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The best shopping centers in Ho Chi Minh City
It’s impossible to plan a trip to Ho Chi Minh City without visiting any of its shopping centers. Whatever you want and need, from souvenir items to clothing, electronics, to delicacies to rare finds, you will very much enjoy shopping in Ho Chi Minh City.
Being the largest city in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is just brimming with cool places to shop. And to direct you to the best among the best, we give you our recommendation:
1. Saigon Square Shopping Mall
Starting off our list is Saigon Square Shopping Mall, one of the biggest indoor markets in Ho Chi Ming City. It is famous to both locals and foreigners for the quality and price of the products.
Saigon Square is essentially no different from outdoor markets. First off, the prices of products in this mall are similar to those in local outdoor markets. Also, the goods are displayed in stalls, as you would find in local markets. The only difference is Saigon Square is air-conditioned. You will very much get the same quality market goods here, if not better.
Additionally, the place is spick and span and super organized, that is why shopping is so easy breezy in Saigon Square. No wonder it is called the “V. I. P. Market.”
Another bonus if you are shopping in Saigon Square is that you can bargain—up to 50% sometimes! Yes, items such as shoes, shirts, accessories, and bags could go as low as half its original retail price in some stalls, if you bargain well. Talk about terrific deals.
Also, the sellers here speak in English, which makes it super convenient to foreign shoppers. But the crowd can sometimes get pretty large here due to its popularity, especially on special occasions and holidays, so be sure to pick your shopping schedule wisely to avoid stress.
Saigon Square was originally established in Le Duan Street, at the Kumho Building. Today, the large shopping mall has two outlets and the largest one is at Nam Ky Khoi Nghia. The other outlet is in Hai Ba Tung Street, also carrying almost the same retailers.
Saigin Square is actually a considered a shopping landmark. In fact, Saigon Square has become the symbol of Ho Chi Minh’s thriving commerce.
Location: 73 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa, Bến Thành Quận 1 Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Operating hours: 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Monday to Sunday)
2. Aeon Mall Tan Phu Celadon
Aeon Mall, established in 2011, is one of the largest shopping centers in Ho Chi Minh City. The mall is owned by a Japanese, so if you are on the hunt for Japanese specialty stores in Vietnam, Aeon Mall has it all. Rare items from Japan and tasty Japanese delicacies can be found here for a fair price. Daiso, a famous Japanese store, is also housed in this mall.
The mall has three floors and caters to a wide range of shoppers and diners. From fashion, to gourmet items, to jewelry, cosmetics and accessories, to service shops, cinemas, kids store, you can get practically anything here.
Familiar shops such as Converse, GAP, Levi’s, Nike, Samsonite, The Body Shop, Vans, Valentino Creations are also found in this mall. KFC, BreadTalk, and other established eateries, fast-food chains, and restaurants are also featured in Aeon Mall.
The mall’s layout is pretty neat and the mall is clean. And it is really a one-stop shop for all your needs.
But what everyone can agree on about Aeon Mall is that it isn’t as accessible as other shopping centers on this list. Taking a taxi is your best option when planning to shop here. Or, you can take the free shuttle buses available in selected areas downtown.
But no matter how inaccessible Aeon Mall is, getting here is really worth. The lovely shopping experience will take you back for a second, or even third visit.
Location: 30 Bờ Bao Tân Thắng, Celadon City, Sơn Kỳ, TânPhú, HồChí Minh, Vietnam
Operating hours: 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (Monday to Friday), 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (Saturday to Sunday)
3. Vincom Center Shopping Mall
Vincom Center Shopping Mall means high-end shopping. It is the largest shopping mall in the whole of Ho Chi Minh City, split into two intimidating-looking buildings – Vincom A and Vincom B, and carries international luxury brands.
It is impossible to not be in awe of Vincom Center Shopping Mall. To begin with, the French-influenced architecture of Vincom Center is just pleasing to the eyes.
The smaller of the two, Vincom Center A boasts of romantic baroque façade. The building’s window displays feature top fashion brands, luring you in. Window-shopping has never been this fun. Inside the mall, you will also find home décor shops, electronics stores, and Kids Yard.
Meanwhile, Vincom Center B, located behind Building A, is an imposing contemporary glass-front structure rising 26 storeys. Apart from luxury brands, you will also find perfume shops, jewelry retailers. Vincom Center B has a central bank of elevators, which makes it rather convenient to get broad view of the shops.
Vincom Center is a haven for fashion aficionados and will no doubt feel at home with the mall’s biggest fashion brands—Hermes, Ralph Lauren, Jimmy Choo, DKNY, Hugo Boss, Louis Vuitton, Armani, and more.
Their food court is impressive. Head on down and get lost among the famed and high-rated international franchises: Carl’s Jr. Burgers, Seoul Garden, Highland Coffee, Bud’s Ice Cream, and the insanely popular Paris Baguette, which is being raved by almost everyone for the best-tasting baguette you can find in Ho Chi Minh City, or better yet in the whole of Vietnam.
Another great thing about Vincom Shopping Center is it’s a lovely sanctuary if you wish to escape the heat and crowd of the city. There’s so much to see, so much to feast your eyes on. You can also get a quick bite, as there are also affordable restos in there.
Location: 72 Lê Thánh Tôn, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Operating hours: 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. (Monday to Sunday)
4. Parkson Plaza Department Store
Delayed flight? Or are you just trying to kill time before going to the airport? Parkson Plaza Department Store, the leading department store in Asia, is the place for your last-minute shopping. It is just a 5-minute walk away from Tan Son Nhat International Airport, which isn’t going to be much of a burden.
The place is built to instantly provide your needs before your flight. If you failed to buy that certain Vietnamese food all the way back from the market you visited a day ago, Parkson Plaza might have it. Their in-store supermarket is diverse, complete with international products.
There are quite a lot of excellent shopping outlets in Parkson. They have an impressively wide collection of quality appliances, clothing and cosmetics, kitchenware, and more.
Despite being a small establishment, Parkson Plaza Department Store also offers items from mid- to high-end brands such as Lacoste, Coach, Bobbi Brown, She Uemura, Clinique and more.
There’s also a Highlands Coffee branch here, which brews authentic Vietnamese coffee, which is something you need to try at least once during your stay here in Ho Chi Minh City.
Location: 35 45, 22 bis Lê Thánh Tôn, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Operating hours: 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (Monday to Sunday)
5. Diamond Plaza
The Diamond Plaza, found in District 1, is another luxurious high-end shopping center in Ho Chi Minh City. It opened its doors in 1999 and has been a popular shopping mall since.
This 15-storey shopping center has a helipad, and houses a large bowling alley for the kids, 6 cinemas that screen Hollywood and local films, a dazzlingly colorful bowling alley, a video arcade, cafes, restaurants, and even a hospital.
The Diamond Plaza is indeed a world-classing shopping center: cosmetics, sporting wear and gears, men and women’s clothing, electronic and mobile products, perfumes, jewelry, watches and more.
The Plaza is also conveniently near to some of the most important landmarks in Ho Chi Minh City. The Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, the Saigon Central Post Office, and the lovely April 30th Park are some of the tourist attractions near the plaza. It’s no wonder, though, that the shopping center is most of the time busy and a little crowded. It is very popular among the locals.
The Diamond Plaza is not recommended to fashion shoppers who are budget-conscious, as most of the stores are high-end, with popular European and North American brands. And they are more expensive than in most countries abroad because they sell them in tourist prices.
It has that “high street” feel to it. Window shopping or browsing is fun, though.
Location: 34 Lê Duẩn, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam
Operating hours: 9: 30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (Monday to Sunday)
Helpful articles and blog posts on the best Ho Chi Minh City shopping centers:
We only recommend writers and blogs that we read regularly and believe will deliver substantial value to our readers. The following are our top picks for articles we think are worth reading for more information on Ho Chi Minh City’s best shopping centers.
- “Saigon Square – shopping haven in Ho Chi Minh City” – by Crossing Travel
- “Vincom Center A Opens Its Doors” – by herdailydigest
- “Aeon seeks to rapidly open more Vietnam shopping malls” – by Happy Technology News
- Diamond Plaza Department Store in Ho Chi Minh – by Vietnam Guide
- Shopping in Ho Chi Minh City – What to buy and where to buy it! – by Blog and Vietnam Travel Tips
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About the Author
Stephanie Mayo is from Manila, Philippines. When she isn’t writing awesome articles for Mad Monkey Hostels, she enjoys traveling, photography, and movies.
