Shopping in Ho Chi Minh City
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Spa Tropic
Spa Tropic is a good place to spoil yourself with a top-notch 'proper' massage. This Zen-like beauty spa offers an array of aromatherapy facial treatments, body treatments and therapeutic massage, from Swedish and deep-tissue to shiatsu. Call ahead for reservations.
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Diamond Plaza
If you’re pressed for time, several shopping centres are reliable one-stop destinations, including the sleek, high-end Diamond Plaza. A good shopping journey is at the gallery-and boutique-lined Ð Dong Khoi and the streets that intersect with it. This is also the place to look for high-quality handicrafts. Better deals can be found in Pham Ngu Lao, although the selection is less extensive.
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Saigon Centre
If you're pressed for time, several shopping centres are great one-stop destinations, including the shiny, modern Saigon Centre It's a great place to browse for electronics, clothing and handicrafts.
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Fahasa Bookshop
Government-run bookshop with dictionaries, maps and general books in English and French. They have another branch at 40 ÐL Nguyen Hue
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Song
A central boutique that specialises in sophisticated linens and cottons for men and women.
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Old Market
Despite the name, the Old Market is not the place to find antiques, although it is quite old. This is the place to buy imported food, wine, shaving cream, shampoo and so on. However, if its Vietnamese name, Cho Cu, is written or pronounced without the correct tones it means ‘penis’; your cyclo driver will no doubt be much amused if you ask for this. Perhaps directions are a better bet – the Old Market can be found on the north side of Ð Ham Nghi between Ð Ton That Dam and Ð Ho Tung Mau.
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Ben Thanh Market
The most central of all markets is Ben Thanh Market. The market and surrounding streets make up one of the city’s liveliest areas. Everything that’s commonly eaten, worn or used by the Saigonese is available here: vegetables, meats, spices, sweets, tobacco, clothing, hardware and so forth. There’s also a healthy selection of souvenir items. However, you will need to bargain efficiently here, as prices are usually higher than elsewhere.
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Tax Department Store
If you’re pressed for time, several shopping centres are reliable one-stop destinations, including the inspiringly named (and cheap) Tax Department Store. A good shopping journey is at the gallery-and boutique-lined Ð Dong Khoi and the streets that intersect with it. This is also the place to look for high-quality handicrafts. Better deals can be found in Pham Ngu Lao, although the selection is less extensive.
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An Dong
One of Cholon’s indoor market, An Dong, is very close to the intersection of ÐL Tran Phu and ÐL An Duong Vuong. This market is four storeys high and is crammed with shops. The 1st floor carries nothing but clothing, including imported designer jeans, the latest pumps from Paris and ao dai. The basement is a gourmet’s delight of small restaurants – a perfect place to lunch on the cheap.
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Parkson Plaza
If you’re pressed for time, several shopping centres are reliable one-stop destinations, including the the popular Parkson Plaza. A good shopping journey is at the gallery-and boutique-lined Ð Dong Khoi and the streets that intersect with it. This is also the place to look for high-quality handicrafts. Better deals can be found in Pham Ngu Lao, although the selection is less extensive.
reviewed
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Blue Space Gallery
HCMC is brimming with art galleries. Good places to browse are the handful of galleries around the Fine Arts Museum and along Ð Dong Khoi. You’ll find excellent top-quality works at the Blue Space Gallery. This place will ship world-wide. For low-quality reproductions of famous paintings, visit the painting shops along Ð Bui Vien in Pham Ngu Lao.
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Vinh Loi Gallery
HCMC is brimming with art galleries. Good places to browse are the handful of galleries around the Fine Arts Museum and along Ð Dong Khoi. You’ll find excellent top-quality works at the Vinh Loi Gallery. This place will ship world-wide. For low-quality reproductions of famous paintings, visit the painting shops along Ð Bui Vien in Pham Ngu Lao.
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Lacquer & Oil
HCMC is brimming with art galleries. Good places to browse are the handful of galleries around the Fine Arts Museum and along Ð Dong Khoi. You’ll find excellent top-quality works at Lacquer & Oil. This place will ship world-wide. For low-quality reproductions of famous paintings, visit the painting shops along Ð Bui Vien in Pham Ngu Lao.
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Traditional Herb Shops
While you’re roaming, you can stroll over to the strip of traditional herb shops between Ð Luong Nhu Hoc and Ð Trieu Quang Phuc for an olfactory experience you won’t soon forget. The streets here are filled with amazing sights, sounds and rich herbal aromas.
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Binh Tay Market
Cholon’s main market is Binh Tay Market, a Chinese-style architectural masterpiece with a great clock tower in the centre. Much of the business here is wholesale. This is very popular with tour-group itineraries, so a lot of foreigners pass through here.
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Dan Sinh Market
Also known as the War Surplus Market, Dan Sinh Market is the place to shop for authentic combat boots or rusty (perhaps less authentic) dog tags. It’s also the best market for electronics and other types of imported industrial machinery.
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Lotus
For vintage propaganda posters (from the 60s and 70s), this place is a goldmine. Expect to pay plenty for an original but there also prints available. Why the store is named Lotus - a symbol of purity - nobody seems to know.
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Precious Qui
Precious Qui specialises in lacquerware and accessories (interesting forks and spoons) in contemporary, minimalist designs fashioned from buffalo horn. They also stock a limited selection of celadon ceramic ware.
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Living & Giving
Living & Giving is absolutely packed-full with stylish linens and bedding, furniture and unusual home decor in iron, wood and ceramic. You're bound to find what you need, and it's bound to help you sleep.
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Reda
Reda's has an assortment of stylish women's apparel, with handmade tailoring available. Also on offer are Reda's original accessories and a you can have a bite after browsing at the adjoining cafe.
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Golden Lotus Foot Massage Club
Delivering bliss to overworked gams, this place also gives general body massage. Lotus' most popular package includes a 90-minute massage followed by ten minutes of 'Lotus tea time'.
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Huynh Thuc Khang Street Market
This street market in the Dong Khoi area sells almost everything. The area was known as the ‘electronics black market’ until early 1989, when it was legalised.
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Cham Khanh
This is one of several ao dai shops on this stretch of Ð Pasteur. It sells particularly colourful pieces and is a reliable place for getting an ao dai made.
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Dogma
This little store stocks reproduction propaganda posters and has emblazoned them on coffee mugs, coasters and T-shirts. Several branches are located around the city.
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Mai Handicrafts
Fair-trade shop dealing in ceramics, ethnic fabrics and other gift items which, in turn, support disadvantaged families and street children.
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