Haggle for bargains in Ben Thanh market
Ben Thanh market is one of the more exciting places to visit in Ho Chi Minh City. It’s a chance to truly get stuck in with the locals and test your bargaining skills. It’s a very different experience if you get used to fixed priced items that the idea of bargaining never comes to mind but after visiting a few markets, you almost start to limber up at the prospect of haggling your way through amazing bargains.
Ben Thanh market, located in District 1 across from the bus station, is probably the best known. It is especially popular in the evening and at night, when food vendors set up stalls and locals and tourists alike gather to eat and shop.
Ben Thanh is possibly more regulated, so you may have to worry less about knock-offs or price gouging. That said, you should always be wary of knock-offs and gouging.
Shopping inside the market will require you to practise the art of bargaining and, as they commonly deal with unsuspecting tourists, the vendors at Ben Thanh are pros. A common practice is to inflate prices to double or triple their actual value, meaning you must work the price down to get a reasonable deal. A quick tip in bargaining at Ben Thanh is to cruise the outer ring of the market, where all stalls are fixed priced and most items are actually marked with a price tag. This will give you a good idea of what a moderate price will be when you go inside to haggle.
Bartering is the way to shop here, so jump right in, offer a price that you think is fair, and have fun. Be extra careful if prices are absent or not clearly marked – that goes for everything, everywhere, every time.
See more
-
Sip a Cocktail and Enjoy the View at Saigon Skydeck
It’s hard to get a true appreciation for the scale of HCMC without seeing it from up above. You could just pay to go up to the tourist deck, or… you could skip...
-
Relaxing on Elephant Springs
Elephant spring is a tourist destination located on the way from Hue to Da nang , about 53km from Hue city and around 20 km north of Hai Van pass ,...
-
Discovery Mekong Delta by boat
The best way to discovery Mekong Delta is taking a boat and go around to see the local life and daily activities in the river and canals. Moreover, you can also enjoy the...
-
Exploring Bac Lieu salt fields
The salt fields in Bac Lieu have existed for a long time and provide a huge of salt for the Mekong Delta . The salt fields are divided into squares and rows with full...
-
Explore Tao Dan Park
Tao Dan Park is a true oasis nestled in the hustle and bustle of Saigon. This is where parents bring children to play, where couples stroll on dates and where workers enjoy...
-
Enjoy a dog racing in Vung Tau
Traveling to Vung Tau on weekends, you’ll have an opportunity to enjoy a dog racing and it only takes place in Vung Tau. Dog racing was introduced to Vietnam and...
-
The adventure activity - Canyoning in Dalat
Canyoning in Da lat is a kind of famous adventure activities and it is one of the most things to do when traveling to Dalat.
-
.jpg)
Dining in a cave
Coming to Halong Bay, you should never miss a unique activity, dining in a cave. There are few cruises offering this feature on their trips. The crew members will prepare a...
-
Explore the Mosaic Wall
We discovered the mosaic wall from our taxi, zipping along the Yen Phu major roadway. It was a patchwork quilt of ceramic tiles creating little scenes, both from history and...
-
Reunification Palace
Also known as the Independence Palace, this building marks, for many, the end of the Vietnam War. Free tours with an English-speaking guide can be arranged in the lobby.
Destinations
Most popular tours
-
Discovery North of Viet Nam
Price from: 460 US$
-
Ho Chi Minh City Tour Full Day
Price from: 35 US$
-
Thanh Chuong Palace day tour
Price from: 33 US$
-
Mai Chau hill tribe day tour
Price from: 33 US$
Business info
Vietnam Local Guide
- Address: 18th Floor, VTC Online Tower, 18 Tam Trinh Str.,Hai Ba Trung Dist., Hanoi, Vietnam
- Email: info@vietnamguider.com
- Phone: (+84) 0904989890
- Hotline: (+84) 0904989890