What should I consider when buying Meiji milk at WinMart in Ho Chi Minh City?

WinMart often has a 'buy one get one free' promotion for Meiji milk. Meiji white milk (946ml) costs around ~$53, and lactose-free milk costs around ~$63. During a 1+1 promotion, you can reduce the burden of prices that might otherwise be more expensive than in Korea.

What items did you purchase at a discounted price at Annam Gourmet Masteri?

At Annam Gourmet Masteri, I purchased half a roasted chicken for ~$24 and Dalat strawberry milk (180ml) for ~$1. I also bought Lindt chocolate (sea salt and mint flavors) for ~$96 each, and Digestive Light biscuits for ~$30.

Among the Vietnamese beers mentioned in the article, which one is recommended for IPA lovers, and what should be noted when buying Hanoi beer?

The article recommends Truc Bach beer (~$14) for IPA lovers. When buying canned Hanoi beer at a supermarket, it's advisable to check for the HABECO mark.

What types and prices of CJ O! Ramyeon are available at WinMart?

CJ O! Ramyeon was on promotion at WinMart. Jjajang Ramyeon and Cream Sauce Chicken Bibim Ramyeon were sold for ~$7 each. Beef Vegetable Soup Noodle and Shrimp Tom Yum Ramyeon were sold for ~$7 each.

Ho Chi Minh City: WinMart & Annam Gourmet Grocery Tour

Ho Chi Minh City: WinMart & Annam Gourmet Grocery Tour | TRVLOGUE

Hey there, fellow explorers!

I'm Mini Lauren, living the local life as a housewife here in vibrant Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

My husband, Yongbam, was stuck with a work dinner on Monday, but thankfully it wrapped up earlier than expected! So we met up at Mixue in Thao Dien Vincom Mall for a little pre-shopping treat.

We grabbed a strawberry ice cream and a black sugar milk tea with 30% sweetness – the perfect sugar rush to kick off our grocery run!

Each drink was 25,000VND (approximately ~$1). Honestly, I can't imagine paying $5-6 for these back home in the US. It's one of those little luxuries I'll miss!

Thao Dien Vincom Mall WinMart

WinMart often has a 'buy one get one free' deal on Japanese Meiji milk, which has become my go-to. I used to drink local Dalat milk, but after hearing about a change in taste (and finding those Meiji deals!), I've switched over. Meiji milk is just so good!

A single carton of Meiji milk costs around 77,000VND (approximately ~$3), and the lactose-free version is about 92,000VND (approximately ~$4). These prices are actually higher than what you'd find in the US, so I usually hesitate. But when there's a 1+1 promotion, I stock up without a second thought!

The chocolate lactose-free milk is the priciest at 96,000VND. It seems like they're promoting the chocolate lactose-free version by pairing it with all the other milk types.

As a huge fan of porridge (or 'juk' as it's known in Korea), I was thrilled to discover such a wide variety at WinMart! How did I miss this before?

I snapped some photos to look up the different types later. I'm planning a dedicated Vietnamese porridge review soon, so stay tuned!

I also picked up some Ohya! ramen, made by Korea's CJ, because they were having a promotion. I bought one of each flavor to try!

Here's a breakdown of some of our dairy haul:

Meiji Pasteurized White Milk 946ml: 77,000VND
Meiji Chocolate Milk 946ml: 67,400VND (Discounted by 9,600VND)

My husband is a serious chocolate milk enthusiast, so he kept asking for more. This led to us buying four cartons: a regular milk, a lactose-free chocolate milk, a regular chocolate milk, and another lactose-free chocolate milk!

And for the ramen haul:

Ohya Jjajang Ramen: 10,000VND for 2 packs
Ohya Beef & Vegetable Noodle Soup: 9,500VND
Ohya Cream Sauce Chicken Bibim Ramen: 10,000VND
Ohya Shrimp Tom Yum Ramen: 9,500VND

I often make jjajang ramen and top it with grilled short ribs, so I made sure to grab two packs. With the 1+1 deal, five packs turned into ten – what a score!

We each picked out our favorite beers and decided to try the Red Ruby canned beer, which was new to us.

Yongbam's Pick: Hanoi Beer 12,900VND
Jungmin's Pick: Truc Bach Beer 20,000VND (Highly recommend this if you're an IPA fan!)
Red Ruby Canned Beer: 12,900VND
Red Ruby Max Canned Beer: 12,500VND

We grabbed the Red Ruby beers because they're from Masan Group, a relatively large Vietnamese corporation. Always good to try local!

While the Hanoi beer sold in 1-liter and 2-liter stainless steel containers is truly delicious, you can't find it in supermarkets. So, we often settle for the canned version, even though it's not quite the same.

If you're buying Hanoi beer, always look for the HABECO mark to ensure authenticity!

Annam Gourmet Masteri

📍 Annam Gourmet
16-18 Hai Bà Trưng, Sài Gòn, Hồ Chí Minh 70000 베트남

Annam Gourmet is a popular spot for expats and locals alike, known for its extensive selection of imported ingredients.

The Masteri T5 building, right in front of Vincom Mall, is incredibly convenient – it houses a MiniStop, Annam Gourmet, K-Market, and a pharmacy, all in one place!

I'm always on the lookout for a good deal, so I only buy sale items at Annam Gourmet!

Half Roasted Chicken: Originally 103,752VND, snagged for 35,000VND!

This is going to be my delicious lunch tomorrow!

Dalat Strawberry Milk 180ml: Originally 13,000VND, down to 2,000VND (approximately ~$0)!

A strawberry milk for practically nothing! Yongbam gulped it down in about five seconds flat.

Lindt Chocolate (Sea Salt, Mint): Originally 199,000VND, on sale for 139,300VND (approximately ~$5) each. I bought two!

Even with a 30% discount, Lindt chocolate is still a bit pricey, but for my chocolate-loving husband, it's worth it. It's made with real cocoa mass and cocoa butter, without vegetable oils – that's why we splurge!

Digestive Light Biscuits: Originally 62,000VND, on sale for 43,400VND (approximately ~$2).

My husband, Choi Yongbam, is a Digestive biscuit connoisseur, so he picked these out. They pair perfectly with milk!

Mr. DIY Vincom Thao Dien

📍 MR.DIY
Th?o ?i?n, 161 Võ Nguyên Giáp, Th? ??c, An Khánh, Hồ Chí Minh 71107 베트남

Mini Saw: 41,000VND (approximately ~$2).

My husband has developed a new hobby: cracking open coconuts! He even went as far as buying a saw for it...

And I couldn't resist this adorable dinosaur sticker for 15,000VND (approximately ~$1).

I told him it was for my laptop camera, but deep down, I know it's for my diary decorating!

It's a constant dilemma for me: stocking up the fridge makes my heart full, but then I miss out on trying Ho Chi Minh City's fantastic restaurants. The life of a local housewife!

But shopping is always fun, and I definitely plan to share more of my Vietnamese grocery hauls regularly.