We’re already planning our next holiday destination and you bet there’s going to be shopping. Here's what to buy when in Bangkok, Tokyo and Hong Kong.
Hit by a chronic case of the travel bug? If you’re looking forward to your next holiday, you are not alone! It’s hard to resist diving into the local cuisine and getting a big dose of a different culture – and if we’re being honest here, shopping does rank pretty high on our itineraries. Before you start booking your next holiday, check out our roundup of the best Asian shopping destinations.
Snag street style in Tokyo
Is there any city that does street fashion better than Tokyo? We think not. Set aside an afternoon for a visit to Harajuku, possibly the trendiest neighbourhood in Japan. Whether you’re into the visual kei (Japanese glam rock) or kawaii style, the variety of shopping options here is staggering. Keep your eyes peeled for Dog, a little boutique located in the back alley of Tokyo. It’s full of avant-garde fashion finds said to be popular with celebrities such as Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj. For more traffic-stopping clothes and accessories, check out the iconic 6% Dokidoki for a technicolour riot. Still want a piece of Tokyo’s famous street style without making a trip to the city? Fashion collective Fake Tokyo has an online store that stocks popular brands like D.TT.K and Candy.
Grab home décor and furniture in Bangkok
For affordable and stylish home décor, Bangkok tops the list. Antique lovers, make a beeline for Loft Life Bangkok at JJ Plaza, where you can pick up vintage typewriters, cameras, and gramophones. The sprawling Chatuchak weekend market also has a huge section specialising in hand-made furniture. If you’re looking for understated and Scandi-style wooden furniture pieces, check out Timmer, which ships to Singapore.
Bag designer threads in Hong Kong
If you’re into luxury fashion, then Hong Kong’s the city for you. It’s easy to find upscale malls on the island; so hunting down designer togs is definitely a breeze. A must-visit is The Landmark, a luxury fashion paradise including brands like Balenciaga, Valentino and Fendi. Don’t miss out on the city’s homegrown designer brands, too. Head to PMQ, a creative and design hub in Central that’s home to local brands such as Cecilia Ma and FAVEbyKennyLi. And who can miss Hong Kong luxury institution Lane Crawford? The iconic department store even features an entire section dedicated to vintage Chanel and Hermes bags on its website – and yes, it also delivers to our lil’ red dot.
There’s one part of our overseas shopping expeditions that we can do without, and that is dealing with those annoying foreign exchange conversion fees and additional administrative fees. Thankfully with the DBS Multi-Currency Account, we’re waving our woes goodbye. Travel like a local overseas by paying and withdrawing in 11 foreign currencies with your DBS Visa Debit Card, at no foreign exchange fees.
Psst… enjoy S$50 cashback when you spend a minimum of S$1,500 in foreign currency from now till 31 December 2017 on your DBS Visa Debit Card. Find out more here.
This article is sponsored by DBS.
