Street Markets In Ho Chi Minh City

Ho-Chi-Minh City, also called Saigon, is the biggest city in Vietnam and a major cultural center and economic hub of the nation. This city is famous for its historical value, beautiful designs and busy streets where street markets meet.

These stores give an actual reflection of the culture and way of life in Ho Chi Minh City. The markets are always crowded, noisy and chaotic but at the same time full of life, colors and smells. One can find everything from street food vendors to local artisans at these markets thus giving a chance to live with the traditions and family structures of this part of Vietnam.

For centuries now, street markets have been a significant feature of Vietnamese culture. They were initially used for trading purposes as well as exchange information between various communities and regions within the country. However during post-colonial period most indigenous market places were replaced by modern commercial centers like malls.

In recent times there has been growing interest in traditional outdoor markets as people strive to retain their cultural heritage and way of life. Today’s hawking places are no longer just about buying goods or selling them rather they have become sociocultural centers.

Shopping at one of these street markets can be a lot fun and rewarding experience but it can also be quite daunting particularly for first time visitors.

While visiting any street market in Ho Chi Minh City bargaining is common practice which has to be approached properly for better results. Here are tips on how to successfully bargain:

• Start with low offer: Always start your bidding with lower price because usually they will counter your price higher than theirs
• Be friendly: Bargaining in Vietnam is often done politely so make sure you appear amiable when doing it
• Know what It’s worth: Inquire from others about item worth prior making purchase hence you will know what amount should you draw out
• Walk away if necessary: In case vendor does not want to reduce prices then be ready to move on another place

The street food scene in Ho Chi Minh City’s street markets is a must-try experience for any foodie. The city’s street market has a variety of Vietnamese dishes such as pho, banh mi and grilled meats, and sea foods which are too delicious to miss. Therefore if you have never had a chance to try out the best street foods in the universe then this is the opportunity that you cannot afford missing.

Here are some must-try street food dishes for any food lover at Ho Chi Minh City’s street markets:

• Banh mi: A baguette sandwich with meat, vegetables and herbs.
• Pho: Traditional Vietnamese noodle soup with beef or chicken broth, rice noodles and a combination of herbs and spices.
• Bun cha: Grilled pork with vermicelli noodles, herbs and dipping sauce.
• Banh xeo: Rice flour pancake filled with pork, shrimp and bean sprouts.