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

  • Indulge in the Street Food

    Trying to figure out what to eat from street vendors in Vietnam can be extremely overwhelming, but thanks to the  Legal Nomad’s Guide to Saigon Street Food you can...

    Read more

  • Visit Halong Bay by helicopter

    Halong bay is famous for its beautiful caves and limestone karsts attracting thousands of tourists all over the world. There is no better way to see the aerial view of the bay...

    Read more

  • Visit Bat Trang Ceramic Village

    Known as an ancient village in Hanoi , Bat Trang ceramic village is really attraction to tourists visiting Hanoi. Once visiting Bat Trang village, you will have an...

    Read more

  • Wander around Hanoi Old Quarter

    Hanoi Old Quarter is one of the most ancient and historical attractions in Hanoi. Visiting Hanoi , you should spend time wandering around the Old Quarter to feel the...

    Read more

  • Reunification Palace

    Also known as the Independence Palace, this building marks, for many, the end of the Vietnam War. Free tours with an English-speaking guide can be arranged in the lobby.

    Read more

  • Learn About Traditional Medicine

    A visit to the FITO museum is quite the experience. In this ornate house, you’ll be guided floor by floor and learn all about the traditional methods used to treat...

    Read more

  • Top 10 things to do in Hanoi

    We recommend the 10 things you should do before leaving Hanoi.

    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

  • 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

  • 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

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