Bangkok｜Why are vintage lovers all obsessed with this city?

Walking into Bangkok feels like stepping into a time tunnel. From large warehouses to alleyway shops, vintage treasure hunting spots are everywhere. This city has an incredible tolerance for secondhand culture—there are professional vintage malls like DD Mall, hundreds of vintage stalls at the Chatuchak Weekend Market, and even hidden corners with film cameras and vinyl records at the Train Night Market.

The most exciting part is the pricing system: Gucci monogram bags that sell for high prices in Japanese secondhand stores can be picked up here for half the price; Adidas sneakers from the 1960s, preserved like new, are priced at just a few hundred baht. Local designers also love to upcycle vintage pieces, turning grandma’s velvet skirts into cropped tops that are unique and practical. I recommend visiting WWA Chooseless Cafe, a raw villa shop in the Ekkamai area, where the vintage selection on the second floor is rugged yet refined, and the straight-male owner carefully curates ADIDAS retro styles with even the shoe boxes perfectly preserved.

For one-stop shopping, rush to Chatuchak on the weekend: from Thai embroidered shirts to Levi's 501 jeans, remember to bring cash for bargaining; DD Mall is perfect for the lazy shopper, where you can leisurely browse LV vintage trunks in an air-conditioned environment, and some stalls even accept credit cards. The most surprising thing is the eco-friendly vibe—locals habitually bring old clothes to secondhand stores, and there are dedicated recycling markets for furniture and toys, so it’s no wonder you rarely see people wearing the same outfit on the street.

Make sure to leave plenty of time here: after flipping through an entire rack of clothes in a warehouse-style vintage store, head to a café to shoot street scenes with a secondhand film camera you found, and finally carry your loot to the night market for some tom yum goong—this is the unique vintage romance of Bangkok.

Post by 浑水摸鱼 | Jun 12, 2025