Rajdamri branch
- Address: 97/11 Rajdamri Rd. Lumpini, Pathumwan Bangkok
- Phone: 0-2898-0991-8
- Business hours: 09:00~23:00
Big C Extra Ratchadaphisek branch
- Address: 125 Ratchadaphisek Road, Dindaeng, Dindaeng, Bangkok
- Phone: 0-2354-0570
- Business hours: 09:00~02:00
Big C Supercenter Ladprao 2 Branch
- Address: 669 Ladprao Rd.Jompol, Chatuchak, Bangkok
- Phone: 0-2983-7333
- Business hours: 09:00~23:00
Big C Ekkamai branch
- Address: 78 Soi Sukhumvit 63 North Prakanong, Wattana Bangkok
- Phone: 0-2898-0991-8
- Business hours: 09:00~23:00
Big C Extra On Nut branch
- Address: 114 Sukhumvit 77 Rd. Prakanong Nua, Wattana, Bangkok
- Phone: 0-2311-8090-99
- Business hours: 09:00~23:00
Big C Samrong branch
- Address: 999 Moo 1 Sukhumvit Rd. North Samrong, Muang Samutprakarn
- Phone: 0-2898-0991-8
- Business hours: 09:00~23:00
Big C Extra Rama 4 branches
- Address: 2929 Rama IV Road Khlongton, Khlongtoey, Bangkok
- Phone: 0-2661-5580-4
- Business hours: 09:00~24:00
Big C Saphan Kwai branch
- Address: 618/1 Phaholyothin Rd. Samsen Nai, Phaya Thai Bangkok
- Phone: 0-2898-0991-8
- Business hours: 09:00~23:00
