Shopping in Ho Chi Minh City

1. 1

   Ben Thanh Market

   A den of thieves, but some great shopping. Ben Thanh is recognizable from its clock tower on the large roundabout. The largest old-style market in the central district, with several hundred small stalls stuffed with goods on almost impassably narrow aisles. Due to its popularity with tourists, the market is now divided between tourist goods (jeans, T-shirts, smaller souvenirs in abundance) and regular items (fruit and vegetables, rice, kitchen wares, flowers, meat, fast food and local-style pickled fruits). Most items are not price-marked, and vendors always quote a 50-100% higher price to tourists, so bargaining hard will save you money. The chief method of parting visitors from their money is ambiguity: for example, never making it quite clear how much you are being quoted or what the exact price is or what exchange rate is being used to calculate your change. Be ready for these ruses (often by a sweet, smiling young lady), or be prepared to part with more cash than you need to. Right at the north side (back) of Ben Thanh Market are some shops that are operated by Ben Thanh Group and they sell goods at fixed price and much cheaper than the stalls in the market. No bargaining needed. If the good selection of knock-offs here just won't do, there's plenty to be had in the surrounding side street shops or night market later. If retail warfare isn't your cup of tea, you could skip the touristy Ben Thanh altogether and go to '''Chợ Bình Tây'''.

   Till 18:00
2. 2

   War Surplus Market

   Sometimes called the '''American Market''' or "Cho Cu" or "Khu Dan Sinh". Hidden behind rows of hardware and electric supplies shops, just brace yourself and enter. Dense warrens of stalls include those selling old American military gear of indeterminate authenticity (e.g., "nice collection of so-called authentic GI's Zippo lighter from the war era"), cheap T-shirts and military paraphernalia: just don't hope to find a genuine US wartime Zippo, they're all fakes now. Despite the name, most stalls now specialise in various industrial-type products such as hand tools and personal safety equipment.

   Yersin, District 1
3. 3

   Tax Department Store

   Now known as Saigon Square. Formerly the Russian Market, this is now a rather sterile department store of sorts filled with stalls selling touristy kitsch, although the selections get better as you ascend the levels. There's a good supermarket on level 2. If you are traveling here by taxi, the new name may be met by blank expressions from taxi drivers. The old name seems to work.
4. 4

   Chợ Bình Tây

   The underrated twin of Ben Thanh, selling everything from spices, Chinese medicines, and silk to obscure varieties of fermented fish, dried seafood, and jerky. If you are searching for a variety of Vietnam silks and velvets, skip the tourist trap Ben Thanh Market and go to Bình Tây instead. Most of Chợ Bình Tây is wholesale goods. Much of Ben Thanh Market's goods are from here.
5. 5

   Saigon Square

   A good place for a visit. It is a twin of Ben Thanh but with air conditioning. Haggling your way through this place is the rule of thumb. Local middle-class Vietnamese shop here on the weekends too. Consider planning your shopping here during the day and go to Ben Thanh for the night market. The daytime Ben Thanh can be planned as a sightseeing trip instead of a shopping spree.
6. 6

   Galerie Quynh

   A serious contemporary art gallery located in District 1. Unlike the galleries that focus on more decorative works, this gallery represents innovative local and international artists including Tiffany Chung, Do Hoang Tuong, Hoang Duong Cam and Sandrine Llouquet.

   65 De Tham St, District 1 Tu-Sa, 10:00-18:00 Website
7. 7

   Oil-Paintings

   There are several shops along this street selling oil paintings. If you want a portrait of a Vietnamese painting or even have your own photograph oil-painted, shop around here. You can get a readily available portrait within a day or two.

   Bui Vien St 450,000-5,000,000 dong
8. 8

   Khai Silk and Creation

   Shirts at around USD30 and ties for USD10. Off-the-peg shirts can be tailored at no additional charge. Can make copies of clothes you supply out of silk, linen or Egyptian cotton. 2 days for shirt, 5 days for a suit.

   107 Dong Khoi
9. 9

   Co-op Mart Supermarkets

   Frequented by the Saigon middle-class and backpackers alike, can be found everywhere around HCMC. Prices are reasonably lower, though the selection leans more toward Vietnamese foods.
10. 10

    Phuong Mai Art Gallery

    Vietnamese contemporary original art works including oil paintings, lacquer paintings, water colours and sculpture.

    129B Le Thanh Ton St, District 1 and 213C Dong Khoi St Website
11. 11

    Night Market

    Here you can enjoy many kinds of different foods and drink and do your shopping as well.

    18:00-late
12. 12

    Bookazine

    New and antique copies of international titles like ''The Economist''.

    28 Dong Khoi
13. 13

    Tri Books

    Stocks a wide range of English language textbooks and reference books.

    Dong Khoi
14. 14

    Ginkgo T-shirts

    Souvenir T-shirts with creative designs inspired by Asian cultures.

    20 Le Loi and 56 Bui Vien, District 1 08:00-23:00 210,000 dong Website
15. 15

    Kool Audiophiles

    Headphone and earphone shop selling genuine products.

    16/1 Phan Ngu, F Dakao, District 1 09:00-20:00 Website
16. 16

    SahaBook

    Lots of Lonely Planet titles here.

    175/24 Pham Ngu Lao Website
17. 17

    Saigon Craft

    Lots of lacquerware.

    Dong Khoi
18. 18

    Ipa-Nima

    Lots of accessories.

    8 Nguyen Trung Truc St, District 1 Website

Travel tips by Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA 3.0). Data may have changed — verify opening hours before visiting.