Ho Chi Minh City- A Shopping Heaven For Tourists

Published: 09:25 Wednesday - December 14, 2011

Whoever staying in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam often find themselves satisfied when going shopping in Ho Chi Minh City (or Sai Gon), the most dynamic city or economic center of Vietnam.

Shopping – a ubiquitous custom of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Ever since the Vietnam’s policy shifted the nation into a market economy, buying and selling has been as ubiquitous as breathing. You are young and fond of modern stylish fashion, jewelries, etc.? Well, Diamond Plaza and Saigon Square Shopping Center should be your initial stop-over.

If you, tourists in Vietnam travel, are looking for toys for your kids, those shopping zones also offer a lot to choose, or you may spend your time in the wooden toy store for special wooden kinds. Or, should you seek some low-priced goods, many street-front shop houses are available everywhere welcoming you to step inside! Yet, it’s ideal that you visit several markets such as Cholon (Big Market) (or Saigon's Chinatown) and Ben Thanh market for further choices.
If you are here, I can assure that you will much desire shopping in the city because of the mass quantity, the good prices, and last but not least, the hospitality of numerous Vietnamese charming female sellers!

Shopping Guide

No one ever shopping here can deny that the range of merchandise in Saigon is truly fantastic. Should you can't buy it here, you may not really need it!

Bargaining is considered the most common way to buy things in Saigon. Some often relish bargaining, others hate it. Yet, it is not that much complicated if you think of it as a a harmonious Yin-Yang balance. You want the item, and the seller wants your money. Yin-Yang! The maximum price you are willing to pay is the value of your desire for the item. The minimum price the vendor is willing to accept is the value of their desire for your money. Yin-Yang! Bargaining is simply a search for the Yin-Yang balance between your desire and the seller's. However, should the items have price labels, there is almost no bargaining.

Normally, you will fill your suitcase when shopping in Saigon. If you get hungry during your shopping spree, stop for some finger food or relax in one of the Saigon Restaurants along the city's shopping streets.

Where should I go?

As the most active city in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City offers an excellent variety of clothing, ceramics, ethnic fabrics and lacquered bamboo. Once you are in Ho Chi Minh City, you will surely get spoilt for choice of shops. Thus, to facilitate your selection, we offer a suggested shopping zone list as follows:

Big shopping centers

Tax Department Store - Intersection of Nguyen Hue and Le Loi Streets, Dist.1, HCMC
Ben Thanh market - Dist.1, city center, HCMC
Binh Tay market - Dist.5, one of the main markets of Cholon
Diamond Plaza - 37 Le Duan, Dist.1, HCMC

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