Shopping in Vietnam
I just got back from Vietnam last week and it was a gastronomic and shopping fest. At the rate I was eating I probably need to consider weight loss pills at some point in time before I balloon up hehe… But nope, I’m going to persevere and try to work it off the hard way 
That said, here are 3 tips I have for shopping in Vietnam especially in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon):-
- Bargain - the traders are now quite smart. The old rule of 70% discount no longer applies for big purchases. Its more like 50-60% now or they won’t bother to call you back because they know there will be others who will pay for it. For small items e.g. embroidered items you can still try to bargain it to a palatable level.
- Use Vietnam Dong - I’ve found that when I choose to pay in VND I get a better price. It might be due to the high exchange rate at this time between the RM-USD which is the other accepted currency in Vietnam. So, I ask for prices in VND and work from there.
- Don’t shop at the first store you see - in many cases, the most prominent store will be the most expensive store. I prefer to go deep into the labyrinth of the Ben Tanh market or to a store on a side road – I get the same item I want for a smaller price.
Hope this helps!