A trip to Vietnam won’t be complete without experiencing its vibrant shopping scene. The best thing about shopping in Vietnam is that you’ll have a wide variety of goods to choose from and at extremely reasonable prices! From high quality silk to the different types of local handicraft, jewelry, and textile, shopping in Vietnam is an experience you will never forget. So here’s everything you need to know about the best shopping experiences in Vietnam.
Applying For Your Vietnam E-Visa
Vietnam landing visa in Tan Son Nhat Airport, Ho Chi Minh city
Before you get too excited with your Vietnam shopping, you must first make sure to secure your Vietnam visa. Thankfully, applying for a Vietnam visa is now so easy. In fact, you can do it online via eVisa-Vietnam.com. Simply fill out the form with your information, make a payment, and submit! Make sure you fill out your email address correctly because this is where you will receive your pre-approval letter. Once you receive the letter, print it out and carry with you on your trip to Vietnam. The letter is what you will present at the immigration upon arriving at the airport. It’s easy and convenient, right? So go ahead, apply for your Vietnam Visa now.
After you have applied for your Visa, you can now start to plan for your trip. Here are the best shopping experiences in Vietnam.
Ben Thanh Market, Ho Chi Minh
Cho Ben Thanh or Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
You will most likely be visiting the city of Ho Chi Minh on your Vietnam trip. When you’re in the city, make sure to drop by at the Ben Thanh Market, a great place to shop for local handicrafts, souvenirs, and more. Here, you will find a wide array of shops selling different goods. There’s also a vast number of food stalls inside the market where you can feast on some Vietnamese delicacies after a whole day of shopping. The market is huge so it can be a bit confusing to navigate at first. Eventually, you’ll get used to the maze and you’ll surely have a great time exploring and sharpening your bargaining skills!
Hanoi Weekend Night Market
Hanoi Weekend Night Market
Hanoi’s weekend night market is a lively place to visit. During weekend nights, stalls and vendors would gather at Hang Dao Street in the Old Quarter to display their goods that attract a huge crowd of locals and tourists. Everything, from handicrafts, accessories, t-shirts, shoes, and souvenir items, can be found being sold at the market. The best thing about shopping at this place is that the historical sites and pedestrian streets nearby are illuminated with decorative lights, which make for a fun and enjoyable experience! Just like with shopping at other markets in Vietnam, haggling is the way of life here, so be ready to brush up your bargaining skills!
Silk Street, Hanoi
A view of Silk Street, Hanoi
Vietnam is known for its high quality silk materials and the Silk Street in Hanoi is the best place to visit if you want to take home some silk products. Locally known as the Hang Gai Street, the Silk Street in Vietnam occupies a 300-m long street that’s lined with boutiques and tailor shops selling a wide range of silk. Most of these shops have been in the industry for decades and are able to create made to measure silk dresses and suits, a perfect souvenir to take home. The Silk Street is located near Hoan Kiem Lake, right at the edge of the famous Old Quarter.
Trang Tien Shopping Mall, Hanoi
Trang Tien Shopping Mall, Hanoi
If you’re looking to shop for high-end goods and luxury brands in Hanoi, head to the Trang Tien Shopping mall, a high-end mall that’s home to several international brands like Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Dior, Bvlgari, and more. The building itself is a sight to behold. Built in 1901, featuring French colonial style architecture, the Trang Tien shopping mall is one of the most popular landmarks in Hanoi. Aside from luxury goods, the mall is also home to several shops selling a wide array of goods.
Saigon Square, Ho Chi Minh
Saigon Square, Ho Chi Minh
Another great place for bargain shopping in Ho Chi Minh is the Saigon Square, which is located right at the corner of Nam Kỳ Khởi and Le Loi in Ho Chi Min’s District 1. Just like the Ben Thanh Market, this place is bustling with both local and foreign shoppers, yet it has a more pleasant atmosphere because the place is air-conditioned. The place sells pretty much everything that you can think of – cheap clothes, shoes, bags, accessories, and interesting souvenirs that you can take back home! Again, don’t forget to haggle. Depending on your haggling skills, you could end up buying a product less than half of the original price!
