Shopping in Saigon / Ho Chi Minh City - Markets - Part One

Most girls have that one that one overseas city where they go to for great shopping buys.. I heard of girls going crazy in the Bangkok markets.. (*points at Lady Aphrodite) the warehouses in Bandung.. the huge shopping malls in Manila.. for me.. my passion for shopping lies in Saigon (aka Ho Chi Minh City) Vietnam..

May come as a suprise to some.. but having lived there for a short while.. I've found myself little pockets of great shopping buys...

Starting the with the Saigon Markets...

Ben Thanh Market - Day - Distrtict 1

A must see must go when you're in Saigon / HCMC.. You'll get almost everything you need from souveniers to cheap/fake polo tees to foods stuffs (i.e. wet market style). You can't really say you've been to Saigon / HCMC if you've never been to Ben Thanh Market. Of course being a tourist attraction prices are inflated.. the vendors actually speak Malay/ Cantonese / Japanese.. anything to sell their products..

Go with a spirit of bargaining.. general rule.. always slash 70% from the opening price and work upwards.. and never buy from the first store you see..

Ben Thanh Market - Night - District 1

The day market closes about 7pm and before you know it the hustle and bustle moves outside. You'll get almost the same things but I find them slightly cheaper than the day market, my theory is that they don't have to may rent =P

You can get lucky on rainy days.. cos business isn't so good.. so you'll get pretty good bargains for your fake adidas shirts.. and polo tees =)

Photo credits to Vietnam 720

and if you have a shoe fetish.. the shops where the night market is set along sells shoes in rows and rows.. and from the ceiling and on the floor.. from heels to slippers.. to sports shoes! If you can't get the size/ style you want.. the next store probably has something smiliar too..=P

An Dong Market - District 5


An Dong Market is in China town or also known as District 5.. Like any China town in the world.. you'll be greeted with restaurants selling duck/ chicken being displayed at the window.. Medicinal shops selling herbs.. District 5 is no different.. and An Dong market is the place to get sea cucumbers.. dried or fresh scallops.. fish maw.. they are apparently are cheap.. but quality is questionable.. I'm no expert in things of that sort.. but if you are looking you'll know where to find it

Like Ben Thanh market.. You get similar items such as souvenirs, cloth and clothes... which are much cheaper than Ben Thanh.. but you'll have to be prepared to pay the taxi fee to get out of District 1..

Now that you have a sneak peak of what Saigon/ HCMC has to offer.. Stay tuned for more delicious bargains.. and sweet deals n the upcoming posts.. till then *smile.. and Stay Fabulous!