10 Best Vietnam Local Markets to Visit

When you take a tour of Vietnam, those popular tourist attractions may show you the country's best landscape and history. But to truly experience its culture, you need to go somewhere more authentic. Vietnam's markets are perfect for getting a close-up look at locals' daily lives and connecting with their culture. Here's a list of the 10 best local markets in Vietnam to visit.

Ben Thanh Market, HCMC

Ben Thanh Market

This is one of the most symbolic and historic Vietnam markets. As early as 1914, the Ben Thanh Market has been open, and the market has changed a lot over the years, but the most sincere smile of the local vendors has remained with the passage of time.

At the Ben Thanh market, you can buy almost anything, whether clothes, shoes or electronics, household items, art, souvenirs, or gourmet food, and there is always something to satisfy the curiosity of visitors. The products are made in Vietnam for export or high-quality imported items.

There are four main gates in the market. The south gates are where dried foods are sold at here. North gates where the flowers and fruits are sold. East gate welcomes people to buy candies, cakes and cosmetics. West gates is where visitors can buy some souvenirs, such as handicrafts, clothes and shoes.

Moreover, there are many food stalls in the market, you can taste the Vietnamese foods, such as Pho Noodle soup, Broken Rice and etc. It's usually quieter and much less crowded earlier in the day. The market will close around 6 p.m. and the night markets at the East, West and North gates will open.

Location: Đ. Lê LợI, Phường Bến Thành, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Business Hours: Daily, 6:00 AM-10:00 PM

Cai Rang Floating Market, Can Tho

When people talk about floating markets, Thailand usually comes to mind first. But few travelers realize that Vietnam has its own lively and authentic floating markets too. Among all the floating markets in Vietnam, the Cai Rang Floating Market in the Mekong Delta is the most worthwhile for the early wake-up.

Cai Rang has been a trading hub since the French colonial period and remains one of the three largest markets in Can Tho. What makes it fascinating is that hundreds of the shops and stalls are boats of different sizes. Each boat hangs a sample of what it sells: a bunch of bananas, a pineapple, or even a pumpkin. So, buyers can spot what they need from a distance.

You can hear the air hum with the sound of engines, splashing water, and friendly calls between vendors. Some smaller boats move around selling breakfast noodles, coffee, or cold drinks to locals and visitors.

The best way to experience Cai Rang is to take a small wooden boat from Ninh Kieu Wharf around 5 a.m. Watching the sunrise over the Mekong while drifting through this lively trading scene.

It's about a four-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City, so if time allows, I recommend spending a night in downtown Can Tho.

Location: 46 Hai Ba Trung Street, Tan An, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho

Business Hours: Monday-Sunday, All Day

Cai Rang Floating Market

Hoi An Central Market, Hoi An

There's a saying that you haven't really been to Hoi An until you've visited the Hoi An Central Market.

Right in the heart of the Ancient Town, this big yellow building with the words "Cho Hoi An" is hard to miss. Inside, it's always buzzing with energy. Inside, you'll find everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to clothes, souvenirs, and household goods.

But the highlight for me, and so for most travelers, is definitely the food court. This is where you can try Hoi An's authentic flavors: cao lau (Hoi An's signature noodles), crispy banh xeo, comforting bowls of pho, and, of course, a cup of strong Vietnamese coffee.

My tip: Skip the touristy-looking stalls and go where the locals eat. If you see a crowd of locals waiting patiently. That's usually where the best flavors are hiding!

Location: Tran Quy Cap street, Cam Chau, Hoi An, Quang Nam

Business Hours: Daily, 6:00 AM-6:00 PM

Binh Tay Market, HCMC

The Binh Tay Market is located in Chinatown, it is one of the oldest markets in Ho Chi Minh City.

Among all the Vietnam markets in Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Tay is the only one that has a garden inside. The aim of building this garden is to memorize the builder- Quach Dam, a Chinese businessman. Vendors always put flowers around the garden and burn incense sticks to appreciate Quach Dam and wish their business always success.

Most of the goods shipped from the Mekong Delta are concentrated here, you can buy Vietnamese preserves, nuts, a wide variety of fabrics and handmade goods at very low prices, and even some distinctive household items and electronics.

Behind the market, there are rows of restaurants where you can taste authentic Vietnamese food and distinctive flavors. From here, you can also visit Ho Chi Minh City's Chinatown community.

Location: 57A Thap Muoi Street, Ward 2, District 6, Ho Chi Minh City

Business Hours: Daily, 6:00 AM-7:00 PM

Ho Thi Ky Flower Market, HCMC

In Vietnam, you can find lots of plants and flowers in every household, which is closely related to what Vietnamese people love. If you are the same person who likes flowers, you can go to the Ho Thi Ky flower market for a visit.

It is like a huge garden or a flower forest. You can find all kinds of lilies, roses, orchids, daisies, lotus flowers, and so on in any corner of the market. Besides, the flower market is also full of snack bars for you to take a break.

The market will be bustling during Vietnam's traditional Lunar New Year holiday, they call it 'Tet'. At that time, some special flowers, such as dried Rosa canina buds will be sold. The most popular one could be the orchids which most Vietnamese families like.

Location: Ho Thi Ky Street, Ward 1, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City

Business Hours: Daily, 24-hour

Dong Xuan Market, Hanoi

Dong Xuan market, known as the "shopping paradise of Hanoi", is a bustling old Vietnam market known for its good quality and low prices. With stalls selling snacks, specialty fabrics, handicrafts and more, the market is crowded with locals from the early morning until the close of business at night.

Dong Xuan market has three floors with about 2,000 stores in it. When you enter the market, you will see a fountain in the middle of the ground floor. On the ground floor, visitors can buy a variety of foods, such as seafood, vegetables and meats. The back parts of the markets sell pets. If you go up to the second floor, you can buy some clothes, shoes, hats, and other souvenirs. The third floor is suitable for moms with babies, because different kinds of clothes and toys are available for newborn babies.

Dong Xuan market is combined as a day market and a night market. As we have talked about the day market. In the following section, let's have a look at the night market, it also has another name - Hanoi Night market.

Location: 15 Cau Dong Street, Dong Xuan Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Business Hours: From 6:00 AM-6:00 PM daily for Day Market

Hanoi Night Market

Similar to the day market, the night market also sells clothes, shoes and souvenirs. But for travelers, the most attractive activity is enjoying the local foods. Here, you have so many options to feed your stomach, from Vietnamese flavors to famous foods throughout the world. It might be hard for you to choose the most favorable one, so let's try some of the suggestions.

• Noodle with Grilled Meat - Bún chả que tre

The noodle with grilled meat is worth trying, the sliced pork will be marinated with lemongrass, onion, and other spices, and then the pork will be stringed by a bamboo stick. After that, it will be grilled on a charcoal fire. The cooked meat will be served with rice noodles, picked lettuce, cucumber, coriander, and fish sauce.

• Beef Jerky and Green Papaya Salad (Gỏi xoài khô bò)

This dish is very famous in the market. It is made of spicy dried beef, then mix with green papaya, roasted peanuts, mint, and coriander. The most important ingredients will be a unique sauce, which consists of fish sauce, lemon juice, and chili. This will add a lot of flavor to the food. Such a salad bowl will whet your appetite on a hot day.

Location: 15 Cau Dong Street, Dong Xuan Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Business Hours: 6:00 PM, till midnight on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday

Dam Market, Nha Trang

Nha Trang doesn't have the malls and upscale shopping malls of Ho Chi Minh. As for local people buying fashionable clothes and daily necessities, they usually go to Dam Market, which is more like a commercial pedestrian street.

It is a good place to purchase special small items, such as coffee, drip, fish sauce, salve paste, and so on. There are also a variety of tropical fruits worth trying, such as mango, imperial banana, mangos teen, and durian. All of them are super cheap.

The best time to visit this Vietnam market is in the early morning, to avoid the crowded tourists, and it's the time when locals go shopping. By the way, if you want to go to the Alexandre Yersin Museum, it will take only 10 minutes to walk from Dam Market.

Location: Van Thanh, Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa

Business Hours: Daily, 4:00 AM-6:00 PM.

Dong Ba Market, Hue

Dong Ba Market

Sitting along the romantic Perfume River, Dong Ba Market is Hue's most iconic and historic market. It dates back more than 120 years, originally built by King Dong Khanh in 1887 after the city’s old grand market was destroyed during an attack.

Today, Dong Ba still feels like a living museum of Hue. Locals come here to shop for everything from fresh produce and spices to traditional crafts, while visitors like me come for the atmosphere.

If you're looking for souvenirs, this is the place to pick up local specialties like Tuan tea, Troui berries, tom chua (Hue-style sour shrimp), and lotus seeds from the famous Tinh Tam Lake. Sure, like most of the markets I mentioned above, you'll find some of Hue's most authentic bites, from bun bo Hue (spicy beef noodle soup) to banh beo (steamed rice cakes).

Location: Tran Hung Dao Street, Hue

Business Hours: Daily, 3:00 AM-8:00 PM

Duong Dong Night Market, Phu Quoc Island

When visiting Phu Quoc, one of the best places to taste local food is the Duong Dong Night Market. It is located right in the center of Duong Dong Town and opens around 4:30 p.m., staying lively until midnight.

Coming here in the evening when the market lights up and the air fills with the smell of grilled seafood. You can find fresh seafood such as squid, shrimp, crab, and scallops, and most stalls can grill what you choose right on the spot. Watching them cook so quickly and skillfully is part of the experience.

One thing you shouldn't miss is the coconut ice cream. It's served in a half coconut shell, and although there are a few flavors, the plain coconut one is the most popular and refreshing after a seafood meal.

Here's a tip from my visit: Choose stalls that look clean and tidy for the freshest food. Otherwise, your stomach may not feel good.

Location: Vo Thi Sau Street, Duong Dong, Phu Quoc Island

Business Hours: Daily, 6:00 PM-11:00 PM

Plan Your Vietnam Market Adventure with Odynovo

Vietnam's markets are the heartbeat of everyday life and the best window into the country's unique culture.

If exploring these lively markets sounds like your kind of experience, let Odynovo craft a private, tailor-made Vietnam tour just for you. Tell us what you love, and within 24 hours, one of our travel experts will send you a personalized itinerary. Pack an extra suitcase! You can just fill it with your 'trophies' and memories in those Vietnam markets.