Finding Real Stamps: A Quick Trip to the MBK Post Office
If you’re in downtown Bangkok and need to use postal service, forget trying to hunt down a traditional neighborhood branch. I can confirm there is a fully operational post office located right inside MBK Center (Mahboonkrong)!
📍 Location and Extended Service Details
Postal Service at Central Ladprao
Many Bangkok malls feature “postal services” that offer limited functions, but the MBK location is a genuine post office with fantastic hours:
- Location: MBK Center, 5th Floor, Zone A, next to Fotofile and Mr DIY.
- Operating Hours: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Open seven days a week and on public holidays—a huge advantage over the usual 5:00 PM cutoff at residential branches).
- Speed: On a weekday just after 5:00 PM, I was in and out in 10 minutes to send a card to Norway.
📬 The Real Stamp Hunt: A Collector’s Dilemma
When mailing a letter, standard practice in Thai post offices is to use a “printed” stamp (an adhesive label showing the postage amount).
- Standard Cost (Printed Stamp): 56 Baht to Norway.
- The Request: I asked the staff if I could purchase actual adhesive stamps instead, explaining that foreigners often appreciate and collect them.
- The Result: Since they did not have smaller denominations to make up the exact 56 Baht, the cost rose slightly to 60 Baht. I was happy to pay the 4 Baht difference to get the traditional stamps!
Rate Guesswork: I was curious about the 56 Baht cost. Based on the “จดหมาย (Letter)” category, which handles sealed envelopes up to 2kg, and comparing it to the air non-registered rate (13 Baht for Norway), I estimate my card was calculated around the 430-gram band to reach the 56 Baht total. (For reference, the Letter category is meant for personal/business messages in sealed envelopes, min 9×14 cm/max 30×60 cm. Delivery standards abroad are generally 3–9 postal working days).
✈️ Delivery Time and The ‘Travel Lite’ Service
The staff estimated the delivery time to Norway would be about 2 weeks. I sent the card on December 9th—right in the middle of the Christmas rush—heading to Senja in Northern Norway.
Update: At the time of writing, there has been no correspondence from Tommy in Senja, Norway, so I am still unsure exactly how long it takes for the card to arrive. I’ll be sure to update once it lands!
A major perk of this branch is its partnership with other services:
- Cafe Link: The post office is linked to the NiP@Post Cafe.
- Travel Lite Service (Store, Send & Deliver): This is fantastic for travelers!
- Luggage Storage: Available right at the MBK branch (5th floor, Zone A) for up to 30 days, starting from 100 THB. Insurance coverage up to 10,000 Baht.
- Same Day Delivery: Services connecting Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) post office with the Khao San Road area.
- Next Day Delivery: Express pick-up and drop-off service covering accommodations throughout Thailand.
For more information on these services, please check the official Thailand Post website.
