Does anywhere in town sell good quality fireworks that I can let off in my garden on New Year's Eve? Nice rockets or Roman candles, that sort of thing, not the Chinese New Year type that just produce loud explosions. Or maybe one of those all-in-one fireworks that have become popular back home, the type that lasts for five minutes or so and has multiple effects.

Watch out for the box type w/14 or so . They tend to go sideways every now & then . I watched 8 people get blast on soi 13 a few years back. it wasn't pretty. If you get those type get some one willing to light them for you! Not trying to be a buzzkill but the cheap box type are not to reliable at all.

I have never seen them in shops....... only being sold in the bars around say Pattaya Beach Rd soi 7 or 8.

People usually doing the rounds of the bars selling them. You can get some fairly powerful morter type devices as well as the smaller stuff. They ask silly prices so barter hard.

Any of the types which shoot a projectile in the air should be anchored properly so there is no danger of it falling over. I built an adjustable wodden box type frame which was weighted down with bricks to make sure the things always pointed up.

Be careful, I had one good sized mortar which shot a shell about the size of cricket ball but the launching charge was insufficent and it only went up about 15 meters before landing on the ground and exploding; make sure you have somewhere to take cover in a hurry.

Thanks for the replies. I've lived here for 10 years and I've never seen them being sold in the bars, at least not in the bars where I drink. I've never seen them in the shops either, which is surprising given how much the Thais like them. I got a 10 Baht bag of sparklers in Friendship, maybe that will have to do?

They are for sale in the bars (or rather by travelling vendors) right now but always the same limited selection. I suspect the reason is it is illegal to sell fireworks here - whilst the law is only of passing interest to most people it may explain why there aren't any real shops for such things.

I've heard that it is illegal for people to blow fireworks in Thailand. Is it true?

Guderian? Fireworks? That's a step down from Panzer divisions!

Pm me, I know a place.

I had Xmas lunch down in Jomtien yesterday and was sitting in a bar afterwards by Rompho market when a Thai guy appeared with a backpack full of fireworks. First time I'd ever seen this down there, but I called him over and after some haggling (he came down around 40% from the asking price) I took possession of several fireworks. All of the loud bang variety, I guess, not the pretty colourful ones I wanted, but beggars can't be choosers I suppose. Now let's see if I can let them off without setting the garden or neighbour's house on fire...