Usually travelers going on vacation try to find out more about the place where they spend their vacation. The city of Nha Trang is considered the capital of a holiday resort in Vietnam. Therefore, the labor activity of local residents is more or less connected with the tourism industry.
Nha Trang is a city with a well-developed tourist infrastructure. There are beautiful beaches, numerous shops and cafes. In addition to large supermarkets, the excellent Nha Trang markets will be very interesting for tourists. Vietnam as a whole is a colorful and peculiar country, and for a closer acquaintance with it, many tourists are sure to send an excursion to the city markets.
A bit about the product and sellers
Vietnam can be called a backward country in terms of mechanized equipment. Therefore, among local farmers, manual labor is widely developed. That is, they all plant and harvest by hand. So, vegetables and fruits are grown without the addition of chemistry and GMOs.
The market is usually traded by the farmers themselves or their family members. At the same time, the price tag for vegetables and fruits is not overstated. But before heading to the bazaar, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with local prices. So that unscrupulous merchants, who, unfortunately, also meet, do not deceive the naive tourist. It is important that market prices are often lower than in the supermarket.
Another feature that tourists meet in the bazaar is that many merchants do not know English. And they have to communicate with sign language. But they show the cost of the goods on their fingers or type numbers on a calculator.
Going to the markets of Nha Trang, it should be remembered that the Vietnamese are very fond of bargaining. But if you call the price too low, the merchant may be seriously offended. A big bonus for the buyer will be if he learns a few words in Vietnamese before going to the market. For example, it could be a greeting.
It would be appropriate to reduce the cost of goods by 30% of the declared price. If the buyer does not agree with the announced price, he can name his own and start defiantly leaving. In most cases, the Vietnamese seller will catch up and give the goods for the price that suits the buyer.
It is most practical to buy meat and fish from early morning until about ten o’clock, when these products are still fresh. Because in the local heat, meat and fish quickly lose their marketable appearance and it will be difficult to distinguish today's fish from yesterday. Those who wish to save money, it is better to go for vegetables and fruits in the afternoon - at this time, merchants begin to significantly reduce prices for these goods.
Cho Dam Market
It is on this bazaar that travel agencies bring numerous tourists for a sightseeing tour. And the guides recommend their tourists to visit the Cho Dam market in Nha Trang to feel the local flavor.
Officially, this market is the largest in the city. Cho Dam Market was erected in 1908, the building was built in the form of a lotus and at the same time it is a trade symbol of the city. During its existence, the market building has been subjected to fires and looting several times.
According to tourists, here are arrogant traders who inflate the price several times and do not want to bargain. Tourists here mainly buy fruits and souvenirs. In addition, you can buy jewelry, various household goods in the malls, as well as try Vietnamese cuisine in local cafes.
The market is located in the northwestern part of the city. Open from 8.00 to 18.00. You can get to it by buses No. 4 and No. 2.
Northern Market (Cho Vinh Hai)
The Northern Bazaar is the second largest market after Cho Dam Market. According to tourists, this market is the cheapest compared to other markets in the city. This feature is explained by a certain distance from tourist places. In addition, the Northern Market is located not far from the fishing port and, therefore, prices for fish and seafood are lower than in other places.
To buy fresh fish and meat in the Northern Bazaar, you have to come here at eight in the morning. By five in the evening, only vegetables and fruits can be found on sale here. In the Northern market, the assortment of goods is the same as other Nha Trang markets.
Nha Trang North Market is located in the north of the city. Open from six in the morning until six in the evening. You can get to this market by bus number 6.
Cho Xom Moi Market
This bazaar is located in the city center. The market building was built in 1960. And, despite the fact that Cho Xom My is a small bazaar, here you can buy all the essentials.
You can find fresh products in the market. But the choice is small compared to what other Nha Trang markets can offer. As tourists note in this market, prices are lower than in supermarkets in the city. In addition, on its territory there is free parking for motorbikes.
Market in the West (Cho Phuong Sai)
Cho Phuong Sai Market is located in the depths of small streets in the west of Nha Trang. To find the bazaar you need to know in advance where it is or ask passers-by about its location.
It is rarely possible to meet a tourist here, which means that prices here will be much lower than other Nha Trang markets offer. Cho Phuong Sai Bazaar sellers offer meat, fish, seafood, vegetables and fruits. In addition, jewelry, industrial goods, clothes and shoes are sold in a large assortment here. On its territory there are local cafes where you can try local cuisine.
European Quarter Market
In the European quarter of Nha Trang you can find a small bazaar. Everything is sold here: from groceries to magnets for refrigerators and shoes. From 6 to 10 in the morning, buyers come to the market for fresh fish and meat. And during the day you can always buy vegetables and fruits.
Nha Trang Night Market
This market is located near the monument to Lotus, opposite the promenade. In fact, the night market in Nha Trang works in the daytime. And in the evenings it is open until 23-00 hours. The night market is fully focused on working with tourists. Here you will not find hawkers with meat, fish, vegetables and fruits. But here they sell souvenirs, handicrafts, jewelry, clothes and shoes.
Tourists should be aware that the night market is too overpriced. For example, in the same market, Cho Dam Market will ask for an order of magnitude lower for the same souvenirs or jewelry. Therefore, it is advisable to bargain in the night market. Moreover, here sellers speak English quite well, and some even know Russian.
The big difference between the night market and other Nha Trang markets is that there isn’t such a big fuss, and they don’t ride motorbikes between the malls. In addition, here you can safely consider the offered goods and at the same time, annoying sellers will not insist on buying anything from them.
Tourists reviews
Many tourists who find themselves in Vietnam for the first time are amazed at the Nha Trang markets. Reviews of local bazaars are very different. But we can conclude that, having arrived in this amazing country, it is worth at least once to visit the local market.
Tourists write that it’s more advisable to go to Cho Dam for things. At this market you can bargain well and be satisfied with purchases.
Also, many say that in the night market prices are clearly overpriced. In addition, some complain that food prices have risen in Nha Trang markets (those who have already been to Nha Trang before) say so. But the dirt on their territory did not decrease.
In Nha Trang markets you can find everything you need, including bedding, kitchen utensils and jewelry. And brisk sellers make the buying process itself bring pleasure and joy to tourists. After all, a cunning merchant is sure that a satisfied buyer will come to him again and again for another purchase.