At the start of this month, I told you that I would probably be writing mostly about Saigon as I had tons of experiences that I would like to share. I did have a short break yesterday when I wrote about my Mount Pinatubo experience – which is in the Philippines. Let’s go back to neighboring Vietnam, shall we?

One of the attractions of Saigon is the shopping experience. Trust me, even those who normally shy away from shopping will have a blast in Saigon! The most popular shopping destination is Ben Thanh Market. It is located right smack in the center of the city and served as a landmark for me. When I got a little lost, I would always find my way back to this market and rediscover my bearings.

So what does Ben Thanh Market have to offer? During the day, this bustling complex is full of tourists and locals haggling their way to a good buy. You can find practically anything here.

Bags – mostly North Face and Kipling – are so cheap, your eyes will pop out! Be careful, though, as many of them are knock offs. I have to say that despite being knock offs, they look pretty good.

Spices and other dry goods. I love this area. I got coffee, tea, and other spices to bring home. Here’s a tip – if you want to buy cheap coffee, go to the outer stalls. I thought it would be cheaper inside so I bought my coffee there. On my way out, though, I found a shop selling coffee for almost half the price!

Lacquerware and other knickknacks. These are everywhere. They’re perfect for bringing home.

At night, the building closes but the night market becomes alive…that’s for the next post.