20 Best Shopping in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

The founder of Gallery Vivekkevin presents his own luxurious contemporary jewelry, as well as collections from artists from around Asia, in ways that elevate the jewelers from craftspeople to artists. Even if you'd rather not splurge for jewelry while on holidays, this stark white gallery and retail outlet is worth popping in for a quick peek. The intricate creations on display are mind-blowing.

This chic, capacious boutique stocks luxe gifts from an array of international brands like Rifle stationery, Izipizi sunglasses, and home accessories from design companies like Fritz Hansen and Hay. International travelers might be more drawn to the selection of stylish, made-in-Vietnam products from brands including Cochine, Avana, and Woo Cares. There are two larger locations at 24 Thao Dien (District 2) and in Crescent Mall (District 7).

Set up by an NGO to assist women in remote villages in Vietnam and Cambodia, Mekong Quilts stocks beautifully handcrafted items made from papier mâché, silk, bamboo (including seven models of bamboo bicycles), and water hyacinth as well as beautifully handmade quilts and cushions.

Authentique Home sells a range of beautifully crafted products made from wood, ceramic, and cloth from three workshops: Cam Kim carpentry, Cam Ha potteries, and Cam Giang textiles.

French fashion editor-turned-designer Catherine Denoual creates soft and luxurious hand-embroidered bed and table linens in elegant neutral colors, many with a dragonfly motif. The linen and other home wares in her flagship store have been described as contemporary heirlooms for their elegance and attention to detail.

This is a permanent gallery featuring the work of French photographer Réhahn, who has been based in Hoi An since 2011. His award-winning photographs are mainly portraits, many featuring Vietnam's ethnic minorities.

One of the first modern department stores in town, Diamond Plaza has several floors of shopping as well as restaurants, a spa, and a mini-supermarket. The original building houses the department store, while two high-rise towers contain offices and serviced apartments.

The beautifully embellished handbags here, which are sold at high-end boutiques around the world, are considered by some to be the ultimate style souvenir from Vietnam.

Lucky Plaza spans an entire city block, with entrances in Nguyen Hue and Dong Khoi Streets, and is stuffed full of stalls selling clothing, shoes, handbags, lacquerware, watches, DVDs, jewelry, sunglasses, and souvenirs.

Antique replicas here include prints of old colonial Saigon and Dong Ho folk woodcut paintings. There's also a treasure trove of clothing, fabrics, and craft items.

The flagship store of a small local chain sells cute-as-a-button linen and cotton baby and kids; clothing and embroidered home wares. The fish-shaped baby sleeping bags are likely to make you squeal.

The first and most central of the Parkson chain of shopping centers, Parkson Plaza has a wide range of fashion, cosmetics, homewares, appliances, and kitchenware, as well as a small supermarket on the top floor.

Just as the name implies, Saigon Kitsch offers a treasure trove of entertaining knickknacks—mugs, badges, stickers, coasters, laptop bags, shot glasses, ashtrays—all emblazoned with Socialist period slogans or quirky Vietnam-themed motifs. It's the perfect place to grab a sack full of souvenirs for friends and family back home.

A huge conglomeration of tiny stalls hawking all kinds of clothing, footwear, accessories, and electronics, Saigon Square is a great place to restock on beachwear: shorts, T-shirts, swimsuits, flip-flops, children's clothing, sunglasses, hats, and whatever else you may have worn out while on vacation. There are also lots of knockoffs on offer here, many claiming to use genuine materials. Some haggling is required, even when an item has a price tag attached. Generally, the more you buy, the bigger the discount. Note that all transactions are cash-only.

The multifloor Takashimaya department store is the centerpiece of this glitzy new shopping mall, which features many international brands, restaurants, and cafés. Younger kids will enjoy tiNiWorld on the fourth floor.

This little cobbler shop can custom-make shoes in as little as a week, either copying an existing shoe or replicating one of the samples on display. Expect to pay 1,800,000d and up—not bad for a hand-stitched pair made with quality leather, likely to be a long-lasting reminder of your trip to Vietnam.

This cute little shop has a selection of ready-made clothing in Western sizes and a fast and efficient tailoring service. The clothing is mostly women's but there is a small range of men's items, including ties, as well as a range of handbags, scarves, and jewelry.

Allow at least two days for tailoring, even though the shop assistants may tell you they can do a one-day turnaround—some extra fitting and final adjustments may make all the difference to your purchase.

Five levels of retail therapy in a shiny new glass-and-chrome skyscraper include an eclectic mix of high-end fashion brands, such as Jimmy Choo and Versace, and well-known midrange options, such as Gap and a branch of the British Debenhams department store. There are multiple dining options, a CGV movie theater on the sixth floor, and a Kids Zone on one of the basement floors, with a play area for young children and a large arcade for older kids.

The hand-embroidered silk "paintings" created here have to be seen to be believed. They come in a range of styles, from traditional Vietnamese scenes to photograph-quality portraits. The artists work on the top floor, and the lower floors showcase their work, together with a small range of men's and women's clothes and accessories (scarves, ties, and fans). There are other locations in Dalat and Hanoi.