Shopping in Ho Chi Minh City in 2026: markets, malls and prices

Nike sneakers for about $10 instead of $30, half a kilo of arabica for $2, a handmade silk scarf for $4. Ho Chi Minh City — Saigon to almost everyone who lives here — is Vietnam's biggest city, home to ten million people, and shopping runs cheaper than back home, often much cheaper. The factories that make Nike, Adidas and dozens of other global brands sit right on the city's outskirts.

But cheap does not mean easy. At Ben Thanh Market vendors quote triple the real price and act hurt if you don't haggle. At Saigon Square, replicas sit next to originals and telling them apart takes an eye you may not have. And barely any traveller bothers to claim the VAT refund, even though it saves you up to 8%.

Below: real addresses, prices in dong and dollars, the rules of bargaining, and a step-by-step guide to the tax refund. All current as of July 2026.

Rough exchange rate: ~25,000 VND ≈ $1 (July 2026).

The markets of Saigon — bargaining, spices and atmosphere

• Ben Thanh Market (Chợ Bến Thành): 3,000 stalls, 06:00–18:00 — The city's main market
• Ben Thanh Night Market (Chợ Đêm Bến Thành): 18:00–23:00 — Street food and souvenirs
• Binh Tay Market (Chợ Bình Tây): 600+ stalls, wholesale prices — Chinatown, District 6
• An Dong Market (Chợ An Đông): Fabrics, tailoring — District 5
• Dan Sinh Market (Chợ Dân Sinh): Army surplus, reproductions — District 1
• Vincom Center (Vincom Center Đồng Khởi): 150+ shops — Zara, Armani, Hugo Boss
• Saigon Centre / Takashimaya (Saigon Centre): Luxury brands, H&M, Nike — Best food court
• Saigon Square (Sài Gòn Square): Brand replicas — Clothes from 120,000 VND

Chợ Bến Thành — the city icon and a tourist trap

Ben Thanh Market has stood in the middle of District 1 since 1914, and in all that time the vendors have perfected exactly two skills: marking prices up, and haggling with a smile. Some 3,000 stalls fill what used to be a swamp. Coffee, silk, lacquerware, conical hats, street food — all under one roof.

Open daily 06:00 to 18:00. The Ben Thanh metro station (Line 1, opened in 2024) is right beside it, so you can reach it from anywhere in District 1 in about 15 minutes. Four entrances, one per compass point. The main one (south) is the one with the clock tower you see on postcards.

What to buy at Ben Thanh:

• Coffee — a 500 g bag of Trung Nguyen from 80,000 VND (~$3.20). Vendors let you taste before you buy
• Silk scarves — from 300,000 VND (~$12). Check by touch: real silk slides and doesn't build up static
• Spices — pepper, star anise, turmeric. A 100 g bag from 20,000 VND (~$0.80)
• Street food — pho and banh mi for 15,000–25,000 VND (~$0.60–1)

What not to buy: "real" pearls and "crocodile leather" at joke prices. Ben Thanh has a reputation for this — plastic passed off as mother-of-pearl.

The main headache: prices for foreigners are inflated two to three times. The routine is simple — the vendor shows a number on a calculator, you show yours. Whoever tires first loses.

💬 "Start at 40% of the asking price and haggle. You can genuinely get things for half. At Ben Thanh vendors ask 500,000–600,000 and the real price is 100,000–150,000." — traveller reviews, Tripadvisor, 2025

Ben Thanh Night Market

Every evening from 18:00 to 23:00 the streets around the market turn into a night bazaar. Stalls spread along the pavements of Phan Bội Châu and Phan Chu Trinh.

The draw is food. A bowl of phở for 20,000 VND (~$0.80), fried spring rolls for 15,000 VND (~$0.60), bánh xèo for 25,000 VND (~$1). There are souvenirs too, but the choice is thinner than by day.

The upside is the evening cool — relative, at 28–30°C instead of the daytime 35. The downside is that the stock is aimed squarely at tourists: magnets, "I love Saigon" T-shirts, conical hats.

Chợ Bình Tây — the wholesale market in Chinatown

This market has stood in District 6 — the heart of Saigon's Chinatown (Chợ Lớn) — since 1930. More than 600 stalls across two floors. This is where locals shop: café owners, restaurateurs, small traders. Few foreigners come. Prices are lower than at Ben Thanh, and nobody grabs your arm.

Why come:

• Spices in bulk — star anise, cinnamon, black cardamom. Half a kilo of anise from 40,000 VND (~$1.60). Twice that at Ben Thanh
• Dried mushrooms and lotus seeds — from 60,000 VND (~$2.40) for 200 g
• Fabrics — cotton, linen and synthetics by the roll. Cheaper than at An Dong

Getting there: a Grab from the centre is about 50,000 VND (~$2), 20 minutes. While you're here, walk through Chinatown — pagodas, Chinese temples and surprisingly good food.

Chợ An Đông — go here for tailoring

This District 5 market specialises in fabric — silk, cotton, linen, by the roll or the cut. Tailors work here too: pick a fabric, agree on a cut, and in 2–3 days you collect the finished piece. Tailoring runs from 200,000 VND (~$8) plus fabric.

If you want an áo dài made to order, An Dong is cheaper than the tailors in the tourist centre. Just bring a photo of what you're after. (More on the national dress in our ao dai guide.)

Dan Sinh — the army market

A small market on YersinStreet in District 1. Helmets, canteens, dog tags, engraved Zippo lighters, officer's belts. Most of it is well-made reproduction. Zippos from 150,000 VND (~$6). Open 07:00 to 18:00.

Markets at a glance

The malls of Saigon — brands and air conditioning

After the heat of the markets you'll want air conditioning and fixed prices. Ho Chi Minh City has a dozen-plus major malls, from budget to luxury. Global brands here run 20–40% cheaper than in Europe or the US — the flip side of all those factories on the outskirts.

Vincom Center Dong Khoi

Address: 72 Lê Thánh Tôn, District 1. Six floors, 150-plus shops. Zara, Charles & Keith, Armani, Hugo Boss, Ralph Lauren. On the top floor, a food court and a CGV multiplex. Seasonal sales (January–February and June–July) knock up to 50% off.

Hours: 09:30–22:00 daily.

Saigon Centre and Takashimaya

Address: 65 Lê Lợi, District 1. Two malls in one building. Takashimaya is a Japanese department store — luxury names like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Burberry. On the lower floors: H&M, Nike, Uniqlo, MUJI. The food court on B1–B2 does Japanese bento, Korean barbecue and Vietnamese pho, with a typical spend of 100,000–200,000 VND (~$4–8).

Saigon Square — brand replicas

Two branches in District 1. Clothes from 120,000 VND (~$4.80), shoes from 80,000 VND (~$3.20), bags from 200,000 VND (~$8). Nike, Adidas, Converse, "Gucci," "Louis Vuitton" — all of it replica. The stitching is often surprisingly good.

💬 "Saigon Square is better than Ben Thanh for clothes and shoes — higher quality, more reasonable starting prices, and the vendors aren't as aggressive." — Tripadvisor, 2025

Other malls

What to buy in Saigon — the top picks with prices

Coffee — the number-one gift

Vietnam is the world's second-largest coffee exporter after Brazil. The main bean is robusta: strong, bitter, low on acidity. It's what goes into the famous cà phê sữa đá — iced coffee with condensed milk.

Brands: Trung Nguyen (the biggest; the Legend line is premium), Me Trang (from Nha Trang), Highlands Coffee (a café chain that sells beans). Don't leave without a phin (phin) — the Vietnamese drip filter. Aluminium runs 15,000 VND (~$0.60), stainless up to 50,000 VND (~$2).

💬 "Prices at the official Trung Nguyen store turned out lower than at Ben Thanh, and the quality of the phin filters was well above the market ones." — Tripadvisor, 2025

Silk and made-to-order clothing

Vietnamese silk rivals Chinese silk on quality but costs less. A silk scarf runs from 300,000 VND (~$12), a metre of fabric from 200,000 VND (~$8). An áo dài made to order: from 500,000 VND (~$20) including the fabric. Tailoring takes 2–3 days.

Souvenirs and gifts

Clothes and shoes — factory prices or replicas

Nike has made shoes in Vietnam since 1995, with Adidas, Puma, New Balance and Converse factories nearby. Sneakers sewn in the same workshops but never shipped for export cost less in local stores.

How to tell an original from a replica

1. Price. Sneakers below 500,000 VND (~$20) are guaranteed replicas
2. Place. Originals only at authorised stores and malls. Saigon Square and Ben Thanh mean replicas
3. Packaging. An original comes in a branded box with a QR code you can check on the brand's site
4. Stitching. Replicas have uneven seams and loose threads. Flip the shoe — an original has a clean sole with no glue overflow

How to bargain at the markets

At Ben Thanh and Saigon Square, bargaining isn't optional — it's the rule. Vendors build in a 200–300% markup and expect you to knock it down. Not haggling means overpaying. In the malls, prices are fixed.

7 rules of bargaining

1. Open at 30–40% of the asking price. Vendor says 300,000 VND, you say 100,000. The final price lands at 40–60% of the start
2. Mornings are cheaper. The first buyer of the day is considered lucky (khách mở hàng), so vendors give up a discount more readily
3. Walk away — they'll call you back. Turn and stroll slowly toward the exit. Eight times out of ten the vendor calls out and drops the price
4. Compare with neighbours. Dozens of stalls sell the same thing. Ask two or three
5. Use a calculator, not words. Type your price on your phone screen
6. Buy a few things. "Three scarves for 500,000" lands better than "one for 200,000"
7. Don't show you really want it. Indifference is your weapon

Useful phrases for bargaining

VAT refund — how to claim 8% back on your shopping

Vietnam's VAT is currently reduced to 8% (the standard rate is 10%; the cut has been extended to the end of 2026). Foreign tourists can reclaim 85% of the VAT paid — that's 6.8% of the purchase.

Who qualifies

• Purchases of 2,000,000 VND or more (~$80) in one store on one day
• The store takes part in the scheme (look for the "VAT Refund for Tourists" logo)
• Goods unused, in their original packaging
• You haven't stayed in Vietnam more than 183 days

Step by step

1. At the till, ask for a VAT invoice (a tax receipt)
2. At Tan Son Nhat airport, find the VAT Refund desk (open 24/7)
3. Show your passport, receipts and the goods
4. An officer checks and stamps them
5. Collect the refund by card or in cash

Do the math: a 5,000,000 VND (~$200) purchase gives back around 340,000 VND (~$14). Not a fortune, but it covers a couple of airport meals — and on electronics the sum is more noticeable.

Practical tips

When to go shopping

• Markets — 07:00 to 11:00. Cooler, less crowded, and vendors give the first buyers a discount
• Malls — after 14:00. They open at 09:30–10:00, but the sale racks get refreshed by lunchtime
• Ben Thanh Night Market — from 18:00. Ideal after dinner in District 1

How to pay

• Cash (VND) — markets are cash only. Withdrawing on Visa/Mastercard carries a 1–3% fee
• Card — in malls and supermarkets. Visa and Mastercard are accepted everywhere. To stay connected while you shop, grab a SIM or eSIM on arrival
• Dollars — some market vendors take them, but the rate is poor. Always pay in dong

What NOT to buy

• Weasel coffee at 50,000–100,000 VND — guaranteed fake
• A "brand" bag for $10 — an obvious replica that can be seized at customs
• Pearls without a certificate — markets often sell plastic
• Crocodile leather — if the price is suspiciously low, it's pressed leather. A CITES certificate is mandatory to take it home

A shopping day in District 1

Morning (07:00–11:00).Ben Thanh — bargain for coffee, silk and spices. Buy everything you came for while it's still cool.

Lunch (11:30–13:00). The Takashimaya food court (10 minutes on foot) or street food on Nguyễn Thiện Thuật.

Afternoon (13:00–16:00). Vincom Center → Saigon Centre → Saigon Square, all 5–10 minutes apart on foot.

Evening (18:00–22:00). Ben Thanh Night Market → dinner right there.

A Grab between points in District 1 costs 15,000–25,000 VND (~$0.60–1). If you're combining shopping with Saigon nightlife, budget at least two full days. Getting your bearings first? Start with our full Ho Chi Minh City guide.

FAQ

What is the best thing to buy in Ho Chi Minh City?

Coffee, and clothes and shoes from global brands (Nike, Adidas, Uniqlo) — usually 20–40% cheaper than at home. Silk and tailoring pay off too: a custom áo dài runs from about $20 with fabric. Handmade leather bags at the markets start from 300,000 VND (~$12).

Do the markets take cards?

Markets are cash only, in dong. Malls take Visa and Mastercard without issue. ATMs sit by every big market, with a 3–5 million VND limit per transaction and a 1–3% fee. Bring a Visa or Mastercard — foreign cards work fine at malls and ATMs.

Is it safe to buy weasel (luwak) coffee at a market?

Risky. Locals themselves reckon up to 80% of the weasel coffee at markets is fake. Buy only at official Trung Nguyen Legend stores or certified farms. The real thing starts at 500,000 VND per 100 g.

What time should I go to Ben Thanh?

From 07:00 to 10:00. Fewer people, cooler, and vendors bargain more willingly. By noon it's packed with tourists and the heat under the roof hits 35–38°C. To beat the crowd entirely, arrive at opening, 06:00.

Can I return something bought at a market?

No. Markets have no returns. Check quality on the spot: silk for static, clothes for seams, shoes on both feet. Malls allow returns within 7–30 days with a receipt.

Is Gigamall or Crescent Mall worth the trip?

If you're staying in District 7 or Thủ Đức, yes. From the centre it's a 30–40 minute Grab. The range is much like Vincom Center but less crowded. Gigamall suits families with its play zones; Crescent Mall sits on a canal in Phú Mỹ Hưng.

Which Vietnamese clothing brands are worth knowing?

Canifa (basics), Ivy Moda (mid-range womenswear), Routine (casual menswear). Prices are 2–3 times lower than foreign equivalents. Find them in Vincom Center and Nowzone; Routine also has shops on Nguyễn Trãi.

Where do I buy electronics in Ho Chi Minh City?

At Thế Giới Di Động (Mobile World) or FPT Shop — big Vietnamese chains with a branch in every district. Prices are at or slightly below global levels. The warranty is Vietnam-only. Chargers and accessories run 20–30% cheaper.

Data current as of July 2026. Prices and conditions can change — check official sources before you travel. Rate: ~25,000 VND ≈ $1.