Ho Chi Minh Shopping 2026: Ben Thanh vs. Saigon Square Revealed
Ready for Ho Chi Minh City shopping? This 2026 guide compares Ben Thanh Market and Saigon Square. Discover where to find authentic treasures and the best deals from my 3-day experience.
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Ready for Ho Chi Minh City shopping? This 2026 guide compares Ben Thanh Market and Saigon Square. Discover where to find authentic treasures and the best deals from my 3-day experience.
Ho Chi Minh in October,
Diving into a Shopping Paradise
Hello, everyone!
I'm Susukkottari, your travel blogger.
From October 17th to 19th, for three days,
I stayed in Ho Chi Minh. And for all three days,
I went shopping at the markets.
You can't deny that one of the great joys of a Vietnam trip
is the shopping, right?
With a mix of anticipation and excitement, I'm going to share my experience
exploring Ho Chi Minh's two shopping titans, Ben Thanh Market and
Saigon Square, until my feet ached.
To cut straight to the chase, these two places
were completely different worlds.
There's a reason why I only visited Ben Thanh Market once during my three days,
while I went to Saigon Square every single day.
And now, I'm going to honestly explain why.
Ben Thanh Market
On October 17th, we departed from Mui Ne and
arrived in Ho Chi Minh. After checking into our accommodation,
we headed to Ben Thanh Market.
As the quintessential shopping spot in Ho Chi Minh, a traditional market that has been around since 1912,
my expectations were high. And a photo with the clock tower is an absolute must-do!
Ben Thanh Market is right in front of the subway station, I discovered.
We had lunch at a delicious Com Tam restaurant
and then took a Grab to get there.
And there it was, the famous clock tower.
The moment I stepped into the market, shops selling bags, clothes,
shoes, and so much more were lined up.
From the shops packed tightly on both sides,
vendors were gesturing and calling out to customers.
Perhaps because there's no air conditioning, a humid heat
enveloped me. Shopping at Han Market in Da Nang was also tough
because of the intense heat, and Ben Thanh Market was no different.
But surprisingly, there weren't that many people.
At Han Market, it was genuinely hard to take a single step
forward...
A little while later, I found out why.
The initial prices they quoted were ridiculously
high. The advice to always haggle down by 50%
at Ben Thanh was absolutely true. Markets in other regions of Vietnam
were more about haggling for fun, but Ben Thanh Market was different.
Bags, shoes, souvenirs... I walked around, browsing
various shops, but honestly, it wasn't as appealing
as I had hoped.
The quality of the items varied wildly, and the prices were
just ridiculously inflated.
In the end, all I really got was a proof shot
taken at the clock tower.
At a shop outside the main market, my friend bought Lululemon
leggings and a t-shirt for about ~$3 each.
In the square, there were so many people taking photos
with the Ben Thanh Market clock tower in the background.
Definitely a popular spot!
Saigon Square
Since I couldn't buy anything at Ben Thanh Market, I
pinned my hopes on Saigon Square.
It's about a 7-minute walk
from Ben Thanh Market to Saigon Square.
Ho Chi Minh is definitely hotter than Mui Ne.
So, we decided to cool off first by exploring
Takashimaya Department Store, which is right across from Saigon Square.
The department store had a Halloween vibe~~
It was so cool and refreshing, I felt like I could live there!
But then... Saigon Square had air conditioning too!!
The moment I stepped inside, it was a completely different atmosphere
from Ben Thanh Market.
The air conditioning was on, making it cool and refreshing,
and the aisles were clean.
It was packed with shops selling fashion accessories like clothes, bags, shoes, sunglasses, and watches. Although smaller than Ben Thanh Market,
I actually preferred that. It was the perfect size to browse
without feeling overwhelmed.
I went there all 3 days 😄😄😄
I mean, what was I even going to buy so much of, haha!
Most of the vendors at Saigon Square
speak simple Korean phrases for bargaining.
Otherwise, they'll just show you the price on a calculator.
Communication isn't difficult at all.
"How much is this T-shirt?"
"500,000 VND!"
If you say it's too expensive, they'll immediately drop it to 400,000 VND.
If you still turn away, saying you won't buy it,
they'll lower the price again to 350,000 VND~
If they don't try to stop you further, that's likely the lowest price they'll offer.
.
On the 18th, I went on a Mekong Delta tour,
but then I went back to buy another T-shirt I'd bought the day before.
It was so pretty, I wanted to get one for my husband too. Shops usually close around 8 PM.
I arrived around 7:40 PM and quickly found the shop where I'd bought the T-shirt,
and there were some Indian men still bargaining.
The saleslady looked completely exhausted from how much they were pushing for a deal~
I managed to bargain it down even more than the price I paid yesterday.
She just nodded weakly in agreement~
It seems bargaining is a bit easier at Saigon Square if you go before closing time.
A unique Vietnamese cultural sight~ they emptied one of the shops to create an altar.
Wherever you go, there's a space dedicated to Buddha,
and every taxi has a Buddha statue~
A summary of my 3-day experience:
Ben Thanh Market vs. Saigon Square
📍 Ben Thanh Market
✅️Pros
✔️ Wide variety of items: clothes, souvenirs, food, fruits, etc.
✔️ Experience Ho Chi Minh's traditional market atmosphere
✔️ Value as a tourist attraction
✅️Cons
✔️ No air conditioning, so it's hot and humid
✔️ Overpriced (always start by bargaining down at least 50%)
✔️ Prices for the same item vary greatly from shop to shop
✅️Recommended for
✔️ Those who want to experience the traditional market atmosphere of Ho Chi Minh
✔️ Those who enjoy the art of bargaining
✔️ Those who want to buy food or fruits as well
📍Saigon Square
✅️Pros
✔️ Comfortable shopping environment with air conditioning
✔️ Efficient shopping, focusing mainly on fashion accessories
✔️ Bargaining is much easier towards closing time
✔️ Can buy things cheaper than at Ben Thanh Market
✅️Cons
✔️ Doesn't sell food or fruits
✔️ Smaller in scale than Ben Thanh Market
✅️Recommended for
✔️ Those who want to shop in a cool and comfortable environment
✔️ Those looking specifically for fashion items like clothes and bags
✔️ Those who want efficient shopping for their time
Wrapping Up
The prices at Ho Chi Minh's Ben Thanh Market and Saigon Square were a bit higher
than at Han Market in Da Nang or Dam Market in Nha Trang.
The quality was either similar or slightly better~
Since the Vietnamese Dong has such large denominations, I bargained hard,
but then realized I'd only saved around ~$0 to ~$1.
It can feel a bit futile, but that's part of the fun, right?
I wore a T-shirt I bought at Saigon Square in Ho Chi Minh to IFC Mall in Yeouido,
and snapped a mirror selfie~~
I bought it for about ~$14, and the stitching and inner finishing are so well done,
I'm completely satisfied and love wearing it~
Next time I visit Ho Chi Minh? I won't go to Ben Thanh Market;
I'll only go to Saigon Square.
If you're planning a shopping trip in Ho Chi Minh, I hope this post helps you.
Bargain well and snag all the treasures you desire!
📍 Ben Thanh Market
Ben Thanh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
📍 Saigon Square
77-89 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
#HoChiMinhTravel #HoChiMinhShopping #BenThanhMarket #SaigonSquare #VietnamShopping
#VietnamTravel #HoChiMinhMustVisit
#ShoppingTips #BargainingGuide
#VietnamAdventure #HoChiMinhCityMarket
The article advises always starting by bargaining down at least 50% because the initial prices at Ben Thanh Market are very high. Unlike other regional markets in Vietnam, severe overcharging is common, making bargaining essential.
Ben Thanh Market is hot and humid as it lacks air conditioning, whereas Saigon Square offers a comfortable shopping environment with air conditioning. Additionally, while Ben Thanh Market handles a wide range of items, overcharging is severe. Saigon Square, on the other hand, focuses on fashion accessories and bargaining is relatively easier.
The author purchased a T-shirt at Saigon Square for approximately ~$14. They were very satisfied with the excellent stitching and interior finishing, mentioning that they enjoy wearing it even to places like Yeouido IFC Mall.
Saigon Square closes around 8 PM. The article mentions that bargaining seems to be easier if you visit before closing time, and the author also had an experience of purchasing a T-shirt at a lower price close to closing.
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