Ho Chi Minh City does not have the same shopping allure as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok, though one might still find the stores of Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada and other branded goods, and these are the genuine articles. These stores are attached to the few exclusive hotels in Ho Chi Minh City. However these items are much more expensive and in limited number. It is quite suprising to see this as the average monthly salary of a Vietnamese is USD100, so one could say that the branded items are targeted more towards the million tourists that visit Ho Chi Minh City annually.
For a non-branded goods shoppper like me, the more interesting place to shop was the Ben Thanh Market, which is located almost at the centre of Ho Chi Minh City. Its unmistakenable clock tower at the entrance never fails to draw both the shoppers and the curious into its massive belly of stalls, tho you could probably fit another five Ben Thanh Markets into the Weekend Market in Bangkok. Unlike the Bangkok Weekend Market where one would have to spend the whole weekend to cover it completely, Ben Thanh Market can be covered in half a day, which is for the better because of the heat and the humidity that seem to overpower any visitors who are not used to the weather there. One could find almost anything in the market, be it souvenirs, textiles, pans and pots, food, jewellery, the famous Vietnamese coffee, meat, faked 'branded' goods and various articles from the Vietnam-American War, though one have to be aware of their authenticity. The stalls that sell similar items are grouped together, so if you are looking to buy something, it would be easy to shop around and scout for its price before deciding on its final price. Bargaining is almost welcomed here and we had different degree of success in bargaining. Compared to my travelling companions, I was more bold with my bargaining, perhaps one of the things that I inherit from my father! The alleys in the market are quite narrow and often congested, so take extra care with your valuables, though it was said that Ho Chi Minh City is quite safe and locals could be severely punished if they are found to have hurt a tourist. However, it remains a good common sense to keep watch on your valuables as pickpocketing and snatch thefts are common. Also keep an eye on those beggars who are seemed to believe that it is good to persevere in order to get positive result. At one point, this woman and a baby in her cradle followed us for a good five minutes before we had to weave through the many alleys, just to shake them off. At one point, I had to ask one of the stall owners to ask them to leave. Another thing to remember is safety. Get familiar with the fire exits, as I could not imagine the disaster that could happen if fire breaks out and the plentiful amount of fire-friendly items and the narrow alleys that could hamper safe exit from the market.
Lacquerware items are one of the famous products in Vietnam and you could find them everywhere in the market. So are Vietnamese coffee, which is an acquired taste for those who are not used to the 'Asian'-type of coffee.
One piece of advice though. If you are not used to seeing pig's parts strewn on the table and the strong smell that these parts produce, you would better bring some sweets. 'Membari kambang liur!"
For a non-branded goods shoppper like me, the more interesting place to shop was the Ben Thanh Market, which is located almost at the centre of Ho Chi Minh City. Its unmistakenable clock tower at the entrance never fails to draw both the shoppers and the curious into its massive belly of stalls, tho you could probably fit another five Ben Thanh Markets into the Weekend Market in Bangkok. Unlike the Bangkok Weekend Market where one would have to spend the whole weekend to cover it completely, Ben Thanh Market can be covered in half a day, which is for the better because of the heat and the humidity that seem to overpower any visitors who are not used to the weather there. One could find almost anything in the market, be it souvenirs, textiles, pans and pots, food, jewellery, the famous Vietnamese coffee, meat, faked 'branded' goods and various articles from the Vietnam-American War, though one have to be aware of their authenticity. The stalls that sell similar items are grouped together, so if you are looking to buy something, it would be easy to shop around and scout for its price before deciding on its final price. Bargaining is almost welcomed here and we had different degree of success in bargaining. Compared to my travelling companions, I was more bold with my bargaining, perhaps one of the things that I inherit from my father! The alleys in the market are quite narrow and often congested, so take extra care with your valuables, though it was said that Ho Chi Minh City is quite safe and locals could be severely punished if they are found to have hurt a tourist. However, it remains a good common sense to keep watch on your valuables as pickpocketing and snatch thefts are common. Also keep an eye on those beggars who are seemed to believe that it is good to persevere in order to get positive result. At one point, this woman and a baby in her cradle followed us for a good five minutes before we had to weave through the many alleys, just to shake them off. At one point, I had to ask one of the stall owners to ask them to leave. Another thing to remember is safety. Get familiar with the fire exits, as I could not imagine the disaster that could happen if fire breaks out and the plentiful amount of fire-friendly items and the narrow alleys that could hamper safe exit from the market.
Lacquerware items are one of the famous products in Vietnam and you could find them everywhere in the market. So are Vietnamese coffee, which is an acquired taste for those who are not used to the 'Asian'-type of coffee.
One piece of advice though. If you are not used to seeing pig's parts strewn on the table and the strong smell that these parts produce, you would better bring some sweets. 'Membari kambang liur!"
Shoes are everywhere!
Ah, kain! But I think they are still cheaper at Nazmi's!
Homeware and food are plentiful.
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