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
-
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...
-
Take a boat trip in Ninh Binh
The best ways to enjoy the scenery in Ninh Binh is to take a boat trip. The main kicking off points for boat trips are Tam Coc and Trang An or Thung Nham, although...
-
.jpg)
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...
-
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...
-
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.
-
Drink a 'ca phe sua da'
It’s not an overstatement to say that 'ca phe sua da' represents a unique aspect of Vietnamese culture, particularly in Saigon. The mere mention of the drink 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...
-
Kite Surfing
Kite surfing is one of the most famous adventure sports in Phan Thiet. Phan Thiet is an ideal place for kite surfing from November to March with strong winds to enjoy this...
-
Cycling in Ninh Binh
Ninh Binh is cycling heaven. Here you will have chance to get insights into rural Vietnam on your bikes. The countryside is a living museum that gives...
-
Swimming in Halong Bay
Halong Bay is said to be one of the best place to swim in Vietnam with numerous beaches. The bay is not only an ideal place for sunbathing with dazzling sunlight, but also a...
Destinations
Most popular tours
-
Best of Vietnam
Price from: 1.455 US$
-
Cao Dai Temple and Cu Chi Tunnel
Price from: 25 US$
-
Hanoi By Night (by Motorbike)
Price from: 26 US$
-
Mui Ne Beach Break
Price from: 360 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