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

  • Slide sand dunes

    Sand Dunes in Phan Thiet are very famous not only with domestic tourists but also foreign tourist. And on the sand dunes, the most exciting thing to do is taking a sand...

  • Water Sports

    For active travelers who want to experience the thrill with watercraft, baskets boat sailing or watch the sea on the parachute fly.., Danang beach on summer become ideal...

  • Notre Dame Basilica

    With its French inspiration, all building materials for the Notre Dame Basilica were even brought over from France. Whether you simply view it from the exterior or take a trip...

  • A tale of two day treks in Sapa

    Trekking is one of the main activities to do around Sapa. But which one is the right one for you to do? We checked out two different day treks to narrow down your options.

  • Trekking to Son Doong Cave

    Son Doong is the largest natural cave in the world. The majestic and monumental landscape of Son Doong Cave is considered as the great wall of Vietnam. Trekking to Son Doong...

  • Visit a French Cafe

    The best part of the French influence has survived in Hanoi… the food. I love that in Hanoi you can walk around one corner and eat a bowl of Pho, but also treat...

  • Visiting Ba Be national park

    Visiting Ba Be national park is one of the most things that you should do when traveling to Bac Kan province. Ba Be national park has a diversification of flora and fauna so...

  • Experience Hanoi Weekend Night Market

    Spending the day time to explore and admire the stunning and beautiful landscapes and cultural and historical heritage sites in Hanoi , taking your night time to take part...

  • Peddle Boat the West Lake like a … swan?

    The West Lake is a little less packed with tourists than Hoam Kiem Lake, I assume based purely on the distance from the Old Quarter. One of the neat things about West Lake is...

  • Join in a floating market in the early morning

    Floating market is very famous in Can Tho and it is the most interesting thing that you should not miss when traveling to Can Tho . There are various floating markets near...

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