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

  • Bike tour to countryside

    Bicycles can be hired all around Hoi An but if you want to have a safe and active Hoi An cycling tour then you will need to be guided by an local expert. This is the best...

    Read more

  • Spend one night at Hang En

    Hang En is one of the most three largest caves in the world, only after Son Doong and Deer. Hang En was discovered in 1994 and rapidly became an impressive attraction in the...

    Read more

  • Make Up Your Own Mind About the Hanoi Hilton

    Hoa Lo Prison, better known to Westerners as the Hanoi Hilton, is definitely a polarizing and confusing place. All the signage and displays point to the prison having been a...

    Read more

  • Visiting Bac Lieu longan orchard

    Bac Lieu longan orchard has many characteristic values of geology, geomorphology, ecology, culture, tradition and cuisine. Moreover, the ancient longan orchard is over...

    Read more

  • a Sapa homestay

    When travelling to Sapa you’ll be faced with an array of treks to choose from and one decision you’ll need to make is whether to do a trek that includes a...

    Read more

  • Take part in the ostriches and elephant ride activity

    There are many interesting outdoor activities for your choice in Dalat with various kind of activities as adventure activity, relaxing activity, etc.  One of the most...

    Read more

  • Try Not To Get Hit By a Scooter – No Joke!

    Crossing the streets in HCMC is seriously no joke and is an experience in and of itself. Just look up “crossing the street in Vietnam” on YouTube and you’ll...

    Read more

  • Try fresh fruits in local garden

    Mekong Delta is famous with laden fruit orchard along the river. So, visiting some local garden and try some fresh and sweet fruits become one of the most popular thing that...

    Read more

  • Barbecue Your Own Dinner

    The barbecue garden provides a unique take on dinner – cook it yourself! Escape the chaotic streets in the lush garden restaurant, order your preferred dishes and cook...

    Read more

  • Sip on Egg Coffee at Café Giang

    Blink and you’ll miss this hole in the wall café. Egg coffee, you ask? Sounds gross. Tastes AMAZING. This concoction is akin to liquid tiramisu and it’s a...

    Read more

Destinations

Most popular tours

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