Top 6 Markets in Saigon

Ho Chi Minh City is a “must” destination for shopping enthusiasts! Here at local markets you can buy literally everything – from handicraft souvenirs to fake world luxury brands. How not to get lost in such a variety of goods, what are the largest markets of the city and where to go firstly – read in our guide to markets in Saigon! HCMC & Mekong delta 4 days

Ben Thanh Market
Ben Thanh is the largest market in Ho Chi Minh City and is one of the symbols of the city: locals visit the market to buy goods for everyday life and personal use, while tourists are usually searching for local handicrafts, textiles, souvenirs and local cuisine. This is a place where you can buy EVERYTHING. It is loud, lively and it never sleeps. Ben Thanh Market is open even during the night and welcomes its visitors with a big choice of goods and great atmosphere. AMALOTUS CRUISE
Address: Lê Lợi, Bến Thành, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Open: Daily 6 am – 7 pm. The Night market is open till 12 am.

Top 6 Markets in Saigon

Binh Tay Market
Binh Tay is another central market in Ho Chi Minh City. It is located at the place where years ago “The Old Market” existed. It was destroyed by fire and some time after, “The New Market” was built. It is not so famous among tourists as Benh Thanh market, so the prices here are much lower. But it doesn’t mean that the choice of goods is smaller as well! Here you will still find everything you may potentially want to buy! Pelican Cruise
Address: 57 Tháp Mười, 2, Quận 6, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Open: Daily 6 am – 7 pm.

Dan Sinh Market (Yersin Market)
It is also known as War Surplus Market. The market sells genuine and authentic surplus of Vietnam War. The price for one item starts at $5. Here you can buy war memories from both, Vietnamese and American sides. As experts say, 99% of everything what is sold here are copies and reproductions. However, these items don’t lose their value and still remain important historic relics.
Address: 104 Ð Yersin, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Open: Daily 7 am – 6 pm

Cai Be Floating Market
Outstanding Cai Be market is not only a destination for shopping, but also an important place for those who want to see and understand Vietnamese culture and everyday life. It is located not exactly in Ho Chi Minh City and you will need approximately 1.5 hours to get there. But it definitely worth your time! It is located in the Mekong Delta and people are exchanging goods, fruits, vegetables and many other commodities on their vessels. Many companies organize full-day tours from Ho Chi Minh City. This is a chance and experience you can’t miss in Vietnam!
Address: Vinh Long, Vietnam
Open: Daily 5 am – 11 pm

Russian Market
The market’s name speaks for itself, so obviously, it is focused on visitors from Russia. This is the largest stock of discounted winter gear in Ho Chi Minh City. But actually you can buy here not only winter outfit, it also sells ski clothing, sportswear, casualwear, shoes, accessories, souvenirs, etc. The market is new, it was re-established in 2012.
Address: 328 Vo Van Kiet, District 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Open: Daily 6 am – 7 pm

Flower Market
After a long shopping day in Ho Chi Minh City, visit a Flower Market and make a surprise for your dear one – a bouquet of beautiful flowers, which are exotic, colourful and absolutely adorable here! You can always have a short walk through along the narrow flower-lined alleys, and for sure it will be a pleasure itself! The market is open since early morning and usually the flowers are the freshest in the beginning of the day.
Address: Ho Thi Ky, District 10, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Open: Daily 5 am – 9 pm

Ma Pi Leng Pass Ha Giang Vietnam

Ma Pi Leng Pass belongs to Ha Giang province; it is dangerous road with 20 kilometers length. Over the Ma Pi Leng, there has a mountain with 2.000 meters height located on the 'Happiness' road connecting Ha Giang, Dong Van and Meo Vac town. Ma Pi Leng began building from the 60s of the 20th century by workers who almost are the H'mong.Classic North Package 7 days

The path length is approximately 200 kilometers. Ma Pi Leng Pass is located in the Dong Van Geoparks which is recognized as the global geoparks. The road along the mountainside has romantic, spectacular scenery that is ideal destination for tourists.

Ma Pi Leng Pass is not long but it is the most dangerous pass in the northern border mountain area. It is considered as the “King” of the Vietnam’s pass or Great Wall of Vietnam or the Pyramid of the Meo. At the top of Ma Pi Leng mount is the “happiness” road, there has a stone stele recording the marks in the construction process. SONG XANH CRUISE

Ma Pi Leng Pass Ha Giang Vietnam

November 16th 2009, Ministry of Culture, Sport and tourism of Vietnam has decided to classify Ma Pi Leng area as scenic relic of country. It includes: Ma Pi Leng pass is considered the unique regional heritage about landscape and geomorphology; pass peak area is considered as one of the most beautiful viewpoint to enjoy the panoramic in Vietnam; alley Nho Que River is one of the most unique tectonic valley in Vietnam. There have many writers, poets visiting the grandeur pass such as Xuan Dieu, Nguyen Ngoc… and the impression inspires in their compositions.

• Alova Gold Cruise, Halong Travel

Scenery in Ma Pi Leng pass is unique with majestic and wild beauty. Looking to the north and northeast, thousands of gray mountains concatenate to the horizon. Net to the road is abyss, below is the Nho Que River with cool water

7 Things not to do in Vietnam - a Cultural Guide

Travel broadens the mind but stray outside of the local laws and customs and you’ll find yourself on the receiving end of angry locals, or worse still, getting deported or locked up in jail. Follow these etiquette and cultural hints when exploring Vietnam;

Don’t blog in Vietnam – If you thought blogging about government affairs in Vietnam is cool, you better think again. Unlike most countries where you are free to blog about the government, in Vietnam, you certainly aren’t. Whether what you were blogging about was sensitive or not, it’d be ten times better to just use that keyboard to type about the weather in Vietnam. Talk about anything like corruption in the government or even the Vietnam War and you’ll either be deported, or you’ll be thinking about freedom behind steel bars. Blogging, in Vietnam, should be about your personal experiences. Blogging about the government is a no-go-zone. Vietnam travel

Keep your leisure time healthy – Despite having the freedom to blog about your personal experiences, you should know that anything that depicts pornography is highly illegal. Prostitution also happens to be illegal. If you’re the kind of person that loves going to bars and nightclubs, flirting with a couple of women and then taking them back to your crib, this isn’t the place for you. Even sharing a room with a Vietnamese of the opposite sex is wrong and co-habiting is completely a no-go option. Though this law is nowadays not so strict about this, you can never be too sure when things might get serious. Calypso Cruise

As with all destinations, it’s important to practice common sense and these tips are here to assist. Regular readers of our blog know that we adore Vietnam as a travel destination and have indeed produced many posts on the subject; My Hanoi Travel Experience: My Favourite Destination in the World, What to do in Ho Chi Minh City, 5 Weird and wonderful hotels in Vietnam and many more.

Women’s dress in Vietnam – For women, the laws are even stricter then for a man. You can’t wear revealing clothing anywhere in Vietnam apart from your own bedroom. Foreigners aren’t excluded from this law and there are some who have been called rude names for wearing sexy, revealing or low cut clothing whilst out and about. Reveal less and you might just survive in Vietnam. Showing off your bust and letting the men see how attractive your legs are will do you no good. Instead, you might end up spending the night in a cell, or you might even be on your way back to your home country. DAY TRIP CRUISE

7 Things not to do in Vietnam - a Cultural Guide

Don’t attempt to drive when in Vietnam – Your driver’s license is as good as useless in Vietnam. Having an International Driver’s License makes no difference either. However good you are at driving, you also can’t be issued with a VN driver’s license. Only a Vietnamese can obtain a driver’s license. So, kindly don’t bother driving in Vietnam if you can’t prove that you are Vietnamese. And with the roads choc-a-block 24/7 it’s no great loss to forgo driving for the duration of your holiday.

Update; whilst you can’t use your own drivers licence in Vietnam you can apply for a Vietnamese licence should you wish to, for example if you plan a lengthy stay and is required by law to drive a car or motorcycle in Vietnam. Visitors can apply via the Hanoi Department of Public Works and Transportation and the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Public Works and Transportation, contact details can be found on the FCO Official site.


Stay safe in Vietnam – Also, the police in Vietnam aren’t interested in cases such as your bag was stolen or you got ripped off by a merchant. These cases, in the eyes of the police, aren’t crimes. They are regarded as civil matters of dispute. So, it’d be a good idea to always watch out for conmen, distraction thieves and pickpockets. They can lurk anywhere since stealing your property wouldn’t end up being a police matter. If you do lose something, hire a private investigator or someone of the sort. After that, hope that he/she isn’t a con as well. If he/she is, leave the police out of it. Always check the latest official safety and travel advice prior to travel.

Camera action – Despite criminal deception not being a major issue to the police, your camera might turn out to be a big issue. Restrain from taking pictures of military installations. All you’ll be really looking for is an unexpected arrest in which you’ll be taking pictures of your life in prison.

Drugs in Vietnam – Finally, transportation of illegal drugs is among the most offensive crimes in Vietnam. The maximum penalty for this crime is death. Though you might catch a glimpse of one or two people smoking marijuana in the streets, don’t ever be fooled into doing the same.