Ho Chi Minh City markets and malls: what to buy where and how to avoid fakes
Shopping in Ho Chi Minh City: Ben Thanh market, Saigon Square, Tan Dinh and Binh Tay in Cho Lon, and the Vincom, Takashimaya and Diamond Plaza malls. Opening hours, what each sells, the 2026 crackdown on fakes and VAT refunds at the airport.
Short answer: visitors go to Ben Thanh market for souvenirs and food, to Saigon Square for cheap clothes and bags, and to the Vincom Center, Takashimaya and Diamond Plaza malls for brands. They are all in the former District 1, 5–15 minutes' walk apart. At the markets you bargain and pay cash; the malls have fixed prices and take cards. For wholesale and a real local market, head to Binh Tay in Cho Lon.
| Place | Where | What to buy | How to pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Thanh market | Le Loi street, Ben Thanh ward | souvenirs, coffee, sweets, food | cash, bargaining |
| Saigon Square | 77–89 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia | clothes, bags, shoes, accessories | cash, bargaining |
| Tan Dinh market | 314–336 Hai Ba Trung | locals' market: groceries, everyday goods | cash |
| Binh Tay market (Cho Lon) | 57A Thap Muoi, Binh Tay ward | wholesale, spices, dried fruit, kitchenware | cash |
| Vincom Center Dong Khoi | 72 Le Thanh Ton | brands, supermarket, food court | card, fixed prices |
| Saigon Centre and Takashimaya | 92–94 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia | department store, brands, Japanese food | card, fixed prices |
| Diamond Plaza | 34 Le Duan | brands, next to the cathedral and post office | card, fixed prices |
Markets and shopping centres: addresses and contacts Open in Telegram
What to buy at Ben Thanh market?
At Ben Thanh market visitors buy souvenirs, Vietnamese coffee, sweets and dried fruit, and the food stalls are good for lunch. The market is on Le Loi street in Ben Thanh ward, next to the Ben Thanh terminus of the metro. Prices are pitched at tourists: even travel sites say Ben Thanh is not where you get a good deal (vietnamtourism.com, 16 October 2026). Come to look around and pick up a few things, and do the big shopping in a mall or supermarket.
How do I avoid overpaying at Ben Thanh market?
At Ben Thanh market, ask the price before you pick anything up and look for a price tag. The authorities penalise pushy selling and missing price tags: in August 2023 a stall that asked several times the usual price for three pairs of socks was shut for 7 days and told its licence could be revoked if it happened again (Phap Luat TP.HCM, 22 August 2023). If you are quoted several times what the neighbours charge, just walk on — the next row sells the same thing.
What does Saigon Square sell?
Saigon Square at 77–89 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia is an air-conditioned indoor market: clothes, bags, shoes, accessories and souvenirs, with prices open to bargaining (vietnamtourism.com, 16 October 2026). Payment is mostly in cash dong; only a few stalls take cards. Plan to go between 10:00 and 17:00; sources disagree on when the stalls open. Bargain calmly and be ready to walk away.
Can I buy designer goods at the market?
At Ben Thanh market and Saigon Square a branded item is almost certainly fake, and the city is seizing them. In May 2026 Ho Chi Minh City announced constant raids at both markets, including at weekends and on holidays: inspectors found 71 violations at the two markets and seized 1,574 fake branded items, and traders are signing pledges not to sell fakes (Viet Nam News, 26 May 2026). After a large inspection in 2025, dozens of Saigon Square stalls stayed shut for several days (vietnamtourism.com, 16 October 2026). Genuine brands are sold in the malls.
What are the opening hours of Ho Chi Minh City malls?
Malls in central Ho Chi Minh City open at 9:30 and close at 21:30–22:00. Vincom Center Dong Khoi (72 Le Thanh Ton, second entrance at 45A Ly Tu Trong) and Diamond Plaza (34 Le Duan) are open 9:30–22:00, according to their official websites. The Takashimaya department store in Saigon Centre is open 9:30–21:30 Monday to Thursday and until 22:00 Friday to Sunday and on holidays, phone 028 3821 1819 (takashimaya-vn.com). Prices are fixed, cards are accepted, and the food courts are a cool escape from the heat.
What is there to see in Cho Lon and Binh Tay market?
Binh Tay market is the largest market in Cho Lon, Ho Chi Minh City's old Chinatown, at 57A Thap Muoi, Binh Tay ward (Wikipedia). It is mainly a wholesale market: spices, dried fruit, tea and kitchenware. Trading starts very early, so for retail shopping come in the morning, before lunch. It is far from the centre, in the former District 6: take Grab or a taxi, as the metro does not go there.
How is Tan Dinh market different from Ben Thanh?
Tan Dinh market on Hai Ba Trung street is where people living in the centre do their own shopping, and there are fewer tourists. It is one of the city's oldest markets: in May 2026, for the 50th anniversary of the city's renaming, a 45-metre mural called "Tan Dinh Market — heritage of the city" was painted on its shutters, and the street stalls in front were cleared (Tuoi Tre, 10 May 2026). The pink Tan Dinh church is next door, so you can see both together.
Can I get a VAT refund on purchases in Ho Chi Minh City?
Yes: foreigners can get VAT back on goods they take out of the country by air or sea. The current rules are in Finance Ministry Circular 84/2026/TT-BTC: buy from a shop connected to the tax refund system, using your passport, and the seller issues a combined invoice and refund form. You show the goods and the invoice to customs at an international airport no later than 30 minutes before departure, and a bank acting as refund agent pays you (Bao Lao Cai, 9 July 2026). Ask about a VAT refund before you pay: markets and small stalls do not offer it.
FAQ
Where can I buy souvenirs in Ho Chi Minh City? At Ben Thanh market and Saigon Square, with bargaining and in cash. Coffee, sweets and tea without haggling are in the mall supermarkets.
What time does Vincom Center open? Vincom Center Dong Khoi at 72 Le Thanh Ton is open 9:30–22:00.
Does Ben Thanh market sell fakes? Branded goods there are almost certainly fake. Since May 2026 the city has been running constant raids and seizing fakes at Ben Thanh and Saigon Square.
Do I need to bargain at Ho Chi Minh City markets? Yes, prices for tourists are inflated at Ben Thanh and Saigon Square. Malls have fixed prices.
Can I pay by card at the market? Mostly not: markets take cash dong and only a few stalls accept cards. Malls take cards everywhere.
Where is the wholesale market in Ho Chi Minh City? Binh Tay market in Cho Lon, 57A Thap Muoi. Go in the morning.
How do I claim a VAT refund at the airport? Buy from a shop connected to the refund system using your passport, and show the goods to customs no later than 30 minutes before departure. A bank refund agent pays you.