1. Ben Thanh Market
Situated in downtown Ho Chi Minh City, bustling Ben Thanh Market in 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.
2. 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 franchise
3.Binh Tay Market (Cholon Chinatown Market)
Ho Chi Minh City’s Cholon is Vietnam’s largest Chinatown with roots dating back to 1778; it’s also a place of great historical and cultural importance. Chinese minorities hid here from the Tay Son and subsequently had to rebuild the area twice following attack with as many as 70% estimated to have died trying to escape on boats. Those who survived settled and began selling a variety of Chinese products. During the Vietnam War Cholon was a thriving black market for US soldiers trading in American Army issue supplies.
The area today is a popular site for those on the tourist trail and also attracts many Taiwanese and Chinese visitors. Cholon is an interesting place to see classical Chinese architecture reminiscent of years gone by with plenty of Chinese restaurants.
The Binh Tay market at the centre is busy, crowded and messy with small aisles selling all manner of goods. This market sometimes disappoints tourists when compared to other markets in Ho Chi Minh as the products are not that varied, but the main draw to Cholon is not to shop but to enjoy the authentic Chinese atmosphere that has existed here for hundreds of years. It’s a wonderful place to experience at night.
4. Fashion Boutiques
Ho Chi Minh is truly a shopping paradise, whether you are looking for bespoke fashion, local silks or even handcrafted lacquerware. As the world becomes one big shopping mall of international brands, Ho Chi Minh retains its love of boutique fashion and one off collections – and all at a fraction of what you might pay for any of the European or Japanese brands.
5. 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.
6.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.
7. An Dong Market (Craft Market)
An Dong Market is mostly a fashion wholesalers for locals but on the top floor there are many crafts stalls, making this one of the best places in Ho Chi Minh to buy handicrafts from the skilled artisans who practice Vietnam’s proud heritage in lacquer and woodwork. Located outside the city centre, the Craft Market is in District 10, in the west of the city. However, it is easy to grab a taxi. It should take no more than 10 minutes from downtown Saigon. Opening Hours: 08:00 – 14:00 Location: An Duong Vuong Street, next door to Windsor Plaza Hotel, District 10.
8. Khaisilk
Khaisilk is a fashion and homeware boutique creating modern designs from Vietnam’s luscious silk fabrics. Starting with just one shop and growing to be a brand of international repute, Khaisilk is a true success story. Located on the fashionable Dong Khoi Street in District 1, come here to check out their dresses, handbags, scarves and bedsheets.
9. Art Galleries on Dong Khoi Street
Art galleries in Ho Chi Minh range from rough, paint-by-numbers reproductions of famous paintings, up to some of the world’s leading modern art. Obviously the prices are drastically different too. If you are looking for a nice range of art galleries in Saigon, you should walk down Dong Khoi and take your time to look for galleries that have higher quality paintings. Le Xuan Art Gallery and Ben Thanh Art have some cheaper examples of Ho Chi Minh art, while Cua Hang Saigon Crafts and especially Apricot Gallery are higher end galleries with better quality work and prices to match.
10. 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. Address: 45 Le Thanh Ton Street, District 1. Opening Hours: 9:30 – 22:00. Tel:+84 (0) 8 3827 7636