Vietnam night markets: where, when and what to buy

Vietnam's night markets are more than shopping. A bowl of phởfor 30,000 VND (~$1.20), cooked in front of you. Hoi An's lanterns reflected in the river. Grilled lobster for the price of a burger back home. Every evening, Vietnam's big cities roll out hundreds of stalls piled with food, souvenirs and the smell of lemongrass — and prices you can argue over.

• Ben Thanh (Chợ Bến Thành): Ho Chi Minh City. Daily 18:00–23:00 — Food + souvenirs, haggling expected
• Hanoi Walking Street (Chợ đêm phố cổ): Fri–Sun 18:00–23:00 — 3 km pedestrian zone
• Hoi An (Chợ đêm Hội An): Daily 17:00–22:00 — Lanterns, tailors
• Phu Quoc (Chợ đêm Phú Quốc): Daily 17:00–23:30 — Grilled seafood
• Nha Trang (Chợ đêm Nha Trang): Daily 19:00–22:00 — Souvenirs, seafront
• Da Lat (Chợ đêm Đà Lạt): Daily 18:00–23:00 — Coffee, wine, warm clothes
• Da Nang (Chợ đêm Sơn Trà): Daily 18:00–22:00 — Han River, Dragon Bridge

Ben Thanh — Ho Chi Minh City's flagship night market

Chợ Bến Thànhis the symbol of Ho Chi Minh City. By day it's a covered market that has run since 1914. After 18:00 the four streets around the building close to traffic and fill with hundreds of stalls. Phan Bội Châu, Phan Chu Trinh, Lê Lai and Lê Thánh Tôn turn into a maze of food, clothes and souvenirs.

What to eat

Phở from 30,000 VND (~$1.20). Bánh mì from 20,000 VND (~$0.80). Spring rolls, noodles, fried bananas. Dozens of stalls sell the same thing — pick the one with the most Vietnamese customers.

What to buy

Magnets from 10,000 VND (~$0.40), conical hats (nón lá) from 30,000 VND (~$1.20), lacquer boxes from 100,000 VND (~$4). "I ❤ Saigon" T-shirts from 50,000 VND (~$2). Coffee from 80,000 VND (~$3.20) a bag.

Hours: daily, 18:00–23:00. Where: District 1, by the Ben Thanh roundabout.

More on the city in the guide to Ho Chi Minh City.

Hanoi night market in the Old Quarter

Around two kilometres of pedestrian zone in the heart of the Old Quarter. The Hanoi chợ đêm runs from Đồng Xuânmarket (built in 1889, the city's oldest covered market) down Hàng Đào and Hàng Ngang and on.

What makes it special

It's not just a market — it's a street festival. Street performers, comedians, live music. Locals come as families and sit on tiny plastic stools to eat and chat. Silk, embroidery and lacquer paintings sell cheaper than in shops. Egg coffee (cà phê trứng) runs 25,000–35,000 VND (~$1–1.40).

Hours: Fri–Sun, 18:00–23:00. Start: from Đồng Xuân market, Hoan Kiem District.

Hoi An night market — the most atmospheric

Hundreds of coloured paper lanterns reflected in the Thu Bồn river. The Hoi An night market sits on An Hộiislet, a couple of minutes from the Japanese Covered Bridge, and it's the most photogenic in Vietnam. It runs daily from 17:00 to 22:00; the peak is 18:30–20:30, when it goes dark and the lanterns come on. The area is small — you can walk it in 30 minutes, but you'll linger for two hours.

What to buy

Lanterns — from 50,000 VND (~$2) for a small one up to 300,000 VND (~$12) for a large folding one. Sellers pack them flat for travel.

Tailored clothes — Hoi An is famous for its tailors. Stalls take your measurements and sew within 24 hours. A dress from 500,000 VND (~$20), a suit from 1,500,000 VND (~$60). Quality is a lottery, so check the seams.

Food: Cao Lầu (the local noodle dish, 30,000–50,000 VND / ~$1.20–2) and bánh mì from the legendary Bánh Mì Phượng nearby.

💬 "The Hoi An night market is a must in the evening, even if you buy nothing — go for the lanterns and the atmosphere." — Tripadvisor, 2025

More on the town in the guide to Hoi An.

Phu Quoc night market — a seafood kingdom

If you love seafood, this is the best night market in Vietnam. Chợ đêm Phú Quốc (Dinh Cau Night Market) on Võ Thị Sáu street in Duong Dong is a nightly food festival.

Seafood

Prawns, squid, lobster, crab — pick a live one from the tank and they grill or steam it for you. Lobster from 300,000 VND (~$12). Tiger prawns from 150,000 VND (~$6). Grilled squid from 80,000 VND (~$3.20). Prices are on tags here — no haggling.

What else

Fish sauce (nước mắm) is Phu Quoc's signature product; a bottle from 50,000 VND (~$2). The island is famous for pearl farms, but market quality is unpredictable — better to buy from a certified shop. Sim-berry wine (rượu sim) runs 100,000–200,000 VND (~$4–8), a sweetish ~15% liqueur.

💬 "At the Phu Quoc night market lobster runs 300,000–500,000 VND — roughly $12–20. The same portion back home would cost several times that." — Tripadvisor traveller reviews, 2025

Hours: daily, 17:00–23:30. Where: Vo Thi Sau, Duong Dong.

More on the island in the guide to Phu Quoc.

Nha Trang night market

The Nha Trang night market is the most touristy on this list. It sits near the seafront and caters heavily to visitors, so many sellers get by in a mix of languages. It runs 19:00 to 22:00 — shorter than in other cities.

Costume jewellery, magnets, beach accessories, conical hats, crocodile-leather goods (check they're genuine) and snake- or scorpion-infused liquors.

Hours: daily, 19:00–22:00. Where: near the Trần Phú seafront.

More in the guide to Nha Trang.

Da Lat night market — warm sweaters and artichoke tea

Da Lat is cool — even on a summer evening it's +15–18 °C. The night market sells things you won't find anywhere else in Vietnam: warm jackets, wool scarves, knitted hats. It looks odd for a tropical country, but Da Lat sits 1,500 metres above sea level.

Locals call it chợ Âm Phủ, the "ghost market," from the days it ran well past midnight under dim lamps. It spreads across the central square, Quảng trường Lâm Viên — the one with the giant flower sculptures.

What to buy

• Da Lat wine — red, from 80,000 VND (~$3.20). A decent table wine
• Artichoke tea— Da Lat's signature product, from 50,000 VND (~$2)
• Coffee — grown here on the mountain plantations. A bag from 60,000 VND (~$2.40)
• Strawberries— Da Lat is Vietnam's strawberry capital. A cup for 20,000 VND (~$0.80)

Street food

Bánh tráng nướng— the "Da Lat pizza," a grilled rice-paper crisp with egg and greens, 15,000–25,000 VND (~$0.60–1). Grilled corn and hot soy milk are exactly what a cool evening calls for.

Hours: daily, 18:00–23:00.

More in the guide to Da Lat.

Da Nang night market

Chợ đêm Sơn Trà, on the bank of the Han River, is compact and tidy, without the chaos of the older markets. Seafood, street food, souvenirs. The bonus: the Dragon Bridge (Cầu Rồng) is right there, and on weekends at 21:00 it breathes fire and water. Pair the market with the show for a full evening.

Hours: daily, 18:00–22:00. Where: the Han River waterfront, Sơn Trà district.

More in the guide to Da Nang.

Night markets at a glance

Correct as of July 2026.

How to haggle at Vietnamese markets

At Vietnam's night markets fixed prices are rare (Phu Quoc, with its tags, is the exception). Haggling is part of the culture.

The 50% rule.Treat the first price as a reference. Open at 50% of it. You'll usually settle around 60–70%.

Use your phone's calculator.Sellers don't always speak English. Type the number on your screen — it's faster and there's no confusion.

Walk away.The strongest move. Turn to leave and in most cases you'll be called back with "ok, ok, your price!" If you aren't, the price really was fair.

Don't haggle over small change.5,000 VND (~$0.20) isn't worth ten minutes of arguing. Save it for the big buys: clothes, silk, leather.

Carry cash. Cards are rarely accepted, so bring dong. Dollars are taken, but at a poor rate.

Handy phrases for the market

FAQ

What's the best night market in Vietnam?

It depends on your priority. For food, Phu Quoc (grilled seafood, fixed prices). For atmosphere, Hoi An (lanterns, the river, tailors). For scale, Ben Thanh in Ho Chi Minh City (hundreds of stalls). For the mood, Hanoi (a weekend street festival).

What time do the night markets open?

Phu Quoc and Hoi An open at 17:00. Ben Thanh and Hanoi at 18:00. Nha Trang at 19:00 (last of all). They close between 22:00 and 23:30.

How much do things cost at Vietnam night markets?

Street food: 15,000–50,000 VND (~$0.60–2). Souvenirs: magnets from 10,000 VND (~$0.40), lanterns from 50,000 VND (~$2). Seafood on Phu Quoc: lobster from 300,000 VND (~$12). At most markets haggling is expected — the first price is inflated 30–100%.

Are the night markets safe?

Broadly yes. The main risk is pickpockets (worst at Ben Thanh and in Nha Trang). Wallet in a front pocket, bag on your chest, phone held tight. The "free" bracelet followed by a demand for money is a common trick. Count your change.

Can I pay by card?

Very rarely. Night markets are a cash business — bring Vietnamese dong. There are ATMs near every market (a 22,000–50,000 VND fee per withdrawal). Dollars are accepted but at a poor rate.

What should I try to eat?

Phở and bánh mì at any market. Egg coffee in Hanoi. Cao Lầuin Hoi An. Grilled seafood on Phu Quoc. The Da Lat "pizza" (bánh tráng nướng) in Da Lat. Budget for an evening of eating: 100,000–200,000 VND (~$4–8).

Data current as of July 2026. Prices and hours can change — check before you go.