Shopping in Cam Ranh 2026: shops, markets, what to buy

Straight up: Cam Ranh is not a shopping town. It is a resort strip wrapped around an airport, and there are no malls at all — no Vincom, no GO!, no two-storey covered bazaar. All of that is in Nha Trang, an hour up the coast. Here in Cam Ranh, the "serious" shopping comes down to one supermarket, Co.opmart, and the town market at Cam Duc.

Most visitors stay in resorts along Bãi Dài beach, where the nearest shop is a hotel mini-mart with a triple markup. Cam Ranh town is 20 minutes away by taxi, and it is worth a run for groceries and fruit more than for actual shopping.

The upside is real, though. Groceries here are cheaper than in neighbouring Nha Trang. By 5 a.m. Cam Duc market (Chợ Cam Đức) is buried under fresh crab and prawns from around 150,000 VND a kilo (~$6). And Cam Ranh airport has a Long Beach Pearl shop — the real one, with a certificate.

This guide covers the real places in Cam Ranh with addresses, opening hours and prices: an honest list of what's worth taking home, the airport duty-free, bargaining at the market, and a shopping day-trip to Nha Trang for the real thing. Prices are in dong with a rough dollar conversion, and everything is pinned on the map (~26,000 VND = $1).

• Co.opmart Cam Ranh (Co.opmart Cam Ranh): Supermarket, groceries, clothing — 07:30–21:30
• Cam Duc Market (Chợ Cam Đức): Main town market: fruit, seafood, coffee — from 05:00
• Da Bac Fish Market (Chợ Đa Bạc): Fish market at Ba Ngoi port
• Long Beach Pearl (airport) (Long Beach Pearl): Certified pearls — Inside the airport terminal

Shops and supermarkets in Cam Ranh

The one place in town worth the trip is the Co.opmart supermarket on the main street, Đại lộ Hùng Vương, plus a scatter of mini-marts and pharmacies nearby. There is no mall in Cam Ranh: for clothes, brands and a cinema you go to Nha Trang. From the Bai Dai resort strip it is about 20 km — a taxi is 150,000–200,000 VND (~$6–8) one way via Grab or Maxim.

Co.opmart Cam Ranh

Address: 2038 Đại lộ Hùng Vương, Cam Lộc. Hours: 07:30–21:30, daily.

The biggest supermarket in town. Co.opmart is Vietnam's answer to a mid-size grocery chain, just with shelves of Korean skincare and a fresh-seafood counter. Prices are fixed — no bargaining needed, which is a relief after the markets.

What to grab:

• Coffee — Trung Nguyên and Me Trang, from 50,000 VND (~$2) per 500 g
• Fish sauce — from 30,000 VND (~$1.20) per 500 ml
• Cashews, coconut candy, spices — gift-set territory
• Korean skincare — cheaper than back home
• Household stuff, mosquito repellent

If you're self-catering in an apartment, Co.opmart is your main shop for everyday buys. Fruit, meat, dairy, frozen ready-meals — it's all here. The Korean aisle is a bonus for anyone who runs on instant ramen and kimchi.

Mini-marts, pharmacies and electronics

Around the town centre you'll find mini-marts, pharmacies and basic-goods stores. The Gioi Di Dong (TGDD) chain — Vietnam's big electronics retailer — sells SIM cards, cases, power banks and budget gadgets. Bring your passport if you need a local SIM; they won't sell you one without it.

In the Bai Dai resort zone, mini-marts exist only inside the larger resorts. The range is minimal — water, snacks, sunscreen — and prices run 2–3 times the town rate. The takeaway is simple: stock up at Co.opmart on the drive in from the airport, not at your hotel.

Cam Duc market and the fish markets

Cam Ranh's markets aren't a tourist attraction — they are where locals buy food. No souvenir stalls. But shrimp here costs 2–3 times less than at a restaurant, and the smell of fresh fish hangs in the air from 5 a.m.

Cam Duc Market (Chợ Cam Đức)

The main town market, in the Cam Lâm district, running since 1995. It opens around 5 a.m. This is where locals shop for food: heaps of tropical fruit, live seafood off the boats, loose coffee, spices and household goods. Dragon fruit from 10,000 VND/kg (~$0.40), mango from 15,000 VND/kg (~$0.60). Shrimp, crab and squid come straight from the fishermen, no middleman.

No souvenir stalls — this is a working market, not a tourist one. Come at 6–8 a.m. while the stalls are full; by lunchtime the aisles thin out. Cash only.

Language is a barrier. Sellers speak only Vietnamese and price tags are sometimes handwritten. The fix is simple: point at what you want and let the seller punch the price into a phone calculator. This trick works at any market in Vietnam, and a little haggling knocks 10–20% off.

Pair the trip with lunch in town — there are cheap cafés nearby, and a bowl of phở is 35,000–50,000 VND (~$1.40–2). More on local food in the Cam Ranh guide.

Da Bac Fish Market (Chợ Đa Bạc)

A fish market at Ba Ngòi port — the old part of Cam Ranh on the bay. It runs from 5 a.m.; by midday most stalls are already shut.

Prices are lower than at Cam Duc: shrimp from 120,000 VND/kg (~$4.80), mackerel from 80,000 VND/kg (~$3.20). Buyers are mostly locals and restaurant owners. Tourists are rare here.

My Thanh Market (Chợ Mỹ Thanh)

A village market 10 km north of central Cam Ranh, in the Cam Thịnh Đông area. People come for farm-raised shrimp (150,000–250,000 VND/kg, ~$6–10) and fresh mackerel. It is also the spot for shrimp salt ( muối tôm) — a Cam Ranh specialty that's hard to find in supermarkets.

Shopping in the Bai Dai resort zone

Bai Dai is 15 km of beach lined with all-inclusive resorts, and beyond the hotel fences there is, quite literally, nothing. No cafés, no shops, no ATMs. Think of an Egyptian desert resort: inside the fence, a pool and a buffet; outside, an empty road.

What you'll find inside the resorts:

• Mini-marts — water, snacks, sunscreen, basic medicine. Prices 2–3 times the town rate
• Princess Jewelry — a pearl shop at Swandor Resorts. Rings, earrings and strands of cultured pearls
• Souvenir stands in the lobbies of the big resorts (Movenpick, Riviera, Amiana) — magnets, postcards, odds and ends

💬 "There's no infrastructure at all outside the resorts on Bai Dai — no cafés, no shops. Everything is inside the hotels." — traveller reviews, Tripadvisor, 2025

ATMs are just as scarce on Bai Dai — one or two at the larger resorts, and not always stocked with cash. Withdraw money in advance, at the airport or in town (there are ATMs by Co.opmart and at Cam Duc market). Vietnamese ATM fees run 22,000–55,000 VND per withdrawal.

A practical note for foreign cards: Visa and Mastercard work at Co.opmart and mid-range restaurants, but markets, street food and small stalls are cash only. Keep a wad of dong on you before any market run.

What to bring home from Cam Ranh: top 8

Cam Ranh is no shopping capital, but you can still leave with coffee for a couple of dollars, Khanh Hoa fish sauce, certified pearls and shrimp salt that almost no visitor knows about. Most of it is at Co.opmart or Cam Duc market; pearls at the airport or Princess Jewelry.

Coffee

Vietnam is the world's second-largest coffee producer after Brazil. Robusta is the main bean — strong, with a bitter edge; arabica grows up in the Da Lat highlands. Locals brew it with condensed milk through a phin filter — a little aluminium cup that sits straight on top of the glass.

What to buy:

• Trung Nguyên — the best-known Vietnamese brand. 500 g of ground coffee from 50,000 VND (~$2)
• Me Trang — a Nha Trang brand, softer and more aromatic. 500 g from 70,000 VND (~$2.80)
• A phin filter — 20,000–50,000 VND (~$0.80–2). A great gift for a coffee lover

Fish sauce (Nước Mắm)

Khanh Hoa province is one of the regions where fish sauce is made. Nước mắm has been produced here for centuries: fish is layered with salt and fermented in wooden barrels for six months to two years.

Quality is set by protein content (marked in degrees °N on the label): 20° is basic, for cooking; 30° is a good all-rounder; 40° is premium, for dressings and dipping. A 500 ml bottle runs from 30,000 VND (~$1.20) for the everyday grade to 80,000 VND (~$3.20) for premium.

Pearls

Nha Trang bay and the Khanh Hoa coast are Vietnam's hub for cultured sea pearls. Make any serious purchase only at a proper shop with a certificate: at markets and stalls, 9 out of 10 "pearls" are plastic.

Where to buy:

• Long Beach Pearl— the biggest chain. There's a shop at Cam Ranh airport (past check-in)
• Princess Jewelry — at Swandor Resorts on Bai Dai

💬 "Buying pearls at the markets is a lottery — 90% of the time it's plastic. Only the proper shops give you a certificate." — traveller reviews, Tripadvisor

Cam Ranh shrimp salt

A local specialty few tourists have heard of. Muối tômis salt ground with dried shrimp and chilli. It's used as a seasoning for fruit (mango, guava) and seafood. A jar is about 50,000 VND (~$2). Find it at My Thanh market and at Co.opmart. Light, compact and unbreakable — an easy gift.

Groceries and sweets

• Cashews500 g — 100,000–150,000 VND (~$4–6). Well below what you'd pay at home
• Coconut candy 1 kg — 60,000–80,000 VND (~$2.40–3.20)
• Mango rice paper (bánh tráng xoài) — a Cam Ranh specialty. From 30,000 VND (~$1.20) a pack
• Dried seafood — squid, shrimp. From 100,000 VND (~$4) per 500 g
• Spices — cinnamon, star anise, turmeric, lemongrass. Pocket change compared with home

Souvenirs and gifts

• Conical hat (nón lá) — from 20,000 VND (~$0.80)
• Lacquerware — boxes, panels, tableware. From 100,000 VND (~$4)
• Flip-flops — from 30,000 VND (~$1.20)
• Magnets, postcards — from 10,000 VND (~$0.40)

Clothes and shoes

Vietnam is a factory floor for Nike, Adidas and The North Face. You can buy branded shoes and clothing here well below Western prices — just not in Cam Ranh, which has no brand stores or mall. For clothes and shoes you go to Nha Trang — the malls and Dam Market.

The Vietnamese sports-shoe brand Bitis is well-made and cheap. Sneakers from 500,000 VND (~$20). The Hunter and Hunter X lines rival budget Nike and Adidas on quality at a fraction of the price.

Cosmetics

• Korean skincare — at Co.opmart. Masks, creams and serums well below home prices
• Coconut oil — 250 ml from 50,000 VND (~$2)
• Noni oil — 80,000–120,000 VND (~$3.20–4.80)
• Snake-oil balm — 30,000–80,000 VND (~$1.20–3.20). A local go-to for muscle aches

Duty-free at Cam Ranh airport

Cam Ranh airport (CXR) is international, with a dedicated duty-free area past passport control. The range is small, but for last-minute buys before the flight it works.

What's there:

• Spirits — whisky, wine, cognac. Prices in line with a typical duty-free
• Perfume — the main brands (Chanel, Dior, Lancôme)
• Long Beach Pearl — the pearl jewellery counter. Your last chance to buy certified pearls

The verdict: use duty-free for whatever you didn't manage to buy in town, or for spirits. For everything else, Co.opmart or the market.

Prices at a glance

A quick table for anyone budgeting for souvenirs. Rate used: 1 USD ≈ 26,000 VND (2026).

Prices current as of April 2026. The VND/USD rate can shift.

Where's it cheapest? Cam Duc market and Co.opmart have the lowest prices. Resorts add 100–200%. The airport, 50–100%.

Shopping in Nha Trang — the alternative for Cam Ranh guests

If Cam Ranh's shopping felt thin — it is. For serious buys you head to Nha Trang. From the Bai Dai resort strip to central Nha Trang is 45–60 km, 50–70 minutes by taxi.

How to get there:

• Taxi (Grab/Maxim) — 500,000–600,000 VND (~$20–24) one way
• Bus No. 18 — 50,000 VND (~$2), 40–50 min
• Hotel transfer — some resorts run a shuttle

The ideal plan: sun on Bai Dai in the morning, then a taxi to Nha Trang after lunch for shopping and dinner on the waterfront. A return taxi is around $40–50. If you're a group of 3–4, split it — that's roughly $10–12 a head.

In Cam Ranh reviews, travellers most often complain about exactly this — the lack of shops near the hotels. It is the resort's biggest downside. But if you know where to go, one taxi run solves it.

How to bargain at Vietnamese markets

At Cam Ranh's markets, prices quoted to foreigners are inflated 2–3 times. It isn't a scam — bargaining here is part of the culture, a kind of ritual. The seller names the ceiling, the buyer names the floor, and you meet in the middle. At Co.opmart the prices are fixed and haggling is out of place.

Five rules of the haggle:

1. Start at 40–50% of the quoted price. Seller says 100,000 VND — offer 40,000–50,000. The final price usually lands at 60,000–70,000
2. Smile. In Vietnam bargaining is a game, not a fight
3. Walk away if they won't budge. The strongest move: turn toward the exit and the seller calls you back and agrees
4. Buy a few. For 3–5 of the same souvenir, expect 30–40% off
5. Carry cash.Small notes (10,000–50,000 VND) help: "I've only got 50,000" is a strong argument

Handy phrases for the market

💬 "At the markets the price for foreigners is usually 2–3 times higher. Bargaining is a must, especially for clothes and souvenirs." — traveller reviews, Tripadvisor

Getting your buys home

What you can take out of Vietnam

• Coffee, tea, spices, sweets — no limits
• Fish sauce — checked baggage only
• Fruit — in carry-on. Durian is banned in the cabin
• Alcohol — no export limit for up to 41% strength

What you can't take out

• Antiques without a special permit
• Coral and turtle-shell products
• Gold jewellery over 300 g total (needs a permit from the State Bank of Vietnam)
• Crocodile/python-skin goods without CITES paperwork

Duty-free import allowances at home

These depend entirely on your destination and citizenship — the EU, UK, US and Australia all set different limits on alcohol, tobacco and total value. Check your own customs service before flying. As a rough guide, most countries allow around 1 litre of spirits and 200 cigarettes duty-free, plus a value threshold for other goods.

FAQ

Are there any shops near the Bai Dai resorts in Cam Ranh?

No, there are no shops on Bai Dai beach itself. The nearest is Co.opmart in Cam Ranh town, 20 minutes by taxi. Resorts have mini-marts, but prices there are 2–3 times higher. The move: stock up at Co.opmart right after check-in.

What should I bring home from Cam Ranh?

The best buys: Vietnamese coffee Trung Nguyên (from ~$2 per 500 g), shrimp salt (about ~$2), cashews (~$4–6 per 500 g) and coconut candy. Certified pearls are at Long Beach Pearl.

Is there duty-free at Cam Ranh airport?

Yes, a small shop past passport control: spirits, perfume, cigarettes, chocolate. There is a Long Beach Pearl jewellery counter too. Prices are airport-level; coffee and souvenirs are cheaper in town.

Can I pay by card in Cam Ranh shops?

Co.opmart and mid-range restaurants take Visa and Mastercard. Markets, small stalls and most street food are cash only, so carry Vietnamese dong. ATMs sit by Co.opmart, at Cam Duc market and at the airport; the airport rate is 3–5% worse.

How do I get from Cam Ranh to Nha Trang for shopping?

Taxi via Grab/Maxim is 500,000–600,000 VND (~$20–24), 50–70 minutes. Bus No. 18 is 50,000 VND (~$2), 40–50 minutes. Some resorts run a shuttle.

Where can I buy cheap fruit in Cam Ranh?

The lowest fruit prices are at Cam Duc Market (Chợ Cam Đức), the main town market. Dragon fruit from 10,000 VND/kg (~$0.40), mango from 15,000 VND/kg (~$0.60). Co.opmart is a touch pricier but stocks a steady selection year-round.

Data current as of April 2026. Prices and conditions can change — verify with official sources before your trip.