Is Vietnam expensive for shopping?

Is Vietnam cheap for shopping?

Hanoi, 2023. Scorching. Silk scarves. Mountains of them. Like, seriously, piled high. Ben Thanh Market. Hot, crowded, overwhelming. But the colors! Bought three. For my mom, sister, and me. Ridiculously cheap. Maybe $2 each? I definitely haggled. Felt like a pro. Even got a free bracelet. Tacky, but whatever. Still have it. Somewhere. Probably.

• Local goods: Dirt cheap. Clothes, shoes, bags. Knock-offs mostly. Didn’t care.
• Food: Street food. Amazing. Pho for like a dollar. Banh mi, even less. Ate everything. No regrets.
• Tailoring: Got a suit made. Hoi An. Perfect fit. Fraction of the price back home. Blue silk. Love it. Still wear it.

My friend bought a North Face backpack. Fake, obviously. He paid $10. It lasted two years. Not bad. Haggling is key. Don’t be shy. Walk away. They’ll call you back. Trust me. I’ve been there. Vietnam. Cheap. Go.

• Electronics: Not cheaper. Actually more expensive. Stick to local stuff.
• Imported goods: Same as electronics. Pointless.

Sunscreen. Forgot sunscreen. Burned. Badly. Should’ve bought some there. Probably cheaper anyway. Next time.

How much should you haggle in Vietnam?

Okay, so, Vietnam. Haggling. Right. Offer, like, half. Seriously. I did this in Hanoi last year, 2023, at Dong Xuan Market, got some silk scarves. Total rip off at first, obvi. But half price? They went for it! Crazy.

• Start low: Like, ridiculously low. Half. Sometimes even less, depends. If it’s like, a tourist trap kinda thing.
• Be prepared to walk away: This is key. Like, seriously. They’ll come after you. Happened to me with, uh… a painting? Yeah, a painting in Hoi An. Ancient Town.
• Cash is king: Seriously. Dollars even. They like dollars. USD. Especially for bigger purchases, like that painting I got.
• Be polite, but firm: Smile. Important. Even if you’re thinking, are you kidding me with this price? Just, smile. It works. Did it in a tailor shop in Da Nang. Got a whole suit made.
• Don’t be affraid to haggle for everything: Street food, souvenirs, even taxi rides, sometimes.

My friend, Sarah, she got a whole bunch of those conical hats, you know the ones? For, like, next to nothing. Haggled like a pro. I’m telling you, it’s expected. Part of the fun, kind of. Oh, also. Learned this the hard way. Small bills. Helps. They’ll claim they dont have change. Ugh.

How to ask for a discount in Vietnam?

Night. Dark. Thinking about Vietnam… Dust, heat, the noise. Đắt quá… Slipped out so easily. Remember that feeling… hesitant, but hopeful. Bargaining… it’s a dance. Awkward sometimes. Got better at it though. Near the end of my trip, almost instinctual.

• Đắt quá: Really is your best starting point. Simple. Direct. Gets the conversation going. They usually expect it. Especially in markets. Tourist areas. Less so in fixed-price shops. Like, the bigger stores in Hanoi. Remember that air conditioning… so nice.

• Giảm giá được không?: Yeah, this works too. More direct. Asking for a discount outright. Sometimes it’s easier just to ask.

• Smile: Always smile. Makes a difference. Even if you’re frustrated. They’re trying to make a living too. Remember that old woman selling mangoes. Her smile. Brightened my whole day.

• Walk away: Sometimes you gotta walk away. If the price is too high. They often call you back. Or you find something better down the street. So much stuff for sale. Overwhelming sometimes. Remember those silk scarves… Bought so many.

• Cash is king: Cash is better. They often prefer it. Easier to… negotiate. Got a better deal on those wooden carvings with cash. Still have them. Sitting on my bookshelf.

Thinking back… It’s more than just bargaining. It’s a connection. A small interaction. A moment shared. Even if it’s just over a few dong. Miss it sometimes. The energy. The chaos. The life.