 | Ho Chi Minh City Stores & Markets Reviews | 1 - 10 of 103 |  |
If you are going to have your clothes tailor-made in Saigon, it is best to provide the tailor with the fabric instead of trusting him to find something that suits your taste. Buying your own fabric also help lower the total cost, and in turn, giving you the opportunity to have high quality fabric at lower price.
The best place to buy fabric is Chợ Lớn where stalls after stalls are stocked with an array of import fabric from all over the world as well as natural silk from the northern and central part of the country. The best thing about buying in Chợ Lớn is the wholesale price. There is no worry about bargaining because the price is fixed, low, and offered to everybody.
My niece and her family always buy their fabric from Stall #96 in Chợ Lớn (see the accompanying pictures) but you will not go wrong with any of the stalls. Leave a Comment Theme: OtherDirections: At the Five Point roundabout in Chợ Lớn (Chinatown). This is a very old landmark, the only intersection with a five-point lamppost, everyone in the city knows where it is.
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HCMC has a number of huge indoor markets but the one that you MUST go is the Ben Thanh Market. The market and surrounding streets make up one of the city’s liveliest areas. Everything you need or want is found here. The stalls are opened as early as 7am but closed before 7pm, after which, a night market will be set up around the area.
The prices of the product could hit rock bottom if you know how to bargain. I’ve learnt that you have to undercut the first suggested price by at least 75%. Slowly, you will move towards your desired amount you wish to pay. Generally, this amount would be about 50 – 60% of what the price first quoted. A trick I’ve also learnt from the local guide is to just walk away if you think the price is not right. The stallholder would call you back if he/she sincerely want to do business with you and he/she would definitely offer you the price you want.
Note: This trick only works if you are prepared to walk away empty-handed from the stall or you don't mind to get scolded. Generally, I noticed that the stallholders located on the main corridor or those that have a big front are not generous in their bargain.
Anything you need is found here. However, as I am interested in ladies' fashion, I bought a few embroidered slippers and silk handbags. If you can drive the bargain hard, you can get a medium-sized silk bag with lots of embroidery for less than USD5! Of course, it helps that I bought quite a number of bags. My favourite shop is this pretty small stall but with lots of bag designs (and very nice designs with lots of choices - you will be spoilt!) located at a small corner of the market. It is not easily seen from the main corridor unless you are gamed to explore the market in details. I cannot remember the stall number but I know it's either number 754 or 759. It's a small stall and the lady boss is sharing it with another shoe stall. Don't be surprised by its size - but the range it offers can beat anyone in the Market!
If you buy more or thick-skinned enough to bargain (but get prepared to be scolded - I got scoldings a number of times), you can get a very nice medium-sized bag of high quality less than USD5! Leave a Comment Theme: GiftsAddress: Cho Ben ThanhDirections: Don't worry, the Market is a landmark in HCMC, District 1. A taxi ride from Dong Khoi street to the market should cost at most USD1!
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There are over 3000 stalls in Bến Thành Market, a good amount of them sell women clothing and accessories, which does not say much since women in general do spend a good deal of money on themselves (not a bad thing actually). Shoes are always placed at the top of women-related merchandises, so it's not surprising to see that there are many shoes stalls in Bến Thành. However, most of the shoes you find here are not the same as in shoe stores elsewhere, but the typical wooden sabots that are called "guốc" in Vietnamese.
Guốc are made of balsa wood (except straps and soles) and have been popular with Vietnamese women for a century or more. The styles have changed a lot since my childhood. Back then, there was only one body style and three colours: black, white, and natural, with clear or coloured plastic straps and very little decorations. Nowadays, there are many body styles to choose from and straps are much more fashionable.
Two things stay the same over the century: the location and the fitting procedures.
Guốc are not sold in stores, you can only buy them at markets. Enter a stall that sell guốc and you do not see anything else, no other accessories, just rows and rows of wooden shoes with or without straps. Pick out the style, then bargain the price down a bit -- most guốc sellers do not ask for an outrageous price and wait for it to be bargained down, the price is more or less the same everywhere. After the price is agreed upon, you would sit down on one of the low stools and have your feet fitted for the straps of your choice.
During the fitting stage, do not hesitate to ask the seller for second, third or even fourth alteration if the fit is not perfect, and do not pay before a trial walk. Guốc take some getting used to, although they are light on the feet, they are not cushiony thus not comfortable as regular shoes, so a trial walk is very important.
Handpainted or hand carved guốc. Price starts from VND 80,000 for the simplest design. If you buy guốc for a gift, ask the seller not to mount the strap at the point of purchase, and make sure to take plenty of studs with you. The most studs used to mount straps on a pair of guốc are 12, but ask for extra to be on the safe side. Leave a Comment Theme: Shoes
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A place you should make a trip is the 27-7 Handicraft Company. This is the place for top quality lacquerware at reasonable pricing. What make it more meaningful is that the craft produced are made by handicapped who wish to make a living with pride. The lacquerware is one of the best quality in the world. I was told that 18 layers are required and it would take 2 months to complete a piece of work.
There are many shop in Dist 1 for you to get lacquerware but this is the place you should get it. Though the price is slightly on the higher side, I feel that it's worthwhile as the service is excellent. The sales team would painstakingly wrap your gifts with boxes so that they will not be damaged during your trip back home. Other places in HCMC won't do that. They will not provide boxes.
The prices are very reasonable. It ranges from USD 4 onwards. I think it's worth it as the prices would be much higher if purchased in home countries. Leave a Comment Theme: Local CraftAddress: 153 Xo Viet Nghe Tinh, Ward 17-Binh Thanh DistrictPhone: 8488403.359Directions: Tell the taxi driver that it's the handicraft company otherwise he would drive you all over the place. A trip from Dist 1 to the showroom is about USD 1.50.Website: http://www.27-7.com.vn/handicraft/html/about.asp Other Contact: 727handicraft@hcm.vnn.vn
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As you can see by now, I am a die-hard shopper! Well, I was surprised the Malaysian giant retail store - Parkson is now opened in Ho Chi Minh City. This was my first surprise find after I took a bold step in walking out into the street all on my own at night. And guess what, Parkson is located just next to Continental Hotel! Woah!!! I was told that Parkson was opened in June 2005 - and I stepped into the new building only two months after its opening!
Well, like any shopping malls in Singapore, Parkson has everything you need under one roof. The retail area took up about 3 storeys (if I can remember correctly) and the fourth storey is occupied by a big supermarket. In fact, I visited the supermarket every night to buy my daily supply of mineral water. There's also a modern foodcourt located on the same floor as the supermarket.
Whatever brands you need like Nike, Shisedo, Kose and etc are found there - really felt like one of the Singapore's mega shop there. Security is tight - hence you feel safe. This is more so for a single lady like me travelling at night. If you are a fashion craze, check out the ladies section. Local and up and coming designers have their brands in Parkson too. Check out their clothes.
The locals feel that the prices at Parkson is high. Personally, I find the prices are on par with what we have in Singapore. However, it's the convenience, comfort and safety of shopping that you are looking for when shopping in this mega mart. Leave a Comment Theme: Department StoreAddress: 45 Le Thanh Ton St. (Parkson Saigontourist Plaza)Directions: This mall is located on the same stretch as the well-known Dong Khai Street
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Have one renoir specially painted for you at about USD 30 or less by one of these copy artists in HCMC. I spotted one such gallery in Dong Khoi area, not too far from the Opera house. I didn't buy a copy but I was so very tempted to get Van Gough's Starry Night. There's also a 'proper' gallery in the same vincinity but they carry original works by local artists. Don't ask those folks to do a copy for you, trust me, they know how to say "omigawwd" in English. The website is attached below. Leave a Comment
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You can go crazy shopping in Vietnam!! The markets are full of cheap & chic wonders... esp. good value are sports shoes, market 'designer' shirts and backpacks for the guys, and sequinned bags/slippers as well as silks and ao dai for the girls!! Ohhh.. then of course all those lacquer goods, and paintings (see my hanoi shopping tips for those)... and doilies, tablecloths,
N.B. BE CAREFUL OF PICKPOCKETS!!! I spotted one hurrying away after trying to get at my wallet from my handbag. Strangely.. she didn't even look Vietnamese. Looked like a regular tourist in a big hat and capri pants.
Check out these sequined bags, though they're a mere fraction of what you can find there!! I bought like 20 on my first trip alone.
Realllyyyy cheap. U pay like USD$1-$2 for a little sequinned pouch but even the really nice big holdall type ones aren't more than USD$10, esp. not in the markets or u know u're being charged foreigner prices. Leave a Comment Theme: Local Craft
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Just wanted to include another photo of slippers.. everytime I go to Vietnam, I really overbuy!!! Every trip would see me buy at least a couple pairs of these fantastic clogs, and a few handbags. Great gifts, if they don't end up in my own cupboard! :) Leave a Comment Theme: Shoes
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This is one of the main markets in Saigon and one of the landmarks of the city, with its belfry and clock. Recently refurbished, inside you can find many everyday life items, as household items, food, tobacco, clothing, hats, hardware, parfums? And outside, in the streets around, you will find many local restaurants, chinese shops, and a lively atmosphere which is very pleasant to observe?
It was built in 1914 by the french who knew it as ?Les Halles Centrales? Leave a Comment Theme: Other
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Citimart is a popular Supermarket Chain in Vietnam owned by HCMC-based Dong Hung Co. Dong Hung launched the first Citimart in 1994 and seven of its current 16 stores are in HCMC, four in Hanoi and the rest in Binh Duong, Can Tho, Kien Giang and Dalat.
This branch is in the middle of Saigon Square Shopping Mall.
Bottled water for 3,500 VND (10,000 VND at Tourist Places and Street Stalls), Coconut Candy 450 grams at 11,800 VND (200 grams at 20,000 VND in Mekong Delta!), Saigon Beer aluminum can at 7,000 VND (15,000 VND outside), Rice Paper for Spring Rolls at 5,000 VND small and 8,000 VND large (15-20,000 VND at Cu Chi rice paper stores!), Trung Nguyen Chon Coffee (weasel coffee or civet cat coffee) at 29,000 VND per 100 grams, Vinamit Dried Fruits starting at 16,000-39,000 VND (150 to 500 grams), Vietnamese Instant Noddles at 2,500 VND, and a lot more!
better to buy your essential goods here like bottled water, sodas, beer, cocnut candy, etc since it is cheaper than the stores or in touristy areas. Theme: Food and DrinkAddress: 39 Le Duan St., Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Sai GonPhone: (848) 8256868; 8233908Directions: 39 Le Duan St., Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, ,Ho Chi Minh CityWebsite: www.citimart.com.vn
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