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

  • 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

  • Cat Cat Village & Falls

    There's no real consensus on what to call the falls; some call them the Cat Cat Falls (Cat Cat is just the Vietnamese transliteration of the word cascade) while others...

    Read more

  • Feed Your Hunger with Pho

    Ah, the national dish. A good bowl of Pho solves any trouble. You can have the dish made vegetarian (although I’d question the broth) or with your choice of meat. Almost...

    Read more

  • Trekking in Sapa

    Sapa with its mountainous picturesque landscapes and numerous of wonderful attractions is the ideal place for trekking lovers. So trekking is one of the most popular...

    Read more

  • A trip to Muong Hom market

    Many weekend visitors to Sapa opt to visit Bac Ha market, which is easily accessible on an organised day trip from Sapa. But if you want to avoid the tourist hordes, Muong...

    Read more

  • Discovering Hue by bicycle

    Hue is probably the best city in Vietnam for cycling. There is less traffic than the other major cities and the people of Hue are in less of a hurry. 

    Read more

  • Visiting Tay Do night market

    Tay Do night market is an interesting place that you should view when traveling to Can Tho. You have an opportunity to enjoy the atmosphere and shopping experience in Tay Do...

    Read more

  • 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...

    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

  • Visiting Coi Nguon Museum

    Traveling to Phu Quoc , you not only enjoy the outdoor activities on the beach but also you can visit many historical relics. And Coi Nguon museum is a private famous museum...

    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