Mega Market Ho Chi Minh Review: Expat Grocery Guide 2026

Living in Ho Chi Minh City as an expat means making a weekly grocery run to my favorite local spots: MR.DIY, WinMart, and Mega Market. Here is a look at what went into my shopping cart this week!

This is my weekly shopping diary and consumption record.

First up, let's head to Mega Market in the An Phu neighborhood.

We do not have a Costco here in Vietnam, but I was pleasantly surprised to find Kirkland Signature Microwave Popcorn on the shelves at Mega Market!

The box was incredibly heavy, which caught me off guard.

Here is a fascinating find: traditional Vietnamese smoked kitchen-shelf snails (Ốc Lác Gác Bếp). A 500g basket is on sale for ~$3.90, down from the regular price of ~$5.10.

"Ốc Lác" is a type of large freshwater apple snail, and "Gác Bếp" literally translates to "placed on the kitchen shelf."

This is a traditional preservation method from the Mekong Delta. Live snails are thoroughly washed, placed in bamboo baskets, and hung above traditional wood-burning stoves in rural kitchens for several months.

During this time, the snails seal their shells and go into a state of hibernation, surviving the smoke and heat. This process expels all mud and impurities from inside the snails, making their meat incredibly sweet and chewy.

To prepare them, you soak the dormant snails in a mixture of milk or rice water with egg yolks for a few hours. The hungry snails wake up and drink the nutrient-rich liquid, plumping up instantly!

After that, you steam them with lemongrass and chili or grill them. They have absolutely no fishy odor and make a wonderfully savory local delicacy.

Locals love them as a premium beer snack. I will definitely have to buy a basket and try cooking them myself next time!

Next, I picked up some chicken, which is incredibly cheap here—almost the price of a standard cup of coffee!

I remember buying this exact chicken to make a spicy chicken stew when I first arrived in Vietnam two months ago. Time really flies!

The brand is "Le Boucher," which means "the butcher" in French.

I initially thought it was imported French chicken, but it turns out it is a local Vietnamese brand utilizing French-style branding and marketing.

Chopped chicken for stews: ~$2.00 to ~$2.10. Chicken drumsticks or thighs: ~$2.20 per pack. Boneless chicken breast or tenderloin: ~$3.60. Chicken wings: ~$1.70.

Fresh melons are priced at around ~$1.60 per kilogram. I need to grab one of these next time as well.

De Cecco pasta was on sale for ~$2.40.

Last time, I bought some spaghetti that unfortunately had pantry bugs in it, so I returned it and decided to try a different pasta shape this time.

Vietnam is a paradise for spicy food lovers who enjoy fresh chilies.

I asked the staff which ones were the spiciest and ended up buying these small, fiery bird's eye chilies.

I bought this unique fruit out of curiosity. The label promised a flavor profile that tastes like a cross between a cherry and a plum!

I initially thought these were salad greens, but the staff explained that they are meant to be blanched and seasoned like spinach.

Mega Market always has fantastic deals on fresh tropical fruits!

Maybe I will try some Barilla pasta shapes for my next Italian night.

We usually avoid drinking alcohol on weekdays. Whenever we crave a refreshing fizzy drink, we buy soda water and squeeze fresh lime juice into it.

Schweppes is a Swiss brand, but because it is produced and distributed locally by Coca-Cola Vietnam, it is incredibly cheap and easy to find here.

Here is my full haul from Mega Market, including some wine, olive oil, and plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. I am looking forward to cooking some delicious meals this week!