Saigon shop guide - A-Z of Ho Chi Minh City shopping
Traditional dresses in a Saigon tailor's shop
Though it’s Saigon’s history that attracts most visitors to the city, once they are here many get distracted by the range of colourful products on display and spend much of their time browsing the markets and boutiques for bargains. Some of the most popular items are silk dresses, contemporary paintings, original jewellery, gleaming ceramics, ethnic fabrics and lacquerware.
You don’t have to worry if the schedule for your days is full, as most shopping malls and boutiques stay open until late at night, especially in tourist areas. It’s also more comfortable to shop outside the hottest hours of the day. For the first-timer, the city can be something of a maze in which you can get easily lost, so here are a few tips on what items to look for and where you might find them.
Accessories in Saigon
Fashion accessories are in big demand by the youth of Ho Chi Minh City, so you’ll see displays everywhere you go – in markets, malls and boutiques. As well as cheap earrings, bracelets and phone covers, you’ll see stylish bags and scarves in the classy boutiques along Dong Khoi. For bargains, check out An Dong Plaza in District 5.
Art in Saigon
One thing visitors to Vietnam realise pretty quickly is that the locals all have an artistic bent and enjoy singing, playing instruments, painting or sculpting in their spare time. Some even make a living out of it, and in galleries like Apricot Gallery at 52-54 Mac Thi Buoi you can see work by new talent on display at sky-high prices. If you’re not an art collector, you might prefer to stick to the cheap reproductions of famous paintings on sale all over the city. Check out Nam Phuong at 105 Bui Ven to see the huge range of subjects covered.
Antiques in Saigon
There are few genuine antiques on sale in Saigon, and if you buy any you’ll need a certificate of authentication from the dealer. Our advice is, if you’re not an antiques expert then don’t bother looking, but if you’re curious to see what’s on offer, check out Nguyen Freres at 2 Dong Khoi.
Books in Saigon
Finding decent, recently-published books in English in Ho Chi Minh City, or indeed anywhere in Vietnam, is almost impossible because of the ‘copycat’ industry. Though bookshops sell little of interest, you will find street vendors, usually with a metre-high stack of guide books and Vietnam-related literature propped on their hip, trawling the cafes of the budget district in search of customers. You’ll also find they quote amazingly cheap prices, quite simply because these are photocopies rather than originals.
Electronics in Saigon
Modern travellers are switched-on people, and most people carry a phone, camera, computer an i-Pod around with them on their travels. Fortunately, Saigon is well-stocked with up-to-date products, many at prices cheaper than in the West. The shopping malls are the place to go if you need some extra memory for your camera or a look at the latest gadgetry.
Luggage in Saigon
If you go mad while shopping, you may find that you don’t have enough room to pack all your purchases. Not to worry – Vietnam is a major producer of suitcases and backpacks, so you’ll find a good selection on display at prices that are a fraction of what you’d pay back home.
Just be sure you’ve got the genuine article, rather than a good copy, which might fall apart before you get home. The Thuong Xa Tax shopping mall and An Dong Plaza are good places to hunt for a bargain.
Gems and jewellery in Saigon
As with antiques, you need to know your stuff when it comes to buying gems and jewellery, or you might get taken for a ride. However, there are some beautiful pieces in very Vietnamese designs in places like Parkson’s Mall and the boutiques along Dong Khoi that make wonderful gifts if you can afford them.
Sewed silk thread art
Handicrafts in Saigon
Traditional Vietnamese handicrafts include ceramics, lacquerware, woodcarvings, embroidered purses, artwork and musical instruments. There are plenty of shops in the budget district (around De Tham) that sell such items at very affordable prices, so buying presents for friends and family should be no problem. More on handicrafts.
Silk in Saigon
Either sold by the metre or ready-made into garments, silk is one of the most popular purchases for visitors to Saigon. The ao dai is a flattering combination of tunic and long pants that looks typically Vietnamese and is frequently made of thin silk. In Ben Thanh market, you can select a cut of cloth that appeals, then get measured and pick up your new ao dai the next day. Depending on the cloth you choose, expect to pay US$30-50.
