Saigon is an amazing city to shop in. Dare I say, it’s one of my favorites, up there with Paris, Florence, and Cartagena. Like Cartagena, Saigon features boutiques from tons of up-and-coming Vietnamese designers. While there are big western brands with stores at malls in Saigon such as Takashimaya and Saigon Centre, the best places to shop in Saigon are truly the bustling local markets, and emerging, independent Vietnamese talent with boutiques on every block in District 1 and District 3 (I LOVE when a city is like this).
Many of the independent boutiques on this list ship internationally, so even if you’re not visiting Vietnam anytime soon, you’re still in luck.
If you’re looking for where to shop and what to buy in Saigon, skip Ben Thanh Market, and keep reading:
Where to Shop and What to Buy in Saigon, Vietnam: 17 Stores to Visit
DAPHALE Studios
272C Pasteur, Phường 8, Quận 3, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
22 Đặng Thị Nhu, Phường Nguyễn Thái Bình, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
I had been stalking DAPHALE Studios for forever on Instagram before my trip to Vietnam, almost giving into international shipping charges several times, and knew I absolutely had to hit one of their stores while I was there!
Founded in 2014 by Thao Nhi Le, DAPHALE Studios is a chic minimalist brand in HCMC. With two locations in the city, it’s a must-go if you’re looking for quality closet staples at a reasonable price.
In addition to their main collection, DAPHALE also stocks a lacy lingerie line, as well as DAPHALE Basics, an atheleisure collection.
I visited the store on Đặng Thị Nhu, which is two stories: the main floor being the main collection and lingerie line, and the second being DAPHALE Basics.
Honestly, I could’ve purchased so much, but because DAPHALE was my very first stop in Saigon (literally. I woke up my first morning in Vietnam, and walked straight there before Sean even woke up), I restrained myself and walked away with this much-need pair of chic, high-waisted white shorts.
Dear José
9A Đ. Nguyễn Trãi, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
Dear José is an ultra-feminine womenswear brand, located on Nguyễn Trãi. I had been following Dear José on Instagram for a while, and stumbled upon their store in Saigon by complete chance, on my way to CICI. If you’re into romantic labels such as Zimmermann and Self Portrait, Dear José is definitely your speed.
Prices are on the steeper side compared to other boutiques on this list, but the store does run sales, which makes pieces really affordable for the quality. I found this yellow blazer dress on sale, and couldn’t help wearing it on a night out at Snuffbox a few days later. I’m SO excited to wear it around the city.
Click here to shop Dear José online.
Cong Tri
134 Đồng Khởi, street, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
Nguyen Cong Tri is leading the revolution in how Vietnamse fashion is viewed globally, and I couldn’t respect him more for it. His eponymous atelier, Cong Tri, features stunning, structural, powerful couture, and has been worn by A-list celebrities such as Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Rosé.
Personally, Nguyen Cong Tri is one of my FAVORITE fashion designers, and I was beyond excited at the opportunity to finally see his work in-person.
While there’s multiple Cong Tri showrooms in Saigon, I recommend visiting the location on Đồng Khởi. I visited the location on Lê Thánh Tôn, and it was much smaller and more casual.
Devons Studio
28 Thao Dien Street, Dist 2, HCM City
Like DAPHALE, I was stalking Devons Studio for months online before visiting Visiting. An Instagram discovery through a Vietnamese blogger I follow, Devons Studio was the first brand to open my eyes to the emerging design talent in Saigon.
When I discovered it, Devons Studio was an online-only label. Recently, the brand opened a physical store in Thảo Điền (District 2), also known as the city’s expat district. The store is tucked away in an oh-so-aesthetic alley, Hẻm 28 Thảo Điền, filled with wooden houses, lush greenery, and a tranquil cafés.
The store is small, but still showcases the brand’s ladylike styles with a trendy twist. After shopping, grab lunch in Thảo Điền at METTA Vegetarian Restaurant.
Click here to shop Devons Studio online. You’ll need to DM them on Instagram to place an order with international shipping.
Tan Dinh Market
336 Hai Bà Trưng, Tân Định, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
Tân Định Market is my favorite market in Vietnam. It comes as no surprise that the fabric market across from the pink church is my favorite one. While there are other fabric markets in Saigon, such as Thương xá Đồng Khánh (Soai Kinh Lam Fabric Market) and Tan Binh Market (Chợ Tân Bình), Tân Định Market (Chợ Tân Định) is definitely the most convenient.
Tân Định Market is just a few blocks away from Tân Định Church (Giáo xứ Tân Định), the iconic, vibrant pink church in District 3. You’ll find that unlike Ben Thanh Market, this market tends to be more locals than tourists, meaning that you’ll have to negotiate a little less to reach a good price (although you can and should still negotiate hard, because starting points are a complete mixed bag by vendors).
The market is known for fabric, but also has apparel, home textiles, and dried food. Outside of Tan Dinh Market are street food vendors at the front and back, and fresh produce vendors in the surrounding alleys. We stopped at a vendor out front for bánh canh cua for Sean, and a cold glass of nước mía for me.
If you’re looking for the best áo dài fabric in Saigon, you must stop at the surrounding fabric stores. I’m still kicking myself for not purchasing some of the beautiful, hand-painted áo dài fabric at those stores. It was by far the highest quality painted and embroidered áo dài fabric I saw in the country, and unfortunately I didn’t realize it at the time.
Above: Tan Dinh Market
Below: Ao dai fabric stores across the street from Tan Dinh Market
Nosbyn
28 Đ. Nguyễn Trãi, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
Nosbyn makes a statement with its minimalist, well made pieces. Of any boutique I went to in Saigon, they probably had the best quality. I had heard of Nosbyn months before my trip, but stumbled upon their flagship store in Saigon by complete chance, on my way to CICI, like I did Dear José!
Pieces are simple and classic—the type of clothing to live in your closet for years. Prices are a little higher than some boutiques on this list, but still very affordable, and definitely affordable for the quality.
Nosbyn has two stores in the city on Nguyễn Trãi and Mạc Thị Bưởi. After stumbling into the Nguyễn Trãi store during my first trip to Saigon, I stumbled into the Mạc Thị Bưởi location on my second trip (because, of course I did). The Nguyễn Trãi location is definitely the better store: It’s much, much bigger and has a ton more selection. The pieces at the Mạc Thị Bưởi store seemed to be more serious and similar to workwear, and were just much more limited overall.
Nosbyn has an online store with limited selection here.
DATT
34 Đặng Thị Nhu, Phường Nguyễn Thái Bình, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
I stumbled upon DATT after my stop at DAPHALE, and I’m so glad I did. DATT makes high quality, trendy womenswear. Pieces leverage interesting materiality, draping, and materials. There’s no buying off the rack here: each piece is made-to-measure for you. Keep this in mind if you’re on a tight time budget in Saigon!
DATT is definitely one of the priciest boutiques on this list, with prices comparable to what their pieces would likely sell for in the US as ready-to-wear.
CICI
140 Đ. Nguyễn Trãi, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
CICI brings a romantic feel to classic silhouettes. Also located on Nguyễn Trãi, CICI features pieces that embody soft glamour.
Pieces are on the high end, but are also eye-catching, and easy to fall in love with.
CICI is easy to shop online, for a similar price to what you’d pay in Vietnam. Click here to shop.
Thoăn Thinh Silk
258 Đ. Lê Thánh Tôn, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1 Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
Tucked behind Ben Thanh Market, Thoăn Thinh Silk stocks solid, high quality silk. Prices are high, but are somewhat justified by the quality and location.
Thai Tuan Silk
419A Hai Bà Trưng, Phường 8, Quận 3, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
(This is the location I visited, however there are several across HCMC)
Thai Thuan is one of the biggest and most well-known textile groups in Vietnam. The group supplies brands such as Giuseppe Zanotti, René Caovilla, and Casadei, but also has several stores in Vietnam selling áo dài fabric and ready-to-wear apparel.
Prices are definitely high, but I saw some of the nicest silk I saw in Vietnam by far at the Thai Tuan store in Hoi An. The store in Tan Dinh, Saigon is larger, and features more variety. There are several locations in HCMC, making it easy to find one nearby.
Shop Thai Thuan online by clicking here.
Annam Gourmet
6-18 Hai Bà Trưng, Phường Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
41 Đ. Thảo Điền, Thảo Điền, Quận 2, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
(I visited the above locations in Bến Nghé and Thảo Điền, however there are several across Saigon and Hanoi)
Annam Gourmet is a high-end chain of grocery stores in Vietnam. These were some of the nicest neighborhood grocery stores I’d ever been to. Not going to lie, they make Whole Foods look like they’re slipping.
Produce here is gorgeous, but I wouldn’t come for it. Instead, Annam Gourmet stores make for an excellent one stop shop for all of the best chocolate brands in Vietnam. Chocolate is a must-buy souvenir in Vietnam, and these stores are really convenient, with a surprisingly vast selection from top brands such as Maison Marou, Alluvia, and Belvie.
Annam Gourmet stores also have a large assortment of Vietnamese tea, as well as local Saigonese craft beer.
Maison Marou
169 Đ. Calmette, Phường Nguyễn Thái Bình, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
Maison Marou is easily the most well-known of Saigon’s chocolate brands. If you ask someone what the best chocolate in Saigon is, chances are they’ll respond with “Maison Marou.”
Maison Marou has a few locations across the city, however the flagship store just a couple blocks from Ben Thanh is definitely the most worth stopping for. I also visited the location on Nguyễn Du, but it was much, much smaller. Plus, the flagship location is just around the corner from DAPHALE’s Nguyễn Thái Bình location.
The flagship store in Nguyễn Thái Bình is a large café featuring chocolate drinks and pastries. You can view the chocolate making press, or buy chocolate confections, truffles, and bars. For my full Maison Marou review, click here.
More Amazing Places to Shop in Saigon
I didn’t get a chance to shop these stores and markets in Saigon (probably for the best, my bank account couldn’t handle it), however they’re still worth considering a stop during your trip to Vietnam!
The New Playground
26 Lý Tự Trọng, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
The New Playground is a different type of mall. This concept mall specializes in trendy streetwear from up-and-coming Vietnamese labels. Quality appears to be a mixed bag, but it still looks like a fun stop regardless.
The Box Market
04 Phạm Ngọc Thạch, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
The Box Market is a weekend flea market in Saigon’s District 1. Expect to find lots of clothing, food, music, and housewares from local vendors.
Saigon Outcast
188/1 Nguyễn Văn Hưởng, Thảo Điền, Quận 2, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
Saigon Outcast started in 2012 as three shipping containers, and now is one of Saigon’s trendiest flea markets. You’ll find local artists and vendors, food, concerts, and even a rock climbing wall.
Although I can’t say Thảo Điền is my favorite neighborhood, I do have Saigon Outcast on my list for my next trip back to Saigon.
Vietnam Chocolate House
29 Đường D4 Bình Khánh, P. Bình An, Quận 2, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
If you can’t make it to an Annam Grocery, Vietnam Chocolate House has you covered. Vietnam Chocolate House serves up chocolate drinks and desserts (the soft serve looks amazing). More importantly, the store sells tons of chocolate bars from all of the top chocolatiers in Vietnam.
House are limited—the store closes by 4pm daily, so be sure to go early!
Môi Điên
28 Tôn Thất Thiệp, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
Founded by Tom Trandt, a fellow Parsons School of Design alum, Môi Điên is leading the wave of edgy streetwear in Saigon.
Môi Điên literally translates into “crazy lips,” but means “outspoken” in Vietnamese. That’s exactly what the label is. Expect to see interesting text, embroidery, and structure, for an attainable price.
Click here to shop Môi Điên online.
FAQs
The best things to buy in Saigon are tea, chocolate, fabric, gold jewelry, dried fruit, custom tailoring, áo dài (Vietnam’s national dress), and pottery.
It’s a common misconception that coffee is one of the best things to buy in Saigon. While Vietnam is known for its coffee, most of the coffee grown in the country is robusta, and lower quality, hence why drinks like cà phê sữa đá became so popular!
What makes Vietnamese coffee special is how it’s prepared. Instead of hunting down arabica coffee beans, buy a phin, the filter used to make Vietnamese coffee. Phin are inexpensive and easily found at any grocery store or market in Saigon.
If you are looking for high quality Vietnamese coffee in Saigon, try Bosgaurus Coffee Roasters, Saigon Coffee Roasters, or The Workshop Coffee.
Vietnam’s national currency is the Vietnamese Dong. 1 USD = approximately 23,000 VND.
Yes and no. Mostly no, especially if you’re trying to pay in cash, but if you’re in a popular tourist area or tourist attraction, you might see some prices in USD. You will likely still be charged in VND if you’re paying by card.
Overwhelmingly in Saigon, stores only accept VND. In Hoi An, tailors actually quoted prices in USD, but charged VND to my card. I did see a couple instances of resorts accepting US cash while in Vietnam, but it was extremely rare and only at large resorts.
You’re in Vietnam. Pay in VND.
Go once to say you saw it, but I wouldn’t buy anything here except maybe an emergency cup of chè ba màu at Bé Chè. Ben Thanh Market is overpriced, crowded with tourists, and tends to offer low quality product and souvenirs. There’s far better markets in Saigon, although maybe none so tourist-friendly.
Keep your belongings close—visitors have reported that Ben Thanh Market (Chợ Bến Thành) is a popular target with pickpockets.
Looking for more of the best things to do in Saigon? Click here.
xx,
E
What to Wear in Saigon
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