FoodUp to date

Vietnam night markets: where, when and what to buy

Seven of the best night markets from Hanoi to Phu Quoc — opening hours, prices for food and souvenirs, a map, and, most importantly, how to haggle so you don't pay double.

Updated 9 min read
Crowd of shoppers at a Vietnamese market among flower stalls under awnings
An evening market in Vietnam — flowers, crowds and conical hats under dim lamplight

Vietnam's night markets are more than shopping. A bowl of phở for 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 from 18:00 — Food + souvenirs, haggling expected
  • Hanoi Walking Street (Chợ đêm phố cổ): Fri–Sun 18:00–23:00 — 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 17:00–00:00 — 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

Lit clock tower and gate reading CHỢ BẾN THÀNH at night, Vietnamese flags and motorbikes in front
The south gate of Ben Thanh at night — the clock tower and the neon Chợ Bến Thành sign. Photo: Ngô Trung, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Chợ Bến Thành is the symbol of Ho Chi Minh City. By day it's a covered market that has run since 1914. After 18:00 the neighbouring streets close to traffic and fill with hundreds of stalls. Phan Bội Châu and Phan Chu Trinh 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.

Prices are marked up 30–50%. The first number you hear is a starting position for the haggle. If the seller won't budge, walk to the next stall. Pickpockets work here too — wallet in a front pocket, phone held tight.

Hours: daily from 18:00 until late evening. 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

An evening street in the Hanoi Old Quarter: vegetables and fruit in baskets and basins along the pavement under awnings, motorbikes passing
Evening trade in the Old Quarter: goods are laid out right on the pavement under the street lights. Photo: Jakub Hałun, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

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

Weekends only, Fri–Sun. From 18:00 to 23:00. On weekdays the pedestrian zone is closed and traffic runs as usual.

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).

Do a lap without buying anything first. Walk the whole route and note what caught your eye. Buy on the way back — that way you won't overpay for the first thing you see.

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

Hoi An night market — the most atmospheric

Two silk lantern shops at night in Hoi An, hundreds of glowing lanterns under their awnings
Lantern workshops on Bạch Đằng Street: after dark the whole stock is lit at once. Photo: dronepicr, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Hundreds of coloured paper lanterns reflected in the Thu Bồn river. The Hoi An night market sits on An Hội islet, 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.

Many stalls allow photos for free, but some may ask for a small tip if you're not buying. If you do want to bring one home, they're often collapsible and easy to pack — just check that the frame is sturdy and the stitching is clean.Marnick Schoonderwoerd, Local Vietnam, 2025

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.

More on the town in the guide to Hoi An.

Our serviceAbout the service

Fast Track — no queue at the border

5–10 minutes instead of an hour in the immigration queue

AirportsNha Trang · Da Nang · Hanoi · Ho Chi Minh · Phu Quoc

from$11per passenger

Book on Telegram

Phu Quoc night market — a seafood kingdom

A Phu Quoc night market stall: fish and spiny lobsters on ice, prawns, clams and octopus in trays
On Phu Quoc the seafood is cooked in front of you — pick from the stall and it's on your plate ten minutes later. Photo: FrogsLegs71, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

If you love seafood, this is the best night market in Vietnam. Chợ đêm Phú Quốc (Dinh Cau Night Market) 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.

Hours: daily, 17:00–23:30. Where: central Duong Dong.

More on the island in the guide to Phu Quoc.

Nha Trang night market

Squid on bamboo skewers, chicken and meat on the trays of a street-food stall
The typical night-market street-food line-up — squid, chicken and meat on skewers

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.

An honest downside: quality is middling. Haggling is a must — the first price is inflated two to three times over, and the range trails Ben Thanh and Hanoi. Come for the evening stroll by the sea, not the shopping.

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

More in the guide to Nha Trang.

Getting set up in Vietnam?

Visa fast-track, housing rentals, tours — our manager sorts it out for you, in English.

TelegramWhatsApp
VietnamSpot on InstagramTips, lifehacks and news for living in VietnamFollow

Da Lat night market — warm sweaters and artichoke tea

Cho Da Lat market at night — a lit building reading CHO DA LAT and a wet walkway
Chợ Đà Lạt — the hub of the city's night life, 1,500 metres up

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 runs along Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai street, by Chợ Đà Lạt market, west of Xuân Hương lake, right in the centre.

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, 17:00–00:00.

More in the guide to Da Lat.

Da Nang night market

Dragon Bridge over the Han River in Da Nang at sunset — a lit yellow structure
On weekends at 21:00 the Dragon Bridge breathes fire and water — pair it with the evening 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

Currency converter

1 000 000 ₫ ≈ $38 · Indicative rate, updating…
Seven Vietnam night markets compared — days, hours and highlights
MarketCityDaysHoursHighlightPrices
Bến ThànhHo Chi Minh CityDailyfrom 18:00Huge range, city iconMid–high (haggle!)
Walking StreetHanoiFri–Sun18:00–23:00Pedestrian zone, festival moodMid
Hội An Hoi AnDaily17:00–22:00Lanterns, tailorsMid
Dinh CauPhu QuocDaily17:00–23:30Grilled seafoodMid (fixed)
Nha TrangNha TrangDaily19:00–22:00Seafront, tourist-focusedInflated (haggle!)
Chợ Đà LạtDa LatDaily17:00–00:00Coffee, wine, cool airLow–mid
Sơn TràDa NangDaily18:00–22:00Han River, Dragon BridgeMid

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 was probably close to 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.

Don't flash your wallet. Pull out only the amount you need. A visible wad of notes means an automatic price bump.

Handy phrases for the market

Handy Vietnamese phrases for haggling at the market
PhraseVietnameseRoughly
How much?Bao nhiêu tiền?bao nyew tien
Too expensive!Đắt quá!dat kwa
Cheaper, pleaseGiảm giá đi!zam za di
Thank youCảm ơngam un
No thanksKhông cần, cảm ơnkhong gan, gam un

FAQ

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).

Phu Quoc, Hoi An and Da Lat 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 midnight.

  • Street food15,000–50,000 VND~$0.60–2
  • Souvenirs: magnetsfrom 10,000 VND~$0.40
  • Lanternsfrom 50,000 VND~$2
  • Seafood on Phu Quoc: lobsterfrom 300,000 VND~$12

At most markets haggling is expected — the first price is inflated 30–100%

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.

Very rarely. Night markets are a cash business — bring Vietnamese dong. ATMs are usually nearby; the withdrawal fee depends on the bank.

Phở and bánh mì at any market. Egg coffee in Hanoi. Cao Lầu in 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.
Read next
  • Food

    Hue Food Guide 2026: What to Eat and Where

    What to eat in Hue in 2026: 12 dishes with addresses, bun bo Hue, imperial dinners from $20 to $60, vegan chay spots, Dong Ba market and real prices.24 min read    Hue Food Guide 2026: What to Eat and Where
  • Food

    Banh Mi: Vietnam's Legendary Sandwich, Explained

    Banh mi, Vietnam's famous sandwich: the French roots, the fillings, regional styles, where to find the best and how to order it.24 min read    Banh Mi: Vietnam's Legendary Sandwich, Explained
  • Food

    Vung Tau Food Guide 2026: Seafood, Banh Khot, Prices

    What to eat in Vung Tau: banh khot, Long Son oysters, stingray hotpot. Seven restaurants, the Xom Luoi fish market, prices in USD, one-day route.17 min read    Vung Tau Food Guide 2026: Seafood, Banh Khot, Prices
Was this article helpful?