What to buy at Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City?

At Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City, you can buy almost everything associated with Vietnam, but the main hits for tourists are souvenirs, coffee, local alcohol, and food.

Here's what to look for and what to pay attention to:

• Souvenirs and handicrafts: Magnets, non la hats, lacquer boxes, silk products, paintings, traditional toys. Look for them in the outer, 'state-run' rows.
• Vietnamese coffee and tea: A huge selection of coffee beans (arabica, robusta) and ground coffee, as well as various types of tea. Remember: prices here are high. The same 100 grams of arabica can cost 120,000 dong, while at Thai Binh Market it's 40,000 dong.
• Local alcohol and 'snake whiskey': One of the features of Ben Thanh is bottles of rice vodka or whiskey with preserved snakes, scorpions, or centipedes inside. Regular Vietnamese alcohol, which is not always found in supermarkets, is also sold.
• Clothing and accessories: T-shirts, dresses, shorts, bags, suitcases. Many items with 'Vietnam' inscriptions or styled like brands. Bargain especially actively.
• Spices and dried fruits: In the northwestern part of the market, you can find sections with spices and dried treats.
• Fresh fruits: Sold, but like coffee, at inflated prices. For example, dragon fruit (pitahaya) might be sold here for 50,000 dong, while at a street market it's 15,000.
• Food at the food court: Inside the market, there is a food area where you can try Vietnamese dishes inexpensively (chicken rice from 60,000 dong).

For more price examples and comparisons, see our detailed review: Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City: how to visit, opening hours, and cost.