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

  • Puku 24 Hour Cafe

    If you’re venturing out to Sapa , chances are you’ll be arriving back from an overnight train at the godawful hour of 4:30 in the morning. You can’t check...

    Read more

  • War Remnants Museum

    Again, war tourism is not my thing, but the War Remnants Museum was fascinating. Unlike other sites where I found there was a pride at loss of life, the War Remnants Museum...

    Read more

  • Explore Vietnamese History BEYOND the War

    Vietnam is and should be known for more than the terrible war, which is where the Museum of Vietnamese History comes in. See gorgeous artefacts from the many regions of the...

    Read more

  • Cu Chi Tunnels

    A visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels is one of those things that every tourist typically does. While I’m glad I saw it, I can’t say it was enjoyable. Educational, yes,...

    Read more

  • Mekong Delta by Vespa!

    When most people hear Vespa, they think about Italy. Not in Saigon! Vespa Adventures can take you out on tour to the lush Mekong Delta, or if you’d rather stay in the...

    Read more

  • Discovery Dinh Cau night market

    Dinh Cau night market is a famous attraction that you should not miss when traveling to Phu Quoc . Visiting Dinh Cau market, you can not only go shopping with different...

    Read more

  • Look Up, Way Up, At The Tran Quoc Pagoda

    You’ll find this Buddhist temple on a little island off the road separating the West Lake. The scenery is not only stunning, but the peace and quiet is a stark contrast...

    Read more

  • Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake

    Hoan Kiem Lake is one of the most exciting and interesting attractions in Hanoi . Tourists visiting Hanoi always take the chance to visit Hoan Kiem Lake as it is a really...

    Read more

  • Ride a cyclo through Hue City

    Enjoy a leisurely cyclo ride through Hue , the former Vietnamese capital, including Hue Imperial Citadel —a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cyclo ride is the...

    Read more

  • Go Backpacking Hai Van Pass by Motorbike

    Hai Van Pass had been selected as one of the most beautiful stretch of beach road in the world. Go backpacking Hai Van Pass by motorbike is an amazing experience that...

    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