Travel Guide: Where to buy books in Thailand 2022

Reading books is one of the best forms of entertainment, and also a great way to learn about something new. Some people might want to get back into reading, while others are already avid readers.

Every day we’re so used to gluing our eyes to screens instead of books. At first glance, it may appear that there aren’t many bookstores in Thailand, so here’s where to buy books in the Land of Smiles.

Credit: Kinokuniya Facebook

Kinokuniya
At the time of writing this article, Kinokuniya has three stores all located in Bangkok: Emquartier, Central World and Siam Paragon. All of these stores are enormous, and they would please any bookworm.

If you’re an avid reader, Kinokuniya is the place for you. It’s highly likely that you’ll find the book you’re looking for, and possibly spot something else that will catch your eye. Just like a kid in a candy shop, there’s something for everyone in every genre available, from business books, arts and crafts, cooking, comics, children’s books, magazines, foreign languages and more.

Another plus is their nationwide delivery service. If you’re not in Bangkok, you can order their books online from their website. The delivery time depends on the book that you’ve ordered, which can be checked on the website. As for the delivery fee, you can get free shipping if you spend more than 600 baht for economy delivery or spend 1,500 baht to get standard delivery.

It’s best to check the website directly for more information. We also highly recommend calling the store directly before you place an order, to make sure the books you’ve put in your digital basket are actually on the shelves at the physical store.

Asia Books
There is a good selection of English language books at Asia Books. Unlike Kinokuniya, there are more branches all over Thailand, so it’s more convenient for those old school shoppers who love the experience of visiting a physical store. Not surprisingly, you’ll mainly find Asia Books at shopping malls.

Asia Books has a lot of books on business, travel and interior design, but they also feature a good range of fiction and non-fiction titles.

For orders costing more than 1,000 baht, delivery is free in Thailand. Any items less than that will be charged 50 baht in Bangkok. The delivery fee for upcountry deliveries will be the same as what Thai Post charges. Regarding delivery times, each product’s information page will display an estimated delivery time.

Dasa Books
This is another popular store for bookworms, but it might slip under the radar for casual readers. Dasa Book Cafe is located next to Emporium in Bangkok, near BTS Phrom Phong. It sells secondhand books, and it has a nice ambience to it. It’s like stepping into a whole new world.

They have a reasonably large collection of books at decent prices. Books here are generally half the price of new books, costing between 150 and 250 baht. You can also trade books that you bought from them for other titles, similar to a library.

For every traded in title, they’ll give you a shop credit of up to 50% of the price you bought it for at Dasa. But if you return a book more than 6 months after you bought it, then it won’t qualify for the regular “half-price return” policy.

You can also try to sell them your old books, just keep in mind that not all books will be taken, as they need to inspect them first. If you have a lot of books that you want to sell, it’s recommended to email the store for more detailed information.

And just like the store’s name suggests, there’s a peaceful coffee nook, in case you want to read while sipping a cup of coffee or nibbling on a piece of cake.

Open House
Open House focuses on visual and performing arts, as well as design, fashion, food, travel and culture-related literature. It also has a large collection of out-of-print and rare books.

There are numerous reading spots spread throughout the bookstore. It has a massive double high ceiling that wraps the entire floor. People can explore freely in the bookstore, which is perfectly blended into the bar and restaurant areas with a view of Bangkok.

Honourable Mentions:

B2S Think Space
B2S is known for selling stationary products. It’s generally harder to find English language books, and they are mainly in Thai. Large B2S stores will have a selection of books for English readers, but the titles will be limited to “best sellers”. However, the most attractive store is in Central Eastville. It spreads over two floors with countless books and stationary.

Big Bad Book Fair
Technically, it’s not a book store, rather a yearly book sale. The location might differ each year, but it was held at Impact Muang Thong Thani this year. Books are on sale from 50% to 95%. We recommend visiting the book fair as soon as you can, as it’s a popular event. You don’t want to miss the chance of buying your favorite book.