Saigon Square 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Anyone looking for bargains while in Saigon should head to Saigon Square on the corner of Nam Kỳ Khởi and Le Loi in District 1. This shopping arcade is packed with stalls on two levels selling fashion, accessories and jewellery – be aware of forgeries though, and remember the old adage that if it seems too good to be true it probably is. Even though it’s always bustling with shoppers, Saigon Square is air conditioned and under cover so it is far more pleasant than shopping in the nearby Ben Thanh Market and it’s generally accepted that prices are far better here. Shops and stalls in Saigon Square are seemingly placed haphazardly around the mall so the best thing to do is just stroll along the aisles looking for something that takes your fancy.

A great market to buy imitation goods - some very well made, supposedly built using the same materials. Better environment than Ben Thanh Market! But the stall owners here are super aggressive to guard their “space” if you happen to stand in front of their stalls. Well just where do you stand if your group is looking at something from the adjacent stall??