Ho Chi Minh City Shopping Tips by Aidy_p

Name of Shop: Stores & Markets: Ngan Thong

This shop sells nice iron handicraft, laquerware and other stationaries. But Jac stopped here to buy some ribbons which she said would have cost her alot more if purchased back in Singapore. Can't really understand why she would buy items that were non-vietnamese in nature, but if it saves her money, then that's good enough a reason.

What To Buy: Iron handicraft of cars, ships, tanks, etc.


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Theme: Local Craft
Phone: 8258964
Address: 64, Le Loi St
Directions: Walk along Le Loi Street

There're just so many shops and roadside stalls that you can check out along Le Loi St. From Paintings to food and even pirated copies of various book titles.

What To Buy: Jac and I were looking for little gifts for both sets of our colleagues. We came upon this roadside stall that sells nice magnet figurine. Well, Jac and I went hard into bargain mode which in the end, the lady relented as we purchased more than 30 smal figurines from her. Ask for new stock as some of these figurines may have een displayed for awhile and do not fall for her "only one" ploy as she would rather sell you the current stock than to run across the road to pick up more stock.

We also bought animal-shaped magnets like spider, whale, etc for my little girl that we didn't bring along for this trip.

What To Pay: 7,000VND for a man and woman figurine

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Theme: Local Craft
Address: Along Le Loi St

Name of Shop: Stores & Markets: Parkson

I thought my eyes were playing a trick on me - seeing Malaysia's favourite shopping centre in Vietnam. I was wowed over when I saw Parkson in China, and now in Vietnam? Wow!

What To Buy: It's similar to any shopping centre you'd find in Malaysia, Singapore or Thailand. Clothing, everyday essentials. But I actually want to highlight that there's a money changer there that offers pretty good a rate. Well, at least better than what the airport is offering.


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Theme: Department Store
Address: 45, Le Thanh Ton street

Name of Shop: Handicap Handicraft

You can find Vietnamese lacquerware in any markets around Vietnam. These lacquerware can take three months to produce. Inlaid within these lacquerware are usually eggshells (Not chicken egg as the shell is too hard), bones, mother-of-pearl, etc.

Jac and I stopped by a Handicapped Handicraft Centre where the workers there were victims of the Vietnam War. Some have lost the use of their legs or hands. But they are still working hard in these centres.

You might want to visit these centres to understand the process of making these lacquerware.

What To Buy: Different lacquerware from wall decorations, to bowls and coasters. The cost of buying lacquerware at these Handicapped Handicraft is a lot steeper than let's say Ben Thanh Market.

But if you're into supporting a good cause, please feel free to buy from them.

What To Pay: You can get a four panel lacquerware at about USD 200.

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Theme: Local Craft
Directions: It was part of my tour. But you can ask your hotel to direct you to one. It may be a bit out of town though.

Name of Shop: Trading Center Lucky Plaza

We chanced upon this old-looking shopping centre and was in two minds as to whether we should enter this place. But we thought, "Why not?" We were not intrigued by the facade, but definitely with the items that the bevy of shops had to offer, and that makes up the Russian market within the complex.

What To Buy: We went to this shop called LAM that sells music DVD, music CDs and sun glasses.

What To Pay: Way cheaper than what you'll pay back home.

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Theme: Discount Store
Phone: 0903 642559
Address: 69, Dong Khoi St

Name of Shop: BenThanh Night Market

We found a shop that is located at the Ben Thanh Night Market.

What To Buy: We were searching around for a shop that would give us a good price for the four-piece laquerware. Many shops that we went to charged us sky high prices. But of course it sound quite reasonable to us. 650,000VND for the four pieces, which works out to about 14,000VND per piece.

Thank goodness we did not buy from the other shops. The shop that we went to charged us 300,000VND, which we bargained down to 230,000VND.

If we paid 230,000VND for the four-piece laquerwood, you should be paying no more 100,000VND for each piece.


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Theme: Art
Phone: 0909 169257
Address: No B35, Phan Boi Chau St
Directions: Walk around Ben Thanh Night Market to look for the shop.

Name of Shop: Zen Plaza

This swanky shopping mall houses 10 levels of sheer shopping pleasure. When you get tired, you can even stop for a meal at the numerous resaurants within Zen Plaza. It may be a bit up-class for the locals but the clothing and food are reasonably priced. You can also have your fastfood Pho - Pho 24.

Zen Plaza is also a good place to buy local food stuff here, also if you want to buy foodstuff to cook, this is also the place .

What To Buy: A varied amount of items from clothing to children wear, to food and even daily needs and what's best, there's no need to bargain as prices are shown as it is.


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Theme: Department Store
Phone: 848 9250339
Address: 54-56 Nguyen Trai
Directions: Closer to the roundabout of Cach Mang Thang Tam, Nguyen Du, Ly Tu Trong, Nguyen Thai Thoc, Le Thi Rieng and Nguyen Trai Streets.

Name of Shop: An Dong Market/ An Dong Plaza

Jac and I had wanted to make our way to Cholon but thanks to our hotel receptionist, she introduced us to An Dong Market. Our experience is that the market is less chaotic than Bin Tay Market and though the humidity level is about the same within both the markets, the items sold in An Dong market looked to be more appealing some how. It might be for the fact that there were not many tourists around.

But if you can't stand the heat, there the An Dong Plaza just a couple of steps away where you can shop in air-con comfort. Prices are a little higher, but definitely not exhorbitant .

What To Buy: Some of the storeholders could converse in mandarin and that made it alot more easier for us to push in terms of getting a better discount. I bought myself a nice laquer board for a mere 30,000VND (Less than USD2).


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Theme: Discount Store
Address: An Duong Vuong St

Name of Shop: Binh Tay Market

After visiting Ben Thanh and An Dong, going to Binh Tay Market should not be a neccessity at all if you're looking to buy more local discounted items. Of course you should visit the place to see it's architecture, and also to experience how the Vietnamese people go through their daily lives.

There are also nice little shops surrounding the market. But looking from the other side of the spectrum, Binh Tay Market is more chaotic than An Dong Market, and the shopholders are not too desperate for your business and thus would not try to court you to buy their items. Some may even display signs to say that their items are all fixed price. No chance for discount.

What To Buy: Anything you can buy in Ben Thanh, you can buy at Binh Tay too.


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Theme: Discount Store
Address: Thap Muoi Street, District 5

Name of Shop: Various Shops

Jac and I were walking along Cholon area when we chanced upon a whole line of shops that were selling coffee powder. There were really so many to choose from, and for once, we did not really bargained for the item.

What To Buy: Various types of coffee powder that were all so fragrant

What To Pay: Between 2,000VND to 12,000VND depending on the quality. We bought the most expensive quality coffee that they had to offer for 10,000VND for 100 grams.

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Theme: Food and Drink