Buying gifts is always hard, and even more so when you’re in a relationship where the culture towards gift giving is different to your own. It took me a while to buy gifts for my Thai girlfriend and after talking it through with her we have made this top list to help you decide what to buy your girlfriend or wife.
Gifts For Thai Girlfriend – #1 Makeup
The number one gift most Thai women would like to receive is makeup and cosmetics. Whilst it is true that your girlfriend probably already has a lot of makeup she can never really have enough. In order to be special I recommend one of the big American brands of makeup such as MAC as these are really expensive in Thailand but take a look at this link of sellers who ship to Thailand – most offer free shipping on orders over $35 and the price is lower than you will find in Thailand.
You can also hit the many shopping malls but if you don’t speak great Thai you could have trouble getting what you want and many products here in Thailand are much more expensive than buying them online. Most Thai people want the original western version of a product as they know the local ones are often fake and not as good. Stick to products from the US and Europe and you will have a delighted partner.
To help with language problems you could take your partner’s friend with you. Also sales staff will be able to help. You could also buy a gift voucher from on of the many makeup shops you see in the malls.
#2 Phones and Accessories
Thailand is a nation obsessed with their phones although you probably don’t need me to tell you that! You’ve seen your girlfriend or wife jumping on her phone at every opportunity to update her status, chat on Line or to take a selfie.
Why not make her happy with a new phone case, headphones or even a new phone. This can be an expensive gift but with mid-range phones selling at around 8-12k Baht it isn’t unreasonable that it is within your planned spending range. Most phone shops will have a 7 day policy where you can swap the phone if there is a problem with your choice but don’t expect a refund.
Accessories can be found everywhere. The power bank is now a must for every serious phone user so if your partner doesn’t have one this would be a great gift (especially if it either in the shape of a cute animal or covered with stickers!)
Take a trip to your local mall and you will find everything you could need to treat your Thai partner to a nice gift.
#3 Anything Cute
Literally anything cute will be a big hit with your Thai partner. From cuddly toys to little decorations you will be on to a winner if you buy something cute.
Examples would be stuffed toys and animals like Doraemon or any Disney character. Another item which is very popular are little boxes which can be used to put things like makeup and jewelry in. I bought my girlfriend a small 6 inch scale model of a wardrobe with drawers that opened and it went down a storm.
#4 Clothes and Accessories
Again clothes and accessories are big hits with Thai women but maybe you don’t have an eye for what is good and what is a terrible dress. Again a gift voucher at your girlfriend’s favorite shop will be a winner and means she can get the item she really wants.
Of course if you have the eye for great fashion then go ahead and buy her something special. Seeing your girlfriend wearing something nice you have bought will make you and her happy. A cute belt, bag or scarf will be greatly appreciated.
If the item is branded (and not a fake) then all the better. Most Thai women love to be seen wearing a famous name. Again buying something from your home country could work well but then you are left without a way to return it if it is the wrong size etc.
Gifts on a Budget
So if you are really limited on your budget then I have a couple of suggestions for you.
Make It Yourself – Thai women really appreciate romantic gestures and making something yourself certainly is romantic. From a poem to a card all handmade items will make your partner happy. Scrapbooks of your time together or for you to complete over the next year are good examples of cheap gifts for your Thai girlfriend.
Food – Thai women love a good bit of food, especially something in a fancy box. From chocolates to Japanese snacks you can find lots of great items for under 500 baht. You can also take her to a good restaurant for under 1,000 Baht where she can eat her favorite food and take plenty of selfies to upload to Facebook to show her friends.
Household Items – I’m not talking about a new broom or anything but real items she uses everyday that you can buy to improve her life. My girlfriend was so excited when I bought her new slippers, blankets and towels. These type of items are usually only a few hundred baht each but if you put them together you can make a nice pack of items for a reasonable price.
What Not to Buy
There are a few things that you shouldn’t buy your Thai girlfriend. Some of these are obvious but others might be OK if discussed first.
English Language Books – Buying this means your girlfriend may “lose face” which is very bad in Thai culture. The implication is that you don’t see her English as being good enough. It may also leave you in trouble if you aren’t studying Thai and the last thing you want is an argument on what should be a special day.
Lingerie – Whilst it is probably a dream of yours to see your wife or girlfriend in sexy lingerie it might not be a respectful gift for your partner. Maybe she is shy, has low body confidence or could see it as if you are buying a gift for a bar girl. Be careful and maybe discuss this first if you are planning to buy lingerie for a new partner.
Fakes – Whilst it may look good to you, your partner may well be able to tell its a fake and if her friends find out then it is a big loss of face for her.
What Occasions to Buy Gifts For
In general I would say the following are days when you should buy gifts for your Thai girlfriend or wife.
- Anniversary
- Birthday
- Valentines Day
- New Year
- Religious Days – example Christmas.
For some such as New Years or non Buddhist religious days you should get something small if you are celebrating these days.
For your anniversary, birthday and valentines you will be expected to buy something bigger.
How Much to Spend
The big question you want to think about is how you are prepared to spend.
Obviously this comes down to your situation and it is different for everyone. In general I normally spend around 1 months wage in total to buy Christmas, birthday, anniversary and valentines day presents and meals out etc. I normally make at least one handmade item per event as well which has a low cost but a high personal value.
Where To Buy Presents
If you live together then take a trip to your local shopping mall which should have all the shops you need to buy the best gifts for Thai girlfriend. If you live overseas then you can either use local shops and ship it over or use someone like Lazada who are like a Thai version of Amazon.
Are Presents Important?
In short yes presents are important for your Thai girlfriend. Even though different cultures mean different traditions Thai women are well aware of gift giving at Christmas, New Years and for birthdays. Whilst she won’t expect extravagant gifts every time she will feel a bit let down if you leave her empty handed or with something un-thoughtful.
You must be logged in to post a comment.