Shopping at a Vietnamese Market // Things You Need To Know

Shopping in at a Vietnamese Market // A Beginner’s Guide

Shopping at local markets is always the best way to engage yourself in a culture and it’s no different when visiting a Vietnamese Market. Food, souvenirs, clothes and so much more. They’ve got the lot!

However, even foreigners who have lived in Vietnam for a long time still find it hard to shop at Vietnamese markets.

Therefore, we decided to put together a guide with some key tips and tricks for shopping at local markets here!

Before starting, we also want you to explore some other intriguing topics related to Vietnamese culture.

Here are some other articles we have recently published.

• Vietnamese Public Holidays // A Complete Guide
• Tết Holiday // An Introduction to Vietnamese New Year
• The Best Traditional Vietnamese Food (To Eat During The Holidays)

Back to the topic in hand today, we take a journey through Vietnamese Markets and offer you all the tips and tricks you need to know.

Vietnamese Markets | 3 Reasons To Go

Vietnamese Markets | Best Things to Buy

Vietnamese Markets | How to Bargain

Vietnamese Markets | Big Local Markets in Vietnam

Vietnamese Markets | FAQ’s

Vietnamese Markets | 3 Reasons to Visit

Visiting Vietnamese markets is definitely a way to discover and breathe in Vietnamese culture from different perspectives.

Here are three important reasons why you should go to local markets when traveling to Vietnam.

#1 Gaining Exclusive Cultural Experience

Visiting the Vietnamese markets, you will meet people from all walks of life where a housewive bargains with a salesperson, a shop owner invites people to come and buy her goods and so on.

Besides, you can also enjoy the hustle and bustle of the market whilst taking in the most vibrant and genuine aspects of Vietnamese daily life.

#2 Finding Traditional Goods at Reasonable Prices

Local markets are the right place to go to get a good deal, as long as you are able to bargain or go shopping with a friend who has the know-how.

You’ll end up in shopping heaven where you have to spend only a small portion of your budget to get loads of items.

#3 Discover Extraordinary Street Food

Local markets not only offer hundreds of tasty treats, but they also are the cheapest place to enjoy such food.

Moreover, you can discover amazing street food and fancy snacks that restaurants or dining halls can’t deliver.

These include delicacies like avocado ice cream, sweet taro pudding with coconut gruel or even vermicelli noodles with marinated chargrilled pork.

Does this get your mouth watering?

Vietnamese Markets | Best Things To Buy

You can buy anything at Vietnamese local markets such as vegetables, meat, accessories, clothes, and even electric devices.

Here are some things we advise you to look out for.

Áo dài

Traditional áo dài is synonymous with Vietnamese life.

In Vietnam, you can easily find a lady in áo dài since it is known as a gorgeous and beautiful traditional dress.

It can be worn on many occasions such as traditional holidays, school opening ceremonies, or simply just casually with friends!

At local markets, you can purchase áo dài or custom-made áo dài, which both are provided at varying price levels. Quality depends on your needs and it will also affect the price, of course.

Khăn rằn

Khăn rằn is a great thing to look out for when coming to Vietnam.

Khăn rằn is historically used by farmers who work on the paddy fields, especially in the Mekong delta.

Nowadays, khăn rằn can be considered a fashion item which can not only enhances your look, but also protects you from the heat, wind, and rain.

These are popular to purchase at Vietnamese markets and should be widely available.

Coffee Beans // Cà phê hạt

Vietnamese coffee beans – guaranteed to make you bounce around the markets!!

Vietnam is well-known for coffee beans of high-quality leading to flavoursome coffee based beverages.

DID YOU KNOW | Vietnam is the second-largest coffee producer in the world.

Drinking coffee has become a part of the culture here.

You can easily find and purchase excellent quality coffee beans at a lower price than in other countries.

Embroidery // Sản phẩm thêu tay

Hand embroidery is a big part of our culture in Vietnam that you should not miss.

Hand embroidery often depicts natural scenes and wildlife, meticulously made by local artists in days or even months.

You can visit prominent craft centres and embroidery shops where you can even get your own personalised designs.

Street Food

Street food and snacks are always searched for by travellers from all over the world and it’s no surprise. The tastes and flavours are great!

Local Vietnamese markets can be known as heaven for fancy cuisines and all kinds of glorious food! There, you can find almost all Vietnamese dishes.

If you want to discover more about street food, let’s explore further in our previous article about the best Vietnamese street food and snacks.

6 Must-Try Vietnamese Street Food & Snacks // North vs South

Vietnamese Street Food has a lot of surprises we think you’ve never seen before! Today we introduce you 3 from the north and 3 from the south of Vietnam.

Vietnamese Markets | How to Bargain

Bargaining has become an indispensable part of visiting any local market in Asia.

Haggling is never easy for visitors, and even for locals, therefore going shopping with a native who can haggle well is a vital addition to your armour!

If you travel by yourself, don’t worry though, follow these tips to put yourself in prime position to get a bargain!

Tip #1 // Don’t Buy First Time

If you suddenly find something that catches your eye, search and shop around before making an instant purchase.

Ask for the price politely and say thank you. Feel free to move on and check out other stalls. This way you can check out the prices at various stalls.

After you get the average price of that item, let’s move to step 2.

Tip #2 // Start Bargaining

As merchants may want foreigners to pay a much higher price than local people, you may ask the seller for a discount.

Then you can haggle the price little by little until both sides reach a mutual agreement.

For instance, if a seller charges you 200.000 VND ($8,73) for a traditional hat (nón lá), we can start at 130.000 VND and slowly increase the price to meet them in the middle.

Think of the price you want to pay, go lower and you can slowly edge up.

However, you should notice this part of Vietnamese culture.

It is believed that if a customer makes a bargain in the morning, the shop owner will have bad luck the whole day.

Things that happen in the morning are important to merchants, so you are advised to haggle in the afternoon.

Tip #3 // Set Yourself Pricing Targets

This tip is especially useful when you notice that your negotiation process seems to never end.

It is advisable for you to decide on a fair price in advance.

The recommendation is to pay a maximum of 60%-70% of the initial price.

Tip #4 // Learn Some Phrases & The Currency

Last but not least, the best way to get the deal done is to know the language and the currency used.

The official currency used in Vietnam is Viet Nam Dong (VND) which is widely used at all local markets.

The denominations are far higher than most other countries so it can take some time to get used to, but familiarise yourself with the Dong before going to the market.

• 1 Dollar = 23,000 VND

There are nine types of Viet Nam Dong you can hold:

• 500,000 VND = $22≈ is the largest-value note
  • You should not use this type of money to pay for small price items or in small shops as it is very hard for the seller to give change.
• 200,000 VND = $9≈
• 100,000 VND = $4≈
• 50,000 VND = $2≈
• 20,000 VND = $1≈
• 10,000 VND = $0.5≈
• 5,000 VND = $0.2≈
• 2,000 VND = $0.1≈
• 1,000 VND = $0.05≈
• 500 VND = $0.02≈ (not often used)

The best place for you to exchange money is at the bank. Some big banks are: Agribank, Vietinbank, Vietcombank, TP bank and BIDV.

You can also search for banks near you on Google Map for more convenience.

If the large numbers confuse you, check out our blog on learning the Vietnamese numbers.

Now, let acquire some common phrases for a successful bargain:

• Chị có thể bớt được không? | Can you lower the price?
• Có giảm giá không? | Is there any discount?
• Bớt chút đi | Reduce the price, please.
• 100.000 chị có bán không? | Is 100,000 VND okay?
• 150.000 thì sao? | How about 150,000 VND?

5 Best Vietnamese Markets

Now let’s explore some Vietnamese markets that are the perfect destination to embrace the beautifully blended traditional and modern local culture.

Market #1 // Hoi An Night Market

What makes this night market in Hoi An such an attractive visiting spot is that it is illuminated by hundreds of colorful lanterns.

Therefore, just taking a random shot here can provide you with many beautiful pictures.

A variety of local snacks, souvenirs, clothing, jewellery and accessories are sold in the ancient-house stores on a 300-metre street overlooking the Thu Bon River.

Market #2 // Cai Rang Floating Market

The culture of living and trading goods in floating markets originated from a special waterway transport system in the dense network of the Mekong River and its tributaries.

As the most well-known floating market in the Mekong Delta, you can enjoy local food, fruits, and feel the hustle and bustle of a life that only exists in floating markets.

Market #3 // Da Lat Night Market

Night markets are entertaining places throughout Asia, and so is the picturesque Vietnamese market known as Da Lat night market.

What makes this night market special is the cozy atmosphere and the warmth from an endless number of food stalls.

This is a favourite spot for local people where they can enjoy good food with friends, enjoy the weather, and watch fascinating street performances.

Market #4 // Ben Thanh Market

Ben Thanh is one of the most famous markets in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Located in District 1, this is an ideal place to buy local handicrafts, silks, Vietnamese art, and other traditional souvenirs.

Similar to other markets, this is where you can taste savoury street food or drinks.

At night, when restaurants open, the street becomes a lively scene that fills the air with the delicious smell of all kinds of dishes.

Market #5 // Dong Ba Market

In the middle region of Vietnam, Dong Ba Market is the oldest of its kind in Hue, with hundreds of stalls selling household items, handicrafts, clothing, and fresh produce.

The market opens early at 3am and it covers 16,000 square meters in total, with several sections dedicated to fruits, fish, clothing, meat, silk, handicrafts etc.

Visiting Dong Ba market, you will find hundreds of Hue specialties with unique tastes that you cannot experience in any other market.

Here’s your complete guide to Vietnamese markets from the perspective of a local!

If you have the chance to come to Vietnam, don’t hesitate to visit our local markets since they will offer new fancy aspects of Vietnam.

Drop a comment to share with us which market you want to visit the most in Vietnam. Or have you been to any before? Tell us what you think!

Vietnamese Markets // FAQ’s

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