Panthip Plaza, Bangkok

One place that I can recommend visiting if you are at all into technology is Pantip Plaza on New Phetchaburi Road in Ratchathewi.

The plaza is open from around 10am until 8-9pm every day. Each shops sets its own hours so it's best not to go right at opening or closing times.

Most of the stores I visited did business on a cash basis, no credit cards taken. But don't worry if you start getting low on funds, there are several ATMs in the plaza! Using cash means that vendors normally do not charge VAT...and you probably won't get a detailed receipt either.

What to buy: Pantip is a computer/technology geek's dream come true. The plaza doesn't look like much from the outside but once you step inside it's like coming into a technology wonderland. There are five stories of computer hardware, software, electronics, and accessory shops at very affordable prices.

If you need quick computer repairs or upgrades, Pantip is also the place to go as the shops have good service and great prices!

Pantip is sometimes the object of police raids as some stores do sell counterfiet software and Playstation games.

What to pay: You can normally save aroun $50-100 off normal retail prices on electronics and computer accessories but you really should know what you are going to buy and research the prices before going shopping.

The prices are slightly negotiable but you won't get most shops to budge much off the price because they are already discounted. To get an idea of retail prices, you can go to the top floor and look in Data IT...then go downstairs to the other smaller shops and check for discounts :)

This is the place to find anything to do with computers, hardware or software. It's a great place to violate copyright laws and get bootleg versions of software for PC and Macintosh, games for consoles, MP3's, VCD's, and DVD's. It is a large building in the Pratunam area of the city. You can find other gadgets (cameras and electronic doo-dads) and food too (S&P, KFC, and a small food court). It can get crowded and beware of the guys approaching you saying "sexy movie" and motion you to follow them. Could be a sting operation.

What to buy: Software CD's go for around 100-200 baht per disc. Some of these discs are crammed with thousands of dollars of software. There's no guarantee they will work, but most usually do (I've heard). Also, be careful about the movie DVD's. Some recent releases are actually videotaped in movie theaters and recorded on disc as a VCD (some customers report), so if it has not yet been officially released on DVD, beware.

There was a crackdown on pirated media, so Panthip, for a while, was not what it used to be. It is reverting back to normal now. The police make occasional busts on a vendor once in a while to show that they are working. Therefore, the software vendors do not keep their stock in the stores. Customers must wait 10-15 minutes after they pay, so that a runner can go down to a van or other secret storage area to retrieve the discs (so they say).

The Fortune Town IT Mall near the corner of Ratchadaphisek Road and Rama IX is a newer center for computer-related goods. There is a subway station nearby (Phra Ram IX). Service seems to be nicer here, it is not as crowded as Panthip, and it is cleaner too.

MBK Center also has a few software and game shops. It is also cell-phone heaven.

Check out the informative website below. Note the different types of movie-DVD's. Don't hate me for not sending you to this site in the first place.

What to pay: 100 or 200 baht per software CD.

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Panthip Plaza is opposite the Amari Watergate Hotel on Petchburi Road.

Absolutely everything computer related can be found here over seven floors of computer buff's heaven.

The majority of computer software, Play Station games and DVD's are copies and prices range from 100 - 200 baht per disc.

You can buy legitimate software here as well though it can be very expensive and you also must be very careful that you are actually buying the real thing.

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Pantip Plaza is an indoor IT shopping mall located on New Phetchaburi Road in Ratchathewi district, Bangkok, Thailand. The sale of counterfeit software and DVDs are some reasons behind this mall's success and notoriety. Pantip Plaza is open daily from 10 AM to 9 PM. The stores within the plaza are free to operate their own hours. However, by 7:30 PM to 8 PM, many of the stores are already closing down. There are hundreds of small shops specializing in computer hardware, software and accessories, including parts, repair, modifications, networking, second hand, laptops, Macintosh and peripherals. Pantip has restaurants on the ground floors. Food courts on the mezzanine level and second floor offer a wide selection of Thai cuisine, desserts and drinks. General price range for foods is between 30 baht to 40 baht, desserts 15 baht.

What to buy: Computer hardware, software and accessories, including parts, repair, modifications, networking, second hand, laptops, Macintosh and peripherals.

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There are so many computer and electronic shops all congregate inside this one mall that if you can find the parts or items that you want here, you will not find it anywhere else in Thailand! Just kidding... but seriously you will find the stuffs that you want here. Both hardware and software....

Pantip Plaza, IT City, located on the 7th floor, is an excellent place to sort out all your electronic needs and all goods come with a manufacturer’s warranty.

What to buy: The remaining six floors feature everything from computer parts to software, mp3 players, laptops and desktop computers.

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What to buy: The mother of them all. Walking through the main entrance of this multi-storey IT complex, u'll be greeted with the latest copy software for sale (100B - 150B), along with DVD's, MP3 CD's, and anything else that can be put on disk. If u're looking for a new wireless mouse, USB stick, CD-Rom drive, latest toys, or whatever u can think of, sift ur way through as many vendors as possible to compare prices and find the best deal.

What to pay: Most IT brands are well-represented, and the safest places to buy from are credible and established outlets. The secret is to take ur time, and to compare prices. To put it simply, Pantip is a must, especially if u' e shopping on a budget. Even just for the experience, it's well worth ur time to explore the sheer variety of IT products on offer, packed from floor to ceiling.

There are lots of vendors for DVDs and software. It's best to shop around to get the best prices. For one purchase I got some software for 300 baht that most others were asking 500 or more baht. So it pays to be look around for making the purchase. Most of them seemed to be using the same catalogue to sell their stuff so you are going to get the same product regardless of who you buy it from.