If you're into shopping, the for sure Ben Thanh Market is not to be missed. It's open from 8 am to 6 pm. Again, suggest to go here in the morning so it's not so hot, you get the "first-buyer-of-the-day" discount and again, the sky is blue for the pictures!
There they sell a lot of things from house wares (plates, bowls, jewellry boxes, etc), traditional clothes & vietnam stitch paintings, famous brand knock off bags, fruits (which is bigger sizes than indonesian fruit), foods until flowers (ada bunga kol!!). But the item that excite me the most is the Tintin lacquer posters! (I'll show you later in the next part of the blog) Never seen that before in other places. Not sure whether Vietnam was ruled by French before - but definitely there are a lot of of French influence in the art, food (they don't eat rice as staple food - they eat baguette!) You need to bargain at least 50% of what they are offering, though they might only give like 20-30% discounts.
For you indonesian readers, does this food remind you of something? It's onde-onde's twin sister! And see the proof that indeed baguette consider as street food - the price is only 1000 IDR/ 10 cents USD. Funny to me as baguette in Indonesia is being sold in either bakery or supermarket he he.
Final verdict of Ben Thanh Market: must visit! Don't make the same mistake that I did and make sure you bring enough money. I don't bring a lot of money that my friends actually gave me some coins just to buy food since I chose to have the Tintin posters over stomache he he.
Another market that people might recommend you is Saigon Square. But I'm NOT recommending this. Only 2 storey small building. The stuffs are pretty much the same with indonesian market. The faux designer bag etc. This place also known as Russian market. They even sell guns! Small version - but it looks very very real. If you like Kippling bags, they're available for 800,000 IDR you get 7 bags. Not sure on the originality though :D But a friend of mine said the items can only be found here.
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