Why should you go there and how do you do it right?

You come here to haggle, or you stay put. This Pratunam shopping center operates more like a market than a typical mall. The floors are crammed with stalls selling clothes, shoes, bags, cosmetics, hair care products, electronics, and souvenirs—primarily for wholesalers and bulk buyers. Prices are low, but the sellers are high, so the first price you hear is never the actual one. The buyers are honest about what they offer, too. Many items are knock-offs rather than originals, but decently made for the price, and no one pretends otherwise.

Women's and children's clothing dominates, and the shoppers are truly international, with many traders from Myanmar and India passing through. The friendliness of the staff varies from helpful to unfriendly, depending on the stall. Allow several hours if you're serious about finding bargains, and wear comfortable shoes. It's quieter on weekday mornings and busier on weekends and evenings.

Inside there is food, and the surrounding streets of Pratunam are densely packed with hotels and restaurants, so you can easily spend a whole day there without having to travel far.