The Best Places to Shopping in Saigon
Shopping in Ho Chi Minh is truly one of the highlights of this fascinating city. New shopping malls are springing up all over downtown Saigon, bringing with them international fashion brands to please the most demanding of fashion connoisseurs, but it is the variety of shopping experiences and one-off items that most excite us about shopping in Ho Chi Minh.
Boutique fashion is more prominent here than almost anywhere else in Southeast Asia, where bespoke items can be bought at a fraction of what they cost elsewhere. Markets in Ho Chi Minh are also highly recommended as they still play a central role in the daily lives of locals and visitors – truly a shopping experience you won’t forget quickly.
Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City's District 1 is a great place to buy local handicrafts, branded goods, Vietnamese art and other souvenirs. Here, you’ll find eating stalls inside the market where you can get a taste of hawker-style Vietnamese cuisine or simply cool off with a cold drink when the bargaining becomes too much.
The market is big, difficult to navigate at times and certainly best avoided during the hottest part of the day but all the same its well worth a look. When night falls, restaurants around the perimeter of the market open their doors creating a vibrant street side scene filling the air with the scents of wok-fried noodles, barbecued fish and meats. One of Saigon’s oldest landmarks, Ben Thanh offers a great atmosphere that is absolutely authentically Vietnamese.
Save your appetite and head to Ben Thanh Market in the evening where you can be served some real street style local food at one of the 20 or so eateries that surround the market building. Chefs will cook in front of you with an endless array of cuisine choices including vegetarian noodles, fresh seafood, crispy rice pancakes and steamed cakes. You will be in great local company as most of the places thrive with locals enjoying a bite to eat and a quick drink on their way home from work.
For shopping heaven head to the market preferably early morning to pick up some bargains including lacquer ware, bamboo goods, arts and crafts. Also on sale are clothes, textiles, luggage, watches and an assortment of electronic goods. Spices, nuts and local fruits heavily scent the air which is also filled with the chatter of tourists and locals haggling for bargains. Do note however that some items will be strictly fixed price.
Ben Thanh Market is situated in District 1 in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City at the intersection of Le Loi, Ham Ngh, Tan Hung and Le Lai streets. Shops close late afternoon with shopping best done in the morning before the heat of the day hits.
The market is one of Ho Chi Minh’s most famous landmarks and is known by all taxi drivers, although if you are staying downtown check first to see if you can walk to it from your hotel as it’s very centrally located.
- Opening Hours: Daily 6:00 –24:00
- Address: Le Loi, Ben Thanh, Quan 1, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
- Tel: +84 83 521 0004
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Vincom Center
With more than 250 shops, Vincom Center is Ho Chi Minh City’s biggest shopping mall – so big in fact, that they have separated it into two separate buildings just across the street from each other. Vincom Center A is housed in a delightful French styled period building connected to The Continent Hotel, while Vincom Center B is just behind it, occupying the first five storeys of a modern, glass-fronted skyscraper. If you are looking for international products then this should be your first stop as this is where most international luxury brands have their flagship stores, right in the tourist heart of the city. There are also some convenient restaurants and cafes serving food from most regions including many international franchises.
Vincom Center A
Vincom Cenre A is the smaller and prettier one, with a beautiful, baroque styled facade and nothing but the top brands in world fashion pulling customers in with inventive window displays: think Hugo Boss, Ralph Lauren and Hermes. As well as premium fashion, there are a limited number of electronics retailers and bespoke home decor shops on the higher floors. On the basement floor there is a children’s playpen called Kids Yard and just next door, an excellent Paris Baguette bakery that sells a wide range of goods and some of the most delicious baguettes in Ho Chi Minh.
Vincom Center B
Just a quick hop across Dong Khoi Street is Vincom Center B. From the exterior, it couldn’t look more different. Instead of ornate French arches, there is a sheer glass frontage stretching up 26 storeys. However, once inside the type of shopping is much the same, with Jimmy Choo, DKNY, Charles & Keith and a host of jewellery and perfume shops. This shopping mall is a little easier to navigate as it is built around a central bank of elevators so shoppers can see what is on the floors above and below. On the basement floor of Vincom B there is an excellent food court with Buds Ice Cream, Carl’s Jr burgers, Seoul Garden, and many other offerings from across the world.
Vincom Center A: 171 Dong Khoi, District 1 Vincom Center B: 72 Le Thanh Ton Street, District 1
- Opening Hours: 09:00 – 22:00
- Tel: (+84 8) 3936 9999
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Binh Tay Market (Cholon Chinatown Market)
Binh Tay Market, constructed by the French in the 1880s, is located in the centre of Vietnam’s largest Chinatown district. Unlike Ben Thanh Market in District 1, this market mainly serves the local population with its extensive range of fresh fruits, vegetables, poultry, meat and seafood from regions across Vietnam. Also known as Cholon Chinatown Market, Binh Tay Market occupies a two-storey building along Thap Moui Street. Travellers can also find an assortment of handicrafts, lacquerware, and textiles that are sold in bulk, though goods are not varied compared to other (more touristy) markets in downtown Hanoi. Along with the interesting historical and cultural aspect of Cholon, Binh Tay Market is great for experiencing the local lifestyle and sampling unique Vietnamese-Chinese delicacies.
A popular breakfast spot amongst locals, there are plenty of food stalls selling Vietnamese staples in the market including pho noodles, goi cuon (spring rolls), and com tam (broken rice) as well as Chinese-influenced delicacies such as banh bao, which are steamed buns filled with pork or chicken, onions, eggs, mushrooms, and vegetables. A courtyard is set the middle of the marketplace, where you can find a stone altar commemorating Guangdong-born philanthropist Quach Dam. Binh Tay Market is accessible within a 15-minute xe om (motorcycle taxi) ride from downtown Ho Chi Minh City. The best time to visit is in the morning as that’s when the locals come for breakfast and shop for fresh produce and household supplies.
- Opening Hours: Daily 08:00 – 17:00
- Address: 57A Thap Moui, District 6, Ho Chi Minh City
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Saigon Square
Anyone looking for bargains while in Saigon should head to Saigon Square on the corner of Nam Kỳ Khởi and Le Loi in District 1. This shopping arcade is packed with stalls on two levels selling fashion, accessories and jewellery – be aware of forgeries though, and remember the old adage that if it seems too good to be true it probably is. Even though it’s always bustling with shoppers, Saigon Square is air conditioned and under cover so it is far more pleasant than shopping in the nearby Ben Thanh Market and it’s generally accepted that prices are far better here.
Shops and stalls in Saigon Square are seemingly placed haphazardly around the mall so the best thing to do is just stroll along the aisles looking for something that takes your fancy. Bargaining is expected here and as it is so close to the tourist heart of Ho Chi Minh, prices are initially inflated. If there is something you have your eye on, shop around and enquire about prices as it is fairly easy to find different shops selling similar items. Just consider what you would be willing to pay for an item and bargain accordingly.
As well as the main branch on Le Loi Street, there is a second branch at Tôn Đức Thắng, close to the river. The setup is much the same here, although it is smaller and a little more dated. It must be said that male fashion is a little underrepresented at both Saigon Square Shopping Malls but for ladies discount fashion in Ho Chi Minh, Saigon Square should be your first destination.
- Opening Hours: 08:00 – 22:00
- Location: Corner of Nam Kỳ Khởi and Le Loi in District 1
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Diamond Plaza
Diamond Plaza is a beautifully renovated department store in a Ho Chi Minh City surrounded by many of the city’s most attractive sites, such as Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon Post Office, and the April 30th Park – a charming open space with tall trees and greenery. The department store is housed in a charming colonial-looking building, with an attractive glass-fronted office block rising up into the sky just behind the shopping centre. There are many reasons to visit Diamond Plaza, not least for the world class shopping: cosmetics, perfumes, watches and jewellery occupy the first floor, both men’s and women’ wear on the second, including formal attire and most major sporting brands, and on the third floor there is a convenient collection of electronic products and mobile phones.
The other main reason for choosing to visit Diamond Plaza is the family entertainment options such as the large bowling alley and video arcade on the fourth floor, and the Diamond Cinema on the 13th floor. Superbowl Vietnam is modern and colourful with all the flashing lights and loud clatter of pins common in bowling alleys across the world. The 32 lanes at Diamond Superbowl ensure there is almost always an alley available, but it might be worth booking on weekend evenings. Prices per hour of bowling range significantly from weekday mornings (200,000 VND) to weekends after 19:00 (375,000 VND).
Diamond Cinema shows all the major Hollywood blockbusters and although it only has six screens, it’s a very convenient location if you are looking for a cinema in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh. Movies are played in English with Vietnamese subtitles and prices are generally much lower than in most western countries. A single ticket will cost around 90,000 VND ($4 US).
- Opening Hours: 09:30 – 22:30 (Superbowl and Cinema open until 01:00)
- Address: 34 Le Duan Street, District 1
- Tel: (+84 8) 3825 7750
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An Dong Market (Craft Market)
An Dong Market Ho Chi Minh houses a variety of fashion wholesalers and handicrafts stalls. Located in District 5, this indoor market opens daily from 08:00 until 14:00. Divided into four levels, fashion enthusiasts can find an extensive collection of clothing, textiles, shoes, handbags, and accessories on the first two floors. The top floor is dedicated to quality handicrafts and trinkets made by skilled local artisans.
What to Buy at An Dong Market Ho Chi Minh City
Some of the most popular goods at An Dong Market include woodwork, lacquerware, and knitwear. You can also find jewellery made with gemstones such as amethyst and jade, but it can be hard to confirm its authenticity, so handicrafts are safer options if you’re unsure.
The ground floor of the market has several stalls selling bulk foods, traditional snacks, and desserts for less than US$1. There’s also a food court where you can enjoy dishes such as pho, banh xeo (savoury crepes), goi cuon (spring rolls), and mi quang (turmeric noodles) throughout the day.
Even though items sold here are much cheaper than Ho Chi Minh City’s more renowned markets, you can still haggle for lower prices. Start at about 50% lower, then bargain with the vendor until you’ve reached an agreed price.
- Opening Hours: Daily 08:00 - 14:00
- Location: An Duong Vuong Street, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City
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Parkson Plaza Department Store
Parkson Plaza is an international standard department store that is laid out in the tried and tested formula of cosmetics and perfumes on the ground floor, fashion for men and women on the second and third floors, with homeware and restaurants on the fourth. This is a compact shopping experience with mid- to high-range products such as Coach, Calvin Klein and Lacoste.
- Opening Hours: Daily 9:30 - 22:00
- Address: 45 Le Thanh Ton Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
- Tel: +84 83 827 7636
