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Hey, I am a shopaholic! Every time I go travel, I usually dedicate a full day just to go shopping, and I’m sure that many of you shopaholics will do the same when you visit Vietnam. Vietnam, especially Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) is a shopper’s paradise. Do you have a trip coming up soon and are wondering where to shop in Saigon? Well, this article will answer your question.

Here’s a fun fact: LOCALS BARELY SHOP IN BEN THANH MARKET! Sure, the market is emblematic of Saigon but it has become such a tourist trap that the locals prefer to avoid it. You can still find a bargain in there for sure, and the market makes a beautiful background for photo-ops, but other than that and the interesting history behind it, there’s not much else when it comes to shopping. It’s no secret that Ben Thanh Market among others such as Saigon Square has prices that are inflated for tourists. There are so many other places to go to for a bargain, and the shopping gets even more fun when you know all the “hidden” spots that locals frequent. The key is to do as the locals do, and lucky for you, I’m a local!

Shopping malls, markets, or streets?

When you Google “Where to shop in Saigon” most of the answers you receive will be Ben Thanh market, Binh Tay market, Saigon Square, and a bunch of fancy shopping malls such as Takashimaya, Saigon Centre, Vincom Centre, and Dimond Plaza. To be fair, these markets are good for buying souvenirs, but they don’t have much else where shopping is concerned. The malls, of course, provide similar clothes and prices as you can find back home, and they are full of international brands. Depending on what you seek, you can choose where to go. This article, however, is about markets, and not the popular ones. But of the lesser known markets and shopping streets in Saigon. You can say they are somewhat ‘hidden’.

Top local spots for shopping in Saigon

The eyewear street

Most of the youth in Saigon usually shop for stylish eyeglass frames on this street instead of visiting optical shops. You can find many different glasses and sunglasses for both adults and children. You will be overwhelmed with the thousands of glasses that come in different shapes, sizes, and colors hung on the display boards. The chance of finding your “dream glasses” is now higher!

The price fluctuates from 40,000 – 60,000 VND for a pair of glasses and 60,000 – 120,000 VND for sunglasses, depending on how good at bargaining you are. However, my advice is that you should only go for the eyeglass frame and then get the lenses done at a proper optical center with trained and certified staff later. As you can expect, if you get the lenses out here for a cheap price, the quality will be subpar and it could end up damaging your eyes. You don’t want to risk that.

Among so many options, you are bound to find the “one”.

Here is a trick when shopping here: Don’t hesitate to drive a hard bargain. You can negotiate the price down to 2/3 or even 50% of what the seller initially suggests. For example, if they tell you your glasses are worth 100,000 VND, you can lower the price to 40,000 – 50,000 VND. If they don’t agree, just walk away. If they call you back, you know that they are still making a profit, so it’s a win-win.

Address: Vendor of Ho Xuan Huong Street, Ward 6, District 3
Opening hours: 8 AM – 8 PM

Saigon Flea Market

Saigon Flea Market is known as the ‘Market of Artists’ because this is where the local and expat artisans spread their love of creating handmade crafts and vintage clothes to the community. There are two things I love about this market. First is the great location. Phu My Hung is one of the calmest areas in town – there are no crazy beeps and honks from traffic that drives you crazy sometimes and the scenery is really romantic. Saigon Flea Market is based on the first floor of the Boomerang restaurant, which has a seductive river view. Unlike other flea markets, the products sold at the Saigon Flea Market are quite unique and the price is reasonable. For example, I once found a rare Pu’er tea here. You can find remarkable jewelry, custom notebook covers, vintage clothing, and a bunch of cute home décor items that can melt your heart.

Address: 1st floor, Boomerang Restaurant, 107 Ton Dat Tien, Tan Phu Ward, District 7
Opening hours: Sunday from 11 AM – 8 PM
Website: Saigon Flea Market

Hello Weekend Market

Third on our shopping in Saigon list – Hello Weekend Market. You can shop for clothing, accessories, beauty products, and home decor at Hello Weekend Market. Many online shops and new brands that want to approach their potential customers tend to bring their products to this flea market. This is a great chance for you to look for your new favorite brands not common among the public yet. But you can also find items from brands that are popular among locals too. Some are Soda Pop, RẬP design, Dottie, and so on. This market is not all about new products but you can also find some second-hand items – similar to garage sales in western countries. Another thumbs up for this market is that they have created a beautiful photo booth background for those who love modeling so you can pose for a few Insta-worthy pictures. All this is enough to visit, right?

Address: The location is frequently changing, so follow their Facebook page for more information.
Opening hours: Weekend, 10 AM – 9 PM
Facebook: Hello Weekend Market