The Best Places to Shopping in Muine-Phanthiet
Mui Ne and Phan Thiet’s shopping scene comprises mostly boutique outlets selling handicrafts such as embroidery, paintings, lacquerware, blankets, scarves, handbags and ceramics. Many are done up in ancient Cham style, making them unique gifts for loved ones back home.
Open from dawn onwards, the local markets are must-visits for travellers looking to experience the local lifestyle, stock up on fresh fruit and vegetables, and sample Vietnamese dishes such as fish pho, banh xeo, and spring rolls. Offering a more relaxed shopping experience, read on to discover where to shop and what to buy in Mui Ne and Phan Thiet.
Phan Thiet Central Market
Phan Thiet Central Market is the largest of its kind in Mui Ne, hosting hundreds of stalls selling household items, fresh produce, and local delicacies every day. This outdoor market is at its busiest at dawn, with huge crowds haggling with vendors for an array of fresh fruits, spices, nuts, meat, dried foodstuff, and household supplies. As Mui Ne is renowned for its traditional fishing villages, you’ll find just about any kind of fresh and cheap seafood here, from shrimps, squids and fishes to snails, clams, and crabs. The market is also a good place to enjoy authentic Vietnamese delicacies at very low prices, including banh xeo (crispy pancake), mi quang (turmeric noodles), and guoi cuon (fresh spring rolls).
If you’re looking to purchase souvenirs for loved ones back home during your visit to Phan Thiet Central Market, we highly recommend the quintessential nuoc mam cham (fermented fish dipping sauce), ceramic items, coconut candies, and intricate Cham textiles. As with most markets in Southeast Asia, make sure you bargain hard to get the best deals - a good start is 75% off the retail price. Located at the intersection between Ly Thuong Kiet and Nguyen Hue Streets, this outdoor market is a must-visit for travellers looking to experience the daily lives of the local population. It can get rather humid during the summer, wearing comfortable clothing is a must when you’re visiting Phan Thiet Central Market.
- Opening Hours: Daily 05:00 – 18:00
- Location: The intersection between Ly Thuong Kiet and Nguyen Hue Streets, Phan Thiet
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Mui Ne Handicraft
Mui Ne Handicraft offers a wide selection of beautiful mementos made by disadvantaged locals. Open since 2008, there’s also a humble-looking workshop section where visitors can observe hearing-impaired children learning how to sew and paint while others create handmade clothes, blankets, jewellery, and bags using traditional looms.
You can shop for textiles woven in traditional Cham patterns and have a local tailor produce a custom-made outfit at affordable prices. For something unique, we highly recommend picking up sand paintings or hand-embroideries depicting life in Mui Ne. Best of all, profits from the goods sold at Mui Ne Handicraft are given back to the locals who made them. A five-minute drive from Ham Tien Market, this fair-trade shopping venue is also directly connected to Java Restaurant, where visitors can enjoy authentic Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine for lunch as well as fresh seafood and western fare for dinner.
- Opening Hours: Daily 07:00 – 23:00
- Address: 152 Huynh Thuc Khang, Phan Thiet – Mui Ne