Songkran is April 13 to 15 this year. For expats in Thailand, it is the one holiday where participation is not optional , water fights happen everywhere, and being unprepared means getting soaked in your regular clothes with your phone dead. Whether you are celebrating yourself or sending gifts to Thai friends, here is what to buy on Shopee before the holiday.
1. Large Water Gun (60cm Soaker) , ฿299
The first rule of Songkran: bring a bigger gun than everyone else. The 60cm Super Soaker-style water gun holds a decent amount of water and outranges the small squirt guns most kids carry. You can fill it from a bucket and keep going for hours. Essential if you plan to walk on the main streets during the festival.
2. Kids Water Blaster , ฿149
If you have children or nieces and nephews joining, a cartoon-printed water blaster keeps things fun without overwhelming small hands. Good to give as a Songkran gift for kids , cheap enough to buy a few so no one fights over them.
3. Waterproof Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++ , ฿259
Mid-April in Thailand is brutal: peak heat, peak UV, and you are outside for hours. Waterproof sunscreen is not optional. Regular sunscreen washes off immediately in a water fight. Apply SPF50+ PA++++ before going out, reapply after lunch. This is the most practical Songkran purchase on this list.
4. Hawaiian Flower Shirt , ฿350
Nobody wears their good clothes to Songkran. A Hawaiian-style flower shirt is the unofficial expat uniform for the festival , bright, cheerful, dries quickly, and cheap enough that it does not matter if it gets ruined. Buy it on Shopee for a third of what you would pay at a market stall.
5. Waterproof Phone Pouch , ฿199
Your phone will get wet. It is not a question of if. A waterproof pouch keeps it fully protected while still letting you use the screen and camera through the plastic. Get one before the holiday , they sell out fast at 7-Eleven and Family Mart in the week before Songkran.
6. Cooling Towel , ฿129
A cooling towel soaked in cold water drops your skin temperature fast. Good for breaks between water fights, for wrapping around your neck, or for cooling down kids who have been in the sun too long. At ฿129 it is practically free , worth keeping in your day bag.
7. Reusable Water Balloon Set , ฿249
The reusable kind fill from a tap and split on impact, just like regular water balloons, but you collect the pieces and refill them. Better for the environment than single-use, and kids love them. Good gift for a Thai family hosting a Songkran party.
8. Men's Swim Shorts / Board Shorts , ฿399
Quick-dry swim shorts are ideal for Songkran: they handle water, dry in an hour, and are comfortable for walking around all day. Board shorts work better than regular shorts because they have no inner liner that stays wet. Decent ones on Shopee run ฿300-500.
9. Traditional Thai Songkran Shirt , ฿490
If you want to actually look like you belong at Songkran and not just another tourist in a Hawaiian shirt, get a traditional Thai pattern shirt. Thai families appreciate the effort. Floral patterns with Thai motifs are the standard; many have the word สงกรานต์ (Songkran) or lotus flower prints. Great as a gift for Thai colleagues too.
10. UV-Protection Bucket Hat , ฿199
A bucket hat provides shade for your face and neck during hours of outdoor exposure. The UV-protection fabric makes a difference compared to regular cotton hats. Lightweight, packs flat, and actually stays on your head when hit by water guns. Underrated Songkran essential.
11. Anti-Fog Swimming Goggles , ฿179
Especially useful at pools and water parks where Songkran parties happen. Also good for kids who participate in the street water fights. Anti-fog goggles at ฿179 are cheap enough to be a stocking-stuffer addition to a Songkran gift bag.
12. Waterproof EVA Sandals , ฿299
Your regular sneakers will be wet and heavy within ten minutes of Songkran starting. Waterproof EVA sandals dry instantly and give you grip on wet pavement. Wear them all day, rinse them off, done. Many Thai people wear these year-round , for Songkran they are the only sensible footwear.
What Songkran is actually like
For first-timers: Songkran is the Thai New Year. The water throwing started as a gentle blessing ritual (pouring water over elders' hands) and evolved into a three-day national water fight. Silom Road in Bangkok, Nimman in Chiang Mai, and the beach roads in Phuket and Pattaya are the main battlegrounds. You will be completely soaked within five minutes of stepping outside. The whole country shuts down for the long weekend.
Bring: everything on this list, cash in a waterproof bag, extra change of clothes, and zero plans that require arriving somewhere on time.
Make a Songkran gift list on AoNeeNa
Celebrating Songkran with a group? Put together a shared gift list on AoNeeNa with everything your crew needs and let friends claim items. Nobody ends up with five water guns and no sunscreen.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Will a waterproof phone pouch work well if I'm in a direct water fight?
Yes, waterproof pouches rated for water sports or swimming are designed to stay dry even when fully submerged. Just make sure yours has a proper seal and you've tested it with a bit of water before the festival. Many people keep their phone inside during the wettest parts of Songkran.
Do I need both a large water gun and a water blaster, or can one work for the whole family?
You really only need one larger gun like the 60cm soaker if you want to compete in water fights. The smaller blasters are better for kids or if you prefer less pressure and faster refill cycles. Most families buy one bigger gun and several smaller ones so everyone can participate.
Is SPF50+ waterproof sunscreen really necessary or is regular sunscreen okay?
Regular sunscreen washes off within minutes during water fights, so waterproof SPF50+ is genuinely worth the investment. Mid-April heat in Thailand is intense, and you will be outside for hours. Without waterproof sunscreen, you risk serious sunburn even if you reapply every hour.
Should I buy Songkran gifts on Shopee before April or can I get them at markets?
Buying on Shopee ahead of time is much cheaper and less stressful than hunting for items at crowded markets during Songkran season. Many essential items like water guns and sunscreen sell out or get marked up right before April, so ordering 1 to 2 weeks early is smart if you are sending gifts to Thai friends.
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