Shopping in Ho Chi Minh City is fun, but it takes a bit of skill and guidance to help you find what you need at a bargain price!

Shopping in Ho Chi Minh City:

Shopping in Ho Chi Minh City requires you to always carry Vietnamese Dong to pay for your purchases. Although more and more stores in Ho Chi Minh City allow customers to pay by credit card, or even exchange money on the spot, you should always ask before making a purchase. If you’re doing North Vietnam tours and need shopping tips and advice, please check out XO Tours’ Hanoi Shopping Guide

1. CLOTHES

Vietnam is a manufacturing country, so counterfeiting of branded clothes is generally cheaper than suggested retail price! You can find both high-end clothing brands and mall brands like American Eagle Outfitters, Gap, Old Navy, etc. when shopping in Ho Chi Minh City. Many locals shop for clothes at shops along Nguyen Trai Street or at Saigon Square. Remember that there are 3 locations for Saigon Square (Saigon Square 2 is currently closed) and oddly enough, they have the same name! Many people call the new location Saigon Square 3. All 3 locations carry similar items but Saigon Square 3 is more airy and spacious than the original location. Internationally, Saigon Square is equivalent to the Outlet Mall shopping experience; but you can haggle! This is a very popular choice for tourists and expats alike.

Shopping location on Nguyen Trai Street
Location Saigon Square 1
Location Saigon Square 3

2. SHOES

Ho Chi Minh City seems to have a specific street for everything, and footwear is no exception. In fact, the city has two streets dedicated to shoes! Just like clothes, you’ll find great knockoffs when shopping in Ho Chi Minh City. Be careful with the quality of these imitations as the heel or the main body of the shoe can wear out very quickly. You can find a list of stores that sell genuine sneakers at the end of the video shown above.

Ly Chinh Thang Street has many shoe shops of different sizes and designs. The other shoe street, Luu Van Lang, is just outside the Ben Thanh market and a block away from Le Loi street. The shops on this street have more sports shoes and sandals while the shops on Ly Chinh Thang street have more fashion shoes.

Shoe Street 1 (Ly Chinh Thang)
Shoe Street 2 location (Luu Van Lang)

3. BAGS AND LUGGAGES

If you need to buy luggage to transport your newly purchased goods, visit Le Lai street between New World hotel and Ben Thanh market. You will find a whole street of luggage shops with the most famous brands like North Face, Samsonite, etc! Alternatively, if you need a fashionable handbag or purse while shopping in Ho Chi Minh City, visit Saigon Square or Binh Tay Market in Cholon. If you plan to use this bag in the city, make sure the straps are sturdy enough so you don’t become a victim of petty theft.

Location of suitcase shop on Le Lai street
Location Saigon Square 1
Location Saigon Square 3
Location of Binh Tay Market, Cho Lon

4. WATCH

Yes, it’s true, you can find great fake watches when shopping in Ho Chi Minh City! Name the brand and you’ll find it! Many of them are impressive imitations but you will have to feel the weight and check the metal on the watch to make sure that the quality is good. Of course, Ben Thanh market has countless stalls selling watches but you will have to pay a hefty price. If you have time to explore, stop by Binh Tay market in Cho Lon or the many small shops around the market for a better bargain. Shop owners around the city buy at this market at wholesale prices. You can also go to Saigon Square 1 or 3 which also sell watches.

Location of Ben Thanh Market
Location of Binh Tay Market, Cho Lon

5. Crafts

Vietnamese handicrafts are very unique and complex. Vietnam is especially famous for its lacquerware and coconut food. Bowls, plates, spoons and chopsticks make great gifts and decorations! You can also find great fabric creations with patchwork and lace embroidery. Or, if you like woodwork, you might like the handmade wooden boats and figurines that are often sold at the market.

The best place to find a variety of lacquerware at the best prices is An Dong Plaza, near Cholon in Chinatown. We find that the options for fabric and wood crafts are the best at Ben Thanh Market.

Location An Dong Plaza
Location of Ben Thanh Market

6. Antiques

Try the antique street (aka Le Cong Kieu street) just outside Ben Thanh Market. People have commented that stores are full of imitations but you can find a diamond in the rough! Items include old coins, stamps, war memorabilia, figurines made of ivory or bone, etc. However, be careful when buying “antiques” in Vietnam as the real antiques are exported abroad. is illegal.

7. PICTURE

Ho Chi Minh City is home to many art galleries that bring together the most talented local artists. However, for copies of famous works of art or original paintings by lesser known artists, visit “picture street”. Like shoes, there are not one but two streets filled with art shops! More locals shop at the art shops in District 5 than at the shops in District 1, but you’re sure to find great options wherever you choose to go!

Location of Pho Tranh 1 (Tran Phu Street, District 5)
Location of Tranh 2 Street (Bui Vien Street, District 1)

8. FABRIC

Vietnam is often touted as the next tailoring capital of the world! If you have time to tailor made-to-order outfits, we highly recommend visiting ‘fabric street’ to find a great collection of fabrics for your tailor-made creations. Cloth street is located right opposite Tan Dinh market. You’ll find even better deals on fabrics inside the market, although the shops across the street have a wider range of fabrics. You can also visit the Soai Kinh Lam raw material market in Cho Lon. This is a wholesale market, so prices are cheaper and more choices. Tailors will charge less if you bring your own fabric, but make sure you check with your tailor first about the amount of fabric needed for your garment.

Location of Tan Dinh market
Location of Fabric Street (Hai Ba Trung)
Location of Soai Kinh Lam raw material market

Vietnam is a cash-based society, which means there is no such thing as a fixed price. You must absolutely bargain for the goods you want to buy. Remember, in a market, there will be a number of shops selling the items you want. Therefore, the best strategy to get everything for the right price is not to quickly stick with what you want to buy. In many cases, the owner will call you back if you walk away and agree on a fair price! Use the following phrases to help you negotiate when shopping in Ho Chi Minh City!

Phrases for shopping in Vietnam

Final advice:

Do you have a limited time in Ho Chi Minh City? Looking for a one-stop shopping experience?

We recommend in order of importance:

1. Ben Thanh Market
2. Saigon Square
3. An Dong Plaza

Note: It should be noted that Ben Thanh Market, although convenient, can be much more expensive than other markets due to its central location and the frequency with which tourists shop in search of the perfect souvenir. When shopping at Ben Thanh Market, you should start with 40-50% of the initial asking price and negotiate from there. If the store owner doesn’t offer a discount, you can easily go to the next stall. For comparison, you should expect to get no more than 10-20% off the merchandise you buy at Saigon Square. You will see many locals shopping at Saigon Square or An Dong Plaza. Wherever you choose to shop, we’re sure you’ll be completely impressed with what Vietnam has to offer. Happy shopping in HCMC! If you find yourself completely exhausted after a day and you’re still looking for some adventure, check out our Vietnamese massage guide.

Finally, if you are overwhelmed by the size of Ho Chi Minh City and want to make the most of your time, consider booking the famous “Sightseeing” morning city tour and food tour Our famous “Foodie” street! You can learn more about both tours by visiting our homepage by clicking on our icon at the top.

Vietnam Travel Guide hope this article will be useful to you, so that you will have an unforgettable trip to Vietnam.