Best Shopping Places In Vietnam

Shopping is a hobby for many people, especially when traveling or visiting another place. Vietnam is a beautiful country and a rich culture. There is one thing that you can’t resist in Vietnam – shopping. Not only can you explore many things, but you can also learn about Vietnamese culture in the local markets.

Where are the best places to shop in Vietnam?

There are markets that are both bustling trading places and tourist symbols of the city, where visitors come not only to buy their favorite items and souvenirs but also to explore the architecture of these areas. The three regions of North, Central, and South all have markets with long histories that are loved by many tourists. When visiting these markets, visitors not only have the opportunity to shop for souvenirs and regional specialties but also to discover many interesting things about each culture. market

Best shopping places in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh is a shopping paradise for foreign travelers. Here are some popular markets in this city where you can shop.

Ben Thanh market

When talking about the best shopping places in Vietnam, you cannot ignore the name Ben Thanh Market. This is one of the markets that is very familiar to Vietnamese people as well as international tourists, as it is located right in the heart of Saigon.

Operating from 1914 to the present, this 100-year-old market is not only a busy shopping hub but also a historical witness to many of the city’s ups and downs. This place offers many items, from clothes, shoes, fabrics, and handicrafts to brocade, jewelry, and specialty dishes.

Ben Thanh Market is located at the intersection of Le Loi, Ham Nghi, Tran Hung Dao, and Le Lai Street, near The Rex Hotel. It stands in the very center of the city, where consumers can conveniently find all sorts of products imaginable.

The goods at Ben Thanh Market are abundant, including almost all domestic products, especially those from the Mekong River Delta, as well as modern products from other countries.

Furthermore, nowadays, the market is becoming popular for its local foods at night. However, you should also bargain when shopping here.

Cho Lon market

Cho Lon spans a vast area, from the residential quarters famous in Cho Lon Ward. It has become part and parcel of every itinerary to Ho Chi Minh City. During the day, Cho Lon is bustling with sellers and buyers doing their business.

Binh Tay market, one of the most important markets in Ho Chi Minh City, is located in Cho Lon. You can buy almost everything there. When the night falls, Cho Lon seems to rejuvenate. Visitors come here at this time not only to purchase goods but also to taste the gastronomy of the local people (Hoa people).

Sai Gon Square

Sai Gon Square is also known as a “shopping paradise” in Ho Chi Minh City. The designs here are very beautiful, the prices are affordable, and they always keep up with the trends young people love. Therefore, this shopping area is a place where you can choose many suitable and fashionable outfits.

Compared to Cho Lon or Ben Thanh market, this building is considered more pleasant because the air conditioners run 24/7. At these places, 100 shops sell clothes, shoes, bags, jewelry, watches, eyeglasses, and other fashion items.

Best shopping places in Hanoi

The capital of Vietnam is also a perfect destination for tourists to visit and do shopping. You should not skip:

Dong Xuan market

Dong Xuan Market is one of the most famous markets in Vietnam. At the same time, this is also known as the largest and oldest market in Hanoi, located in the old town in Dong Xuan ward. This market was built in 1889 and has a history spanning hundreds of years, dating back to the feudal period of the Nguyen Dynasty.

Dong Xuan market is the largest covered market in Hanoi, where wholesale traders sell everything from clothes, household items, fabrics, and goods to foodstuffs of every kind, from fresh vegetables to Vietnamese dishes.

Not only that, but tourists also know Dong Xuan market as a famous market for snacks in Hanoi. When you come here, you can fully enjoy the traditional dishes of the North, such as bun cha, rib porridge, and bamboo sprout vermicelli… 

On weekends, visitors can walk and explore the night market. From 18 – 23:00 pm, many people come here to stroll or go shopping. The area creates a busy, crowded pedestrian street. Coming to the night market, you can buy souvenirs, handicrafts, and also try traditional foods.

Old quarter

This area was founded in the 11th century as a crowded trade hub where traders and artisans concentrated, establishing dedicated trade streets.

The street names began with “Hang” and originated from the names of the type of merchandise produced and traded, such as Hang Duong “Sugar”, Hang Gai “Silk”, Hang Bac “Silver”…Nowadays, the Old Quarter includes 76 streets. Every street was noisy, animated by trade.

Best shopping places in Mekong Delta River

The Mekong Delta River isn’t only a famous destination but also a great place to shop for unique local goods. Here are some famous markets you should visit.

Nga Bay floating market in Can Tho City

The market was built in 1915; to this day, it is not only a place for residents of the Mekong Delta to trade and exchange goods but also a place that attracts many tourists to experience and shop.

A special feature of this market is the convergence of 7 main routes here: Xeo Vong, Lai Hieu, Xeo Mon, Soc Trang, Bung Tau, Mang Ca, and Cai Mon. At Nga Bay floating market, the convergence of these 7 river branches to form a famous market has become a unique feature that is difficult to match with any other market, and a mystery that attracts many tourists who want to explore.

The market is most crowded in the early morning. When coming here, visitors will see a vast scene of colors from rivers, fruits, vegetables, to culinary shops on the floating water, which is very interesting. Each boat usually only sells one specific item. They advertise their products on hanging bamboo trees, which also creates a highlight for this market.

The market offers a variety of goods, including fruits, agricultural products, housewares, poultry, and handicraft products.

Cai Rang Floating Market in Can Tho

Cai Rang floating market is located just 5 km from Can Tho City. Previously, Cai Rang market mainly sold agricultural products and served customers from the Mekong Delta provinces. But since it became a popular tourist destination, the market has become more diverse, offering a wider range of cuisine, household items, and essentials for life on the river.

Cai Rang floating market was formed at the beginning of the last century and was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2016.

The busiest time at Can Tho floating market is from 5 to 8 am. From Ninh Kieu Wharf, moving slowly along the river, visitors can enjoy the beautiful sunrise.

Shopping place in Hue – Dong Ba market

When talking about famous markets in Vietnam, you cannot ignore Dong Ba market. Formed in 1887, Dong Ba market is both a unique architectural structure and a witness to many historical fluctuations of the ancient capital of Hue. In 1987, Dong Ba market was completely restored. In addition to the bell tower in the center, the new Dong Ba market has 9 surrounding blocks and 4 new shopping areas such as the fish market, self-consumption and self-consumption areas, and service areas…

In addition to being a major commercial center in Hue with a history of more than 100 years, Dong Ba market is also a place with a tradition of resilient revolutionary struggle during two resistance wars against the French and the Americans. Dong Ba Market has entered poetry and music as one of the symbols of the ancient capital, an indispensable destination in a trip to Hue.

Dong Ba Market is the oldest market in Hue, with hundreds of stalls selling household items, handicrafts, clothing, fruits, seafood, and meat at affordable prices. The best time to visit this market is between 6 AM and 11 AM, as you can also enjoy traditional Vietnamese dishes such as Pho, Bun Bo Hue, Banh Khoai, and fresh spring rolls for breakfast. When visiting this market, you not only shop for souvenirs but also experience the local lifestyle with street food.

Shopping in Lam Dong – Da Lat market

When referring to the symbolic markets of the Central Highlands, it is impossible not to mention the Da Lat market. At the same time, this is the market that many domestic and foreign tourists visit every time they travel to the dreamy city. The market is popular not only because it offers a wide range of locally produced items, but also because it has many extremely romantic corners, like in a movie.

Da Lat Market is the largest trading center in the foggy city, so it operates almost day and night to meet shopping needs and create favorable conditions for tourists to visit and explore at any time. point. Make sure to come to the market with its architecture and food to help you have the most complete experience of the people and beauty of this land.

What to buy when shopping in Vietnam?

Worry no longer about what to buy in Vietnam. In this article, you’ll see all the things you can buy in Vietnam for your shopping experience!

• Ao Dai

Starting from Hue, the Ao Dai became a common dress for women throughout the country. The features or lines of the Ao Dai changed slightly depending on personal style. The actual Ao Dai fits tight against the body, showing a supple curved line that is appropriate for the tiny stature of Vietnamese women. The dress falls to the shin, and the body has a fairly high slit. All the features of the Ao Dai attempt to reveal the secretive and gentle beauty of Vietnamese women.

• Non La

The Non La does not differentiate by sex, age, or social standing; it is worn by all Vietnamese. The hat is made from materials readily available in Viet Nam: palm leaves for the cone, bamboo for the frame, fiber from Moc trees for thread, and colored material for the chin strap. As the Non La is closely associated with the Vietnamese costume, it has been reflected in literature, poetry, and music.

• Vietnamese Coffee

Vietnam is one of the world’s largest exporters of coffee, but what makes Vietnamese coffee stand out from the rest is its strong, concentrated flavor. Making a traditional coffee, known as “ca phe phin”, is fairly easy but takes time.

The coffee is loaded into the filter without using machines or electric filters and left there for a while until all the flavors drip into the coffee.

Currently, there are 5 famous types of coffee in Vietnam: Arabica, Robusta, Chery, Moka, Kopi Luwak. Buy a pack of Vietnamese coffee and a coffee filter, and you can enjoy Vietnamese coffee back home.

• Vietnamese Tea

Besides coffee, tea drinking has been a tradition of the Vietnamese people for over a thousand years and is an integral part of Vietnamese culture. Location and geography allow many types of tea to grow in the sub-tropical north as well as the tropical south. It is quite easy to make “tra nong” (hot tea) or “tra da” (iced tea); therefore, with a bag of tea, it would be a nice gift or something to enjoy when you have a few moments to yourself.

• Silk Products

Silk products are available across the country, and you can find the best quality products in any major city like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Da Lat, and An Giang. Silk clothing is very comfortable to wear in warm weather and during physical activity. Its low conductivity keeps warm air close to the skin during cold weather. It is often used for clothing such as shirts, ties, blouses, formal dresses, high-fashion clothes, linings, lingerie, pajamas, robes, dress suits, sundresses, and Eastern folk costumes. For practical use, silk is excellent for clothing that protects against many biting insects that would otherwise pierce clothing, such as mosquitoes and horseflies. After buying silk, you can ask local tailors to make it at a reasonable price.

• Handicrafts

Vietnamese handicrafts can make a much more formal gift, such as gifts for business partners or seniors. The best handicraft products come from traditional villages across the country in all three regions. Each of them bears a significant contrast in terms of techniques and artistic decoration. It’s quite easy to purchase a beautiful work of art at a reasonable price.

Besides the items we mentioned above, there are many other souvenirs and gifts you can buy, such as dried fruits and paintings.

Tips for shopping in Vietnam

• Don’t hesitate to ask for the price of products that you’re interested in; you can bargain for a better deal. The sellers always expect the buyer to bargain and often start off at a much higher price.
• Buyers can also get a lower price if you buy in bulk.
• Check the quality of the products carefully before leaving the shop.
• Do not ask a lot and then leave the shop without buying anything. Remember, we have a language barrier and different cultures; it’s better to keep the atmosphere respectful for both sides.

Source: collected by An