(Source: VnExpress International) Vietnam’s markets play an important role in daily life, selling everything from fresh produce to wholesale goods and providing a glimpse into the country’s trading traditions.
Vietnam is home to some of the most diverse markets in Southeast Asia. From floating markets in the Mekong Delta to big markets in urban areas, these spaces showcase different aspects of the local economy. Here’s a look at seven of Vietnam’s most famous markets and what makes them unique.

1. Ben Thanh Market, Ho Chi Minh City

Located in central Ho Chi Minh City, Ben Thanh Market is one of Vietnam’s most recognizable shopping destinations. Its clock tower serves as a landmark, and the market is a popular stop for both tourists and locals.

Image: In front of Ben Thanh Market in downtown HCMC. 

Image: Inside Ben Thanh Market. 

Inside, visitors can explore a variety of goods, including handicrafts and souvenirs. The food section is known for Vietnamese dishes such as banh xeo (crispy pancake) and bun thit nuong (grilled pork vermicelli). While bargaining is common, prices at Ben Thanh tend to be higher due to its popularity with tourists. The market has gained a reputation for price inflation, making it important for shoppers to be prepared to bargain.

A renovation project has been going on since last year to improve the public square in front of the market, adding green spaces and restoring architectural features. Ben Thanh Market operates daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a night market continuing until 10 p.m.

2. Dong Xuan Market, Hanoi

Dong Xuan Market, the largest in Hanoi, has been a key commercial hub since its establishment in 1889. Located in Hoan Kiem District, it serves as a trading center, supplying goods to vendors across the capital.

Image: Street vendors and motorbikes fill the scene in front of Dong Xuan Market.

Unlike Ben Thanh Market, which is more tourist-focused, Dong Xuan caters primarily to wholesalers. It offers a wide range of products, including textiles, electronics, and household items. Beyond shopping, the market is also known for its street food. The alleys around it are filled with vendors selling Hanoi specialties like bun oc (snail noodle soup), chao suon (pork rib porridge), and bun cha que tre (grilled pork skewers with vermicelli).

Dong Xuan Market operates daily from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., though some vendors start as early as 4 a.m. and stay open until 10 p.m.

3. Binh Tay Market, Ho Chi Minh City

Located in the heart of the Chinatown area in District 6, home to a large Chinese-Vietnamese community, Binh Tay Market offers a different shopping experience from the more tourist-focused markets in the city.

Image: Binh Tay Market from the outside.

Built in the 1920s, the market remains a trading hub that reflects a blend of Vietnamese and Chinese influences, both in its architecture and the goods sold. It underwent renovations in 2017 to preserve its charm while improving infrastructure. Spanning over 17,000 square meters, Binh Tay Market houses more than 2,300 stalls selling textiles, dried foods, spices, and traditional Chinese medicines. Unlike Ben Thanh, which caters more to tourists, Binh Tay Market serves as a business hub for local enterprises. Nearby food stalls serve classic dishes such as hu tieu (rice noodle soup), pha lau (braised offal stew), and dim sum-style snacks.

Binh Tay Market is open daily from 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., though many vendors begin setting up as early as 2 a.m., and some stalls remain open late into the night.

4. Hoi An Night Market, Hoi An City

Located in the heart of Hoi An Ancient Town, a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site, the Hoi An Night Market offers visitors a mix of shopping, culture, and street life.

Image: Tourists take boat rides on the Hoai River in Hoi An. 

Stretching along Nguyen Hoang Street by the Thu Bon River, the market is best known for its lanterns, which light up the streets at night. Visitors can purchase these lanterns as souvenirs or admire them while strolling through the market. The market also features a variety of handmade crafts, including jewelry, ceramics, and clothing. For food lovers, it offers Hoi An’s famous street food, with specialties like cao lau (roasted pork with thick noodles), and banh mi.

The Hoi An Night Market operates daily from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

5. Can Tho Floating Market, Mekong Delta

Cai Rang Floating Market is the largest wholesale floating market in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. Located on the Hau River in Can Tho City, the market operates daily from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Image: Boats advertising their merchandise at Cai Rang floating market in Can Tho. 

To reach the market, visitors can take a boat from Ninh Kieu Port, which offers a 40-minute ride passing riverside homes. Some tours also extend beyond the market to local orchards, where visitors can taste fruits and explore the canals. At the market, traders sell fruits, vegetables, and other agricultural products. Large boats hang samples of their goods on poles, while smaller boats serve drinks, snacks, and noodle soups such as bun rieu (crab noodle soup). Visitors can stop for a meal or enjoy a Vietnamese iced coffee while floating on the river.

The market’s atmosphere is part of its charm. Boats push through the crowded waterways, traders call out to customers, and locals throw and catch goods between boats. The energy here is cheerful, with laughter and conversation filling the air.

6. Da Lat Night Market, Da Lat City

Located in the heart of Da Lat City in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, the market is famous for its street food stalls, offering banh trang nuong (grilled rice paper), strawberries, and soy milk. In addition to food, it is also a great place to shop for wool clothing, which are popular due to the region’s cooler weather.

Image: Crowds gather at Da Lat Night Market.

The market has different sections, including areas for clothing, fruit, and specialty goods. Vendors sell local produce like strawberries and avocados, while other stalls offer jams, tea, and dried snacks, making it a great place to find souvenirs. Live music performances and street vendors add to the lively atmosphere.

Dalat Night Market operates from 6 p.m. until midnight.

7. Sa Pa Love Market, Sa Pa City

The Sa Pa Love Market is a tradition of the Hmong and Dao ethnic groups in northern Vietnam. The Sa Pa Love Market is distinct from the Sa Pa Night Market, which takes place in the same location but focuses on shopping and food stalls.

Image: Artists reenact the “wife-catching” tradition at the Sa Pa Love Market. 

Held every Saturday evening in Sa Pa’s central square, near the Stone Church, this market was originally a place for young men and women from different villages to meet, socialize, and find potential partners. Over time, while its role in courtship has faded, it remains an important event for preserving traditions and showcasing heritage.

At the market, visitors can enjoy folk songs and dances, explore handmade crafts, and try specialties like thang co (horse meat stew), five-colored sticky rice, and corn wine.

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