Bophut Shopping Koh Samui
The experience of Bophut shopping is one not to be missed. Located north of Koh Samui Bophut was originally a traditional fishing village. Tourism has overtaken fishing in the village and most of Koh Samui. Fisherman’s village has the most popular Bophut shopping experience called Walking Street Market. Tourists may find the sights and smell a little overpowering but that soon passes.
The Walking Street Market starts at 6 pm every Friday evening. from 4 pm the vendors arrive to prepare the stalls. Locals flock to the market stocking up on provisions and spending time with their families. Strolling and browsing the market ask vendors before taking photos. Some vendors will charge 20baht for a photograph of their stall and produce. A family-friendly market with live music, fire performers, acrobats and singers entertaining the shoppers for the evening.
Food Shopping
Food is an important part of Thai culture. At the markets, Thai families shop and eat together. The food brings the family together and you rarely see a Thai person eating alone. Vendors at stalls and homemade carts sell an array of fresh produce. Barbecues serving aromatic chicken and pork on skewers tempt passing shoppers with the rich aromas.
Homemade ice-cream and sweet delights in sample pots encourage you to buy more. Fish of every description on display some not so pleasing to the eye or the taste buds. Locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables are in abundance at the market. Tourists may find the smells and sights nauseating at first. The Thai people are used to seeing farangs pull faces at the strange sights and they find it quite amusing.
Bophut Shopping Bargains
Homemade jewellery, trinkets, crafts and souvenirs fill the numerous stalls at the market. Clothing, DVDs and electrical items despite the vendor’s insistence are not genuine they are good imitations. Stall holders expect the tourists to haggle for bargains, it is part of the shopping experience.
Be polite and smile if you don’t haggle the price you want to pay. If the vendor appears too pushy and makes you uncomfortable walk away.
Blue Vanilla Gifts and Lovely Things, a quirky shop to buy gifts and souvenirs as momentums of your trip. Coffee and cheesecake are house specialties at Blue Vanilla. If you can’t get enough of Blue Vanilla visit their shop at Big Buddha Temple on Koh Fan.
Exclusive boutiques, art galleries, quirky craft shops and coffee bars are great to browse for a unique gift. Clothes, shoes and beachwear are in abundance from the shops and stalls located in Bophut.
Healthy Bophut Shopping
Health spas and yoga retreats are popular in Koh Samui bringing a different vibe to the village. Shops and restaurants in Fisherman’s Village accommodate the Yoga and spiritualist community with healthy food and drink options. Yoga retreats and spas in Bophut hold regular classes on the beach for all levels.
Samui Green Market holds monthly events throughout the island and recently at the Green Light Cafe in Fisherman’s Village.
What are your shopping experiences? Have you been to Fishermans village? Share your stories and experiences of your shopping in Koh Samui. Leave comments and suggestions below.