Top 10 Most Popular Local Markets in Vietnam
When you take a tour to Vietnam, in addition to the must-see attractions, you can also get an insightful look at Vietnamese culture by visiting local markets. Each morning, as vendors prepare their goods, the market becomes a lively hub of activity, filling the air with energy. It's an opportunity to witness the daily life of the Vietnamese people up close.
The Diverse Local Markets in Vietnam
The Vietnamese market is not only a place for trade but also a vibrant reflection of Vietnamese culture. Each region has its own market, each with its unique characteristics. In the cities, markets are as lively as the night, while in the plains and countryside, markets typically operate in the morning or afternoon. In mountainous areas, markets are held less frequently and often retain traditional trading practices that echo ancient methods.
In Vietnam, local markets differ significantly across regions. Markets in the northern mountains highlight the diverse ethnic groups of the area, whereas the southern markets are renowned for their water markets. These water markets are situated on rivers, which serve as the primary transportation routes in the south. The ideal location for a water market is a river that is neither too wide nor too narrow, and with a depth that is neither too shallow nor too deep.
Local Markets in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
As the biggest city In Vietnam, and of course, there are some most popular markets in Ho Chi Minh City. The following three markets have been suggested by CNN Travel and Lonely Planet. Let's take a look.
Ben Thanh Market
This is one of the most symbolic and historic markets in Ho Chi Minh City. As early as 1914, the Ben Thanh market has been open, and the market has changed a lot over the years, but the most sincere smile of the local vendors has remained with the passage of time. Ben Thanh market is not only a place for local people to shop and sell goods but also an iconic building where people like to hang out with friends in their spare time. The old clock at the south gate of the market, which is still standing after years of age, has become the best background for taking photos of visitors.
What to find here:
At the Ben Thanh market, you can buy almost anything, whether clothes, shoes or electronics, household items, art, souvenirs, or gourmet food, and there is always something to satisfy the curiosity of visitors. The products are made in Vietnam for export or high-quality imported items.
There are four main gates in the market. The south gates are where dried foods are sold at here. North gates where the flowers and fruits are sold. East gate welcomes people to buy candies, cakes and cosmetics. West gates is where visitors can buy some souvenirs, such as handicrafts, clothes and shoes.
Moreover, there are many food stalls in the market, you can taste the Vietnamese foods, such as Pho Noodle soup, Broken Rice and etc. It's usually quieter and much less crowded earlier in the day. The market will close around 6 p.m. and the night markets at the East, West and North gates will open.
Location: Đ. Lê LợI, Phường Bến Thành, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Business Hours: Daily, 6:00 AM-6:00 PM
Night Market: Daily, 7:00 PM-10:00 PM
Ben Thanh Market
Binh Tay Market
The Binh Tay market is located in Chinatown, it is the busiest commercial center and one of the oldest markets in Ho Chi Minh City. For more than 90 years of development. Binh Tay market remains the biggest commodity center in Ho Chi Minh City. French, Chinese and Vietnamese architecture are blended here to create an exotic feel, with brilliant yellow tiles forming the roof of the entrance and exit. You can even see the elegant historical painting under the eaves.
Among all the markets in Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Tay market is the only one that has a garden inside. The aim of building this garden is to memorize the builder- Quach Dam, a Chinese businessman. Vendors always put flowers around the garden and burn incense sticks to appreciate Quach Dam and wish their business always a success.
The market has 12 entrances with two floors. There are 2358 stalls inside the markets which is really a big market. These stalls have been divided into different areas, they are grouped into trade areas that sell similar items which allow the visitor can easily find out what they need.
What to find here:
Most of the goods shipped from the Mekong Delta are concentrated here, you can buy Vietnamese preserves, nuts, a wide variety of fabrics and handmade goods at very low prices, and even some distinctive household items and electronics. Behind the market, there are rows of restaurants where you can taste authentic Vietnamese food and distinctive flavors. From here, you can also visit Ho Chi Minh City's Chinatown community - a variety of fusion dishes, quaint temples, and winding alleys. This will be a memory of your travel.
Tips on Shopping:
Bargaining is an essential skill that you need to master. Some of the vendors will offer higher even double the price to the tourists. What you need to do is bargain with them, try to cut down half of the price or give them your wished price, if they don't accept it, just walk away, then they will suddenly call you back and agree with the price that you offered.
Location: 57A Thap Muoi Street, Ward 2, District 6, Ho Chi Minh City
Business Hours: Daily, 6:00 AM-7:00 PM
Ho Thi Ky Flower Market
In Vietnam, you can see a lot of plants in the city, Vietnam government always focuses on greening work. There are also lots of plants and flowers in every household, which is closely related to what Vietnamese people love. Vietnamese like colorful and smiling flowers. If you are the same person who likes flowers, you can go to the Ho Thi Ky flower market for a visit. Ho Thi Ky Flower market is the largest wholesale flower market in Ho Chi Minh. It is established in 1987, and the flowers here are mainly from the Da Lat and Mekong Delta area. Some flowers are even imported from other countries such as Cambodia, the United States, and Japan.
The flowers in the market are very colorful. It is like a huge garden or a flower forest. You can find all kinds of lilies, roses, orchids, daisies, lotus flowers, and so on in any corner of the market. Besides, the flower market is also full of snack bars for you to take a break, especially where you can enjoy Cambodian snacks. From the flower market, you can also easily access Chinatown.
The market will be bustling during Vietnam's traditional Lunar New Year holiday, they call it 'Tet'. At that time, some special flowers, such as dried Rosa canina buds will be sold. The most popular one could be the orchids which most Vietnamese families like.
You can visit the flower market either during the day time or even at night time because it is opened 24 hours, there are always full of customers, vendors and of course, flowers.
Location: Ho Thi Ky Street, Ward 1, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City
Business Hours: Daily, 24-hour
Local Markets in Hanoi
If you travel to Hanoi, you can visit the local markets, to get a sense of local people's daily life, and you can also buy some of the local souvenirs as well. Some of the markets are open not only in the daytime but also the night time as well. The night in Hanoi is very lively, therefore, enjoy your nighttime, especially at the Hanoi night market, you can not only feel the busy and lively streets but also try a variety of snacks here. So, the following two markets I will recommend to you if you stay in Hanoi.
Dong Xuan Market
Dong Xuan market is a large market located in the Hoan Kiem District of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. It was first built by the French colonial government in 1889. A fire nearly destroyed the market in 1994, and it has undergone several renovations since then. Today, Dong Xuan market is the largest indoor market in Hanoi, mainly selling wholesale clothing, household goods, food and more.
Dong Xuan market, also known as the "shopping paradise of Hanoi", is a bustling old market known for its good quality and low prices. With stalls selling snacks, specialty fabrics, handicrafts and more, the market is crowded with locals from the early morning until the close of business at night. Now even foreign tourists find their way here to experience the most authentic of Vietnamese street culture.
Dong Xuan market has three floors with about 2,000 stores in it. When you enter the market, you will see a fountain in the middle of the ground floor. On the ground floor, visitors can buy a variety of foods, such as seafood, vegetables and meats. The back parts of the markets sell pets. If you go up to the second floor, you can buy some clothes, shoes, hats, and other souvenirs. The third floor is suitable for moms with babies, because different kinds of clothes and toys are available for newborn babies.
Dong Xuan market is combined as a day market and a night market. As we have talked about the day market. In the following section, let's have a look at the night market, it also has another name - Hanoi Night market.
Location: 15 Cau Dong Street, Dong Xuan Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Business Hours: From 6:00 AM-6:00 PM daily for Day Market
Dong Xuan Night Market - Hanoi Night Market
After a day of shopping, you must be starving. You might worry about where you can find traditional food in Hanoi. Don't worry, the Dong Xuan night market will relieve your stress. At 6 pm, the night market is open. There are dozens of different kinds of food here. You can taste the most traditional foods and enjoy them with a cup of beer.
Similar to the day market, the night market also sells clothes, shoes and souvenirs. But for travelers, the most attractive activity is enjoying the local foods. Here, you have so many options to feed your stomach, from Vietnamese flavors to famous foods throughout the world. It might be hard for you to choose the most favorable one, so let's try some of the suggestions.
Noodle with Grilled Meat - Bún chả que tre
The noodle with grilled meat is worth trying, the sliced pork will be marinated with lemongrass, onion, and other spices, and then the pork will be stringed by a bamboo stick. After that, it will be grilled on a charcoal fire. The cooked meat will be served with rice noodles, picked lettuce, cucumber, coriander, and fish sauce.Beef Jerky and Green Papaya Salad (Gỏi xoài khô bò)
This dish is very famous in the market. It is made of spicy dried beef, then mix with green papaya, roasted peanuts, mint, and coriander. The most important ingredients will be a unique sauce, which consists of fish sauce, lemon juice, and chili. This will add a lot of flavor to the food. Such a salad bowl will whet your appetite on a hot day.
There is a tip for the visitors, during the night time, the market is full of crowds, keep an eye on your belongings, there might be some pickpockets around here.
Location: 15 Cau Dong Street, Dong Xuan Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Business Hours: 6:00 PM, till midnight on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Local Markets in Hoi An
Hoi An Central Market
In addition to visiting some must-see spots in Hoi An, the Central Market is also a place for every tourist to have a look. There is a general consensus that you don't really come to Hoi An until you come to visit the Hoi An central market.
Hoi An central market is located in Hoi An ancient town, it extends up to five streets of the central tourist area. The long-distance covers a lot of spots, from Cam Nam bridge to the Folklore Museum on the west side. It is by far the most popular market in Hoi An. In the beginning, the central market was built in 1848, located on Nguyen Thai Hoc street.
However, after a long period of time, the market was demolished and rebuilt in the early 2000s. The rebuilt market attracts thousands of visitors every year. Until now, with an array of stalls, the market is as lively as before. In late the 20th century, because of the central market, Hoi An has evaluated by UNESCO as a well-preserved South-East Asian trading port.
At the central market, you can find many things, such as fresh foods, clothes, souvenirs, household items and etc. When people come to the market, there are two delicious foods that are very popular, which are "Mam thinh" and "Mam Cam Thanh". However, the most attractive thing for tourists must be the food court. Here, you can try the best Vietnamese food, such as Cao Lau, Banh Xeo, Pho soup, Vietnamese coffee and etc.
Since the food court is really big, when you see a variety of food, it is hard to choose which one to enjoy. Here are some of the best vendors at the food court, you can have a try.
The first one is the "Vietnamese Pizza", in Vietnamese, the locals call it Banh trang nuong. It consists of flat crackers and green onion with mayo and chili sauce. It will be heated over a grill and folded in half. It is worth having a try.
The second one is Banh Mi, at the Banh Mi Phuong stand. It is served with French baguette, and the inside of the baguette includes grilled pork/chicken, pickles, coriander, and cucumber with butter and sweet chili sauce. If you like something different, you can try the bun bo hue, a popular spicy dish containing rice vermicelli and beef.
So, if you have time, I do recommend you can come to visit the central market, you will have a great impression of it.
Location: Tran Quy Cap street, Cam Chau, Hoi An, Quang Nam
Business Hours: Daily, 6:00 AM-6:00 PM
Local Markets in Nha Trang
Dam Market
Nha Trang is one of Vietnam's few bustling cities, but it doesn't have the malls and upscale shopping malls of Ho Chi Minh. As for local people to buy fashionable clothes and daily necessities, they usually go to Dam Market, which is more like a commercial pedestrian street, with everything from snacks and special items to jewelry and fashion clothes.
In the past, it was a place to trade seafood. In 1908, since the trading demand increased, the previous small market was built into a bigger central market, which is located right on the old lagoon, since then the name of the market is called as Dam market.
Dam market is definitely a good place for tourists who like to experience the culture. The Dam Market is a large lifestyle market with a complete range of various small items. The entire area is around 5270 square meters and can be filled with more than 3,000 people. It is definitely a good place to purchase special small items, such as coffee, drip, fish sauce, salve paste and so on.
In addition, there are a variety of tropical fruits worth trying, such as mango, imperial banana, mangosteen, durian, etc., all of which are super cheap and will definitely make you eat all at once. Except for the tropical fruits, there are countless delicious gourmets you can enjoy, such as Bun Sa (Rice vermicelli with jellyfish), Vietnamese Pho, and Banh Cuon (Rolled cakes).
The location of the market is in Van Thanh. If you go to the Alexandre Yersin Museum, you will take only 10 minutes to walk. The best time to visit the market is in the early morning, to avoid the crowded tourists and early morning is the time when locals go shopping.
Location: Van Thanh, Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa
Business Hours: Daily, 4:00 AM-6:00 PM.
Local Markets in Hue
Dong Ba Market
Dong Ba Market is located on the romantic Huong River in Hue City. It is one of the three traditional markets in Vietnam with a history of more than 120 years of construction and development. The predecessor of the market was Qui Gia Thi grand market. In 1885, the grand market was burned to ashes due to the city was attacked. After that, in 1887, the market was rebuilt by King Dong Khanh and named Dong Ba market.
In order to boost the tourism demand, which has been affected by the epidemic for a long time, Hue city is absorbing the essence of modern times and gradually carrying forward the original fine traditions to build Dong Ba market into a local tourist destination with unique charm. Dong Ba market is like a mini Hue. Here, visitors can not only feel various characteristics and essence but also further understand the local customs and customs of the ancient capital of Hue.
Dong Ba market consists of nine new buildings with four new sections. Similar to the other markets, you can buy goods, ranging from food to clothes. There are some special souvenirs that you can bring them back home. Such as Tuan Tea, Troui berries, Tom Chua (Hue Sour shrimp), and lotus seeds of Tinh Tam lake. In addition, if you want to try the most iconic Hue's delicious foods. Dong Ba market is the top choice, where you can enjoy them at the food court of Dong Ba market.
Despite competing with numerous supermarkets and large commercial centers, Dong Ba market still holds a special place in the hearts of every Hue and tourist, which cannot be replaced by any kind of comfortable and modern lifestyle.
Location: Tran Hung Dao Street, Hue
Business Hours: Daily, 3:00 AM-8:00 PM.
Dong Ba Market
Local Markets in Phu Quoc Island
Duong Dong Night Market
If you go to Phu Quoc island, you might be worried about tasting the local food. Don't worry, the Duong Dong night market will help you to appetite your stomach. Located in Duong Dong, Phu Quoc Island County in Vietnam's Kien Giang province, the Phu Quoc Night Market is brightly lit and lively. At present, Fuguo Night market has a total of about 70 businesses and more than 90 shops. Open from around 4:30 pm to 12 am, the atmosphere is lively.
The night market is divided according to the products sold, including the souvenir area selling combs, spoons and key rings made and processed from sea products, the clothing area is used to selling colorful clothes and scarves, the Phuc Quoc specialty pearl decoration area and the food area. The most dazzling part is the food area. There are hundreds of kinds of seafood, such as cuttlefish, shrimp, crabs, conchs and so on. The vendor's quick, deft hands are acknowledged by the pickiest diners.
In addition, one of the most famous snacks is coconut ice cream, the coconut ice cream is placed in a half-cut coconut shell, you can try different flavors, but the most popular one is definitely coconut flavor.
There are a few tips to visit the night market. First, try to choose the shops looks clean and tidy, which can guarantee fresh and clean seafood, or otherwise, your stomach may feel not good. Second, you can choose the shop with the crowds, it might be taken you a while to wait, but that means, the stalls are more popular and more acceptable by the people.
If you go to Phu Quoc Island, the night market is a must-visit spot.
Location: Vo Thi Sau Street, Duong Dong, Phu Quoc Island
Business Hours: Daily, 6:00 PM-11:00 PM
Local Markets in Can Tho
Cai Rang Floating Market
When it comes to floating markets, people often think of Thailand. It's true that Thailand's floating market is very famous in the world, but many people don't know that Vietnam has its own unique floating market as well. So, our final stop goes to the most special market in Vietnam, the Cai Rang floating market.
It's a four-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh, so it's recommended to spend a night downtown Can Tho if you have time. The Cai Rang floating market is open all day. Its busiest time is from after sunrise at 4 a.m. to 9 a.m. The Cai Rang floating market is one of the three largest markets in Can Tho (the others are Cai Be and Phung Hiep). This was the heart of Can Tho City back in French colonial times. The shops and stalls here are boats of all sizes.
The floating market and the aquatic life of its inhabitants are one of the Mekong's most interesting tourist attractions. It mainly sells agricultural products and specialties from the surrounding areas of Can Tho town. On each bow stood a straight wooden pole on which hung samples of various cargoes.
Early in the morning, many large ships are moored together and make way for small boats to get in and out. Hundreds of boats laden with mangoes, bananas, pineapples, papayas, and even contraband cigarettes crisscross the waterways. Vendors don't need to shout about their wares to attract customers because they can be seen from a distance, and the loud sound of the waves and the engine of the boat makes no other sound audible. There are also small boats selling beer and soft drinks to tourists. The floating market here is one of the strangest sights on the Mekong River, and the daily life of the people there impresses visitors.
Location: 46 Hai Ba Trung Street, Tan An, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho
Business Hours: Monday-Sunday, All Day
Cai Rang Floating Market
The Vietnamese market is the spirit and soul of the Vietnamese nation, it is a unique place to attract tourists from all over the world to visit and go shopping. A trip to the Vietnamese market will give everyone a special feeling and immerse them in the vivid features of Vietnamese culture. Markets are the most fascinating place to have contact with the locals, there are heaps of markets in Vietnam, and no matter whether they are big or small, they are all completely unique.
Any of the markets mentioned above will definitely give you the ultimate experience. With different kinds of items and attractive prices, Vietnam is the best place for those who are glad to go shopping. Remember, bring a large and empty suitcase or otherwise, there will be not enough space to pack up your 'trophies'.
If you're planning to travel to Vietnam and visit these local markets with features, please don't hesitate to contact us, just simply tell us your interests and needs, and one of our travel experts will create a tailor-made itinerary for you within 24hrs.
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