10 interesting shopping spots in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City Visitors to Ho Chi Minh City have many shopping options in both traditional markets and modern shopping centers.

The 10 interesting shopping spots in Ho Chi Minh City below are one of the categories in the list of 100 interesting things about Ho Chi Minh City announced by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism in early December, based on more than 104,000 votes. The list is divided into 10 categories including sightseeing programs, sightseeing spots, entertainment spots - entertainment programs, shopping spots, tourist accommodations, restaurants - eateries, coffee shops, check-in points, tourism - cultural - sports events and delicious food.

Antique Market Coffee

Officially operating since 2013, the antique market is considered a place to trade nostalgia and find memories of old Saigon. The market is located in a coffee shop in an alley on No Trang Long Street. Every week, the market starts from 6am to 2pm on Saturdays and Sundays. The entrance fee is 40,000 VND per person but can be exchanged for a dish or drink.

Antique market space in a coffee shop. Photo: Quynh Tran — Antique market space in a coffee shop. Photo: *Quynh Tran*

Antiques here are mainly purchased from the families of deceased collectors, overseas Vietnamese, or from sources introduced by regular customers. "The goods must be transparent in terms of origin, source, and price. If the seller intentionally makes mistakes and is discovered, they will not be allowed to sell in the next market," said Mr. Thanh.

Ben Thanh Market

Ben Thanh Market was built in 1912, with a total area of over 13,000 m2, and is one of the iconic structures of Ho Chi Minh City, attracting many people and tourists. The market has 16 gates, including 4 large gates: East, West, South, and North. The market is divided into 4 areas with 11 product lines, areas 1 and 2 are mainly textile and clothing stalls; areas 3 and 4 are groceries, cosmetics, food, processing technology, fresh goods and beverages... The market has more than 1,400 households with the same number of stalls.

Binh Tay Market

Binh Tay Market is known as Cho Lon (new) and was built in 1928 by Chinese merchant Quach Dam using French techniques. The octagonal architecture is considered the most unique feature of the market, consisting of 12 gates, with a spacious garden inside for visitors to sit and rest.

From 2016 to 2018, the market was closed for comprehensive upgrading and repair. In April 2017, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee decided to rank the Binh Tay Market (Thap Muoi Street, District 6) as a city-level monument. All construction and exploitation activities in the protected relic area are strictly prohibited.

Crescent Mall

Crescent Mall is an international standard shopping mall located in the new urban area of Phu My Hung, Nguyen Van Linh Street, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City. The center is invested by Phu My Hung Corporation, with a total area of 112,000 m2, providing 120 retail stores, 6,000 m2 supermarket, modern cinema area, international cuisine area, a series of restaurants and outdoor cafes.

Ho Chi Minh City Book Street

Nguyen Van Binh Street, District 1, about 100m long, is Book Street with many activities to honor reading culture. This street has two book cafes, next to the Ho Chi Minh City Post Office, where readers can play, relax, and organize discussions and cultural and artistic activities. Next to it are kiosks selling books, newspapers, magazines, cultural items, a playground - reading area for children. Next to it is an area displaying and exhibiting books, newspapers, pictures, cultural items according to monthly themes, an area for buying and selling, exchanging old books, collections of rare items - publications.

Vincom shopping center system in Ho Chi Minh City

In Ho Chi Minh City, there are 13 Vincom shopping malls in operation, spread across major districts and counties in the city. Tourists staying in central districts such as District 1, District 3 or Binh Thanh District can visit Vincom Dong Khoi, Vincom Center Landmark 81. Similar to many other shopping malls, this place sells many famous fashion , cosmetic, jewelry brands, chains of restaurants, coffee shops and many fun and entertainment activities for residents and tourists.

Ho Thi Ky flower market

Ho Thi Ky flower market is located in the heart of District 10, hidden in the alleys surrounding the old Le Hong Phong apartment building. This is the largest flower gathering place in Saigon. The market has been operating since 1987, selling hundreds of different types of flowers, and is considered a miniature Da Lat in the heart of Saigon. Flowers here are transported by traders from the largest flower farms in Da Lat and the Western provinces such as Long An, Dong Thap, and Vinh Long.

Le Cong Kieu Antique Street

Le Cong Kieu Street (District 1) is one of the oldest antique shops in Saigon. The street is only about 200 meters long but has dozens of large and small shops, selling many antiques from money, Buddha statues, ceramic vases from the Nguyen and Qing dynasties to even items such as cups, plates, gas lamps, incense bowls, bronze incense burners, and incense bowls. There are shops specializing in bronze items, and some in ceramics. The origin of the goods also depends on the type, there are even items from all over the world. Buyers just need to walk and look around to be able to narrow down the location to find the item they want. Common items here cost from a few hundred thousand dong to tens of millions of dong.

Takashimaya Shopping Center

Takashimaya's first shopping mall in Vietnam opened in 2016 in a bustling area of Ho Chi Minh City. The Japanese retail group invested 32 million USD in the shopping mall located at 92-94 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, District 1, covering an area of over 15,000 square meters, including 5 floors of the Saigon Center building. Visitors can come here to shop for fashion, cosmetics, and jewelry from famous brands around the world. The mall also regularly hosts entertainment activities and shopping stimulus programs on holidays, Tet, and special events of the city.

Bich Phuong

Source link