10 exciting shopping destinations in Ho Chi Minh City

VnExpress•15/12/2023

Ho Chi Minh City: Tourists visiting Ho Chi Minh City have many shopping options in both traditional markets and modern shopping malls.

The following 10 exciting shopping destinations in Ho Chi Minh City are among 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 over 104,000 votes. The list is divided into 10 categories including sightseeing programs, attractions, entertainment venues and programs, shopping destinations, tourist accommodations, restaurants and eateries, cafes, check-in points, tourism-cultural- sports events, and delicious food.

Antique Market Coffee

Officially operating since 2013, the flea market is considered a place for nostalgic trading and rediscovering memories of old Saigon. Located in a cafe in an alley off No Trang Long Street, the market is open weekly from 6 am to over 2 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Entrance is 40,000 VND per person, but this amount can be exchanged for a food or drink item.

Antique market space inside a cafe. Photo: Quynh Tran — Antique market space inside a cafe. Photo: *Quynh Tran*

The antiques here are mostly acquired from the families of deceased collectors, overseas Vietnamese, or through referrals from regular customers. "Goods must be transparent about their origin, source, and price. If a seller intentionally misrepresents the goods and is caught, they will not be allowed to sell at subsequent markets," Mr. Thanh said.

Ben Thanh Market

Ben Thanh Market, built in 1912, covers a total area of over 13,000 m2 and is one of Ho Chi Minh City's iconic landmarks, attracting many locals and tourists. The market has 16 entrances, including four large gates: East, West, South, and North. It is divided into four sections with 11 product categories. Sections 1 and 2 mainly sell textiles and clothing; sections 3 and 4 sell general merchandise, cosmetics, food, processed goods, fresh produce, and beverages. The market houses over 1,400 businesses with approximately 1,400 stalls.

Binh Tay Market

Binh Tay Market, also known as Cho Lon (New), was built in 1928 by Chinese businessman Quach Dam using French techniques. Its octagonal architecture is considered its most unique feature, comprising 12 gates and a spacious garden inside where visitors can relax.

From 2016 to 2018, the market ceased operations for comprehensive upgrades and repairs. In April 2017, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee decided to classify the Binh Tay Market (Thap Muoi Street, District 6) as a city-level historical monument. All construction and exploitation activities within the designated protected area of the historical site are strictly prohibited.

Crescent Mall

Crescent Mall is an international-standard shopping center located in the Phu My Hung new urban area, on Nguyen Van Linh Street, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City. Developed by Phu My Hung Company, the center covers a total area of 112,000 m2, offering 120 retail stores, a 6,000 m2 supermarket, a modern cinema complex, an international food court, and a variety of restaurants and outdoor cafes.

Ho Chi Minh City Book Street

The approximately 100-meter stretch of Nguyen Van Binh Street in District 1 is a Book Street with many activities celebrating reading culture. This street features two book cafes, located next to the Ho Chi Minh City Post Office, where readers can relax, enjoy themselves, and where seminars and cultural and artistic events are held. Further along are kiosks selling books, newspapers, magazines, and cultural items, as well as a playground and reading area for children. Adjacent to these are exhibitions of books, newspapers, paintings, and cultural items organized by monthly themes, and areas for buying and selling used books and rare collections of artifacts and publications.

Vincom shopping mall system in Ho Chi Minh City

In Ho Chi Minh City, there are 13 Vincom shopping malls currently operating, spread across the city's main districts. Tourists staying in central districts such as District 1, District 3, or Binh Thanh District can visit Vincom Dong Khoi or Vincom Center Landmark 81. Similar to many other shopping malls, these malls offer a wide range of well-known fashion , cosmetics, and jewelry brands, as well as restaurants, cafes, and various entertainment and recreational activities for residents and tourists.

Ho Thi Ky Flower Market

Ho Thi Ky Flower Market is located in the heart of District 10, nestled in the alleys surrounding the old Le Hong Phong apartment complex. It's the largest flower market in Saigon. Operating since 1987, the market offers hundreds of different varieties, often described as a miniature Da Lat in the heart of Saigon. The flowers here are transported by traders from major flower farms in Da Lat and provinces in the Mekong Delta 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 shopping areas in Saigon. The street is only about 200 meters long but has dozens of shops of all sizes, selling a wide variety of antiques from coins, Buddha statues, and ceramic vases from the Nguyen and Qing dynasties to everyday items like bowls, plates, kerosene lamps, incense burners, and bronze incense holders. Some shops specialize in bronze items, while others specialize in ceramics. The origin of the goods varies, with items coming from all over the world. Buyers can simply walk around and browse to find what they're looking for. Common items here range in price from a few hundred thousand dong to tens of millions of dong.

Takashimaya Shopping Center

Takashimaya's first department store in Vietnam opened in 2016 in a bustling area of Ho Chi Minh City. The Japanese retail group invested $32 million in the shopping center located at 92-94 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, District 1. Spanning over 15,000 square meters across five floors of the Saigon Centre building, the store offers visitors access to fashion, cosmetics, and jewelry from renowned international brands. The center also regularly hosts entertainment activities and promotional programs during holidays, Tet (Lunar New Year), and special city events.

Bich Phuong

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