Ho Chi Minh City travel guide — where to stay, what to do, and where to eat in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Hand-painted lacquer bowls, trays, and boxes
Price: ₫100,000-₫1,500,000 (~$3.85-$57.70)
Where: Ben Thanh Market, Dong Khoi Street boutiques
Ao dai (tailored or ready-made)
Price: ₫500,000-₫3,000,000 tailored (~$19.25-$115.40); ₫300,000-₫700,000 ready-made (~$11.50-$27)
Where: An Dong Market for fabric and tailoring, Dong Khoi Street boutiques for ready-made
Trung Nguyen, G7 instant, and civet/weasel coffee (ca phe chon)
Price: ₫50,000-₫300,000 per bag (~$1.90-$11.50); premium weasel coffee up to ₫1,000,000 (~$38.50)
Where: Ben Thanh Market, Takashimaya food hall, supermarkets like Co.opmart
Conical hats (non la)
Price: ₫30,000-₫100,000 (~$1.15-$3.85)
Where: Ben Thanh Market, street vendors citywide
Silk scarves and fabric
Price: ₫150,000-₫800,000 (~$5.75-$30.75)
Where: Ben Thanh Market, An Dong Market, Dong Khoi boutiques
Reproduction propaganda posters and prints
Price: ₫80,000-₫400,000 (~$3-$15.40)
Where: Ben Thanh Market, art shops on Le Loi and Dong Khoi
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Ben Thanh Market
Souvenirs, dried food, fabric, clothing, ao dai, coffee, handicrafts
Where: District 1
Hours: 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM daily (indoor stalls); night market on surrounding streets 6:00 PM - midnight
Binh Tay Market (Cholon)
Wholesale dry goods, textiles, herbs, kitchenware, Chinese-Vietnamese ingredients
Where: District 6 (Cholon, Chinatown)
Hours: 5:00 AM - 7:00 PM daily
Ho Thi Ky Flower & Food Market
Fresh-cut flowers (wholesale), Vietnamese and Khmer street food
Where: District 10
Hours: Flower market runs overnight into early morning (roughly midnight-6:00 AM); street food stalls active from late afternoon into the evening (4:00 PM-11:00 PM)
An Dong Market
Fabric, wholesale clothing, fashion accessories, footwear
Where: District 5
Hours: 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM daily
Dan Sinh Market (War Surplus Market)
Military surplus, vintage gear, tools, hardware, army-style backpacks and jackets
Where: District 1
Hours: 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM daily
Saigon Square
Branded and replica clothing, sportswear, sunglasses, souvenirs
Where: District 1
Hours: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM daily
Shopping districts
Neighbourhoods known for retail.
Dong Khoi Street
Best for: Luxury fashion, art galleries, jewelry, high-end souvenirs
Le Loi Boulevard
Best for: Department stores, Ben Thanh Market access, cafes
Nguyen Trai Street (District 5)
Best for: Affordable clothing, footwear, local fashion trends, Chinese-Vietnamese goods
Bui Vien Street
Best for: Budget souvenirs, streetwear, travel gear, night markets
Malls & modern shopping
Air-conditioned, international brands, and food courts.
Vincom Center Dong Khoi
Hours: 9:30 AM - 10:00 PM daily
Takashimaya Saigon Centre
Hours: 9:30 AM - 10:00 PM daily
Diamond Plaza
Hours: 9:30 AM - 9:30 PM daily
Union Square
Hours: 9:30 AM - 9:30 PM daily
Crescent Mall
Hours: 9:30 AM - 10:00 PM daily
Bargaining tips
Negotiate like a local.
Bargaining is expected at open-air markets (Ben Thanh, Binh Tay, An Dong, Dan Sinh, Saigon Square) but not at malls or department stores with fixed price tags
Start an offer at 40-50% of the first quoted price and negotiate up gradually
Keep the interaction light and friendly; walking away calmly is often the most effective way to get a better final offer
Check the same item at two or three different stalls before committing to gauge a fair range
Small vendors rarely have large-bill change, so carry a mix of ₫10,000-₫100,000 notes
Customs & restrictions
What you can and can't take home.
VND is the only currency accepted at markets; malls and larger shops sometimes display USD prices but still charge in VND, Tourists can claim a VAT refund on purchases over ₫2,000,000 made in a single store on the same day at participating mall retailers; request the refund invoice at checkout and process the claim at the airport departure VAT refund counter, Credit cards are widely accepted in malls and department stores but rarely at open-air markets, Small tips are not expected or customary when shopping at markets or malls