3 Best Places to Shop in Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Can Tho's renovated old market, built in 1915, contains dozens of kiosks selling tourist-oriented items, including handicrafts, carvings, lanterns, silk (or fake silk) items, and food souvenirs.

Setting up just before sunset, the night market sells touristy souvenirs, such as shells, handicrafts, and wooden boats. Expect to bargain for souvenirs, but not for food. Avoid buying pearls; they're low-quality imports, not genuine Phu Quoc pearls.

This is where locals come to do their shopping, and it's interesting simply to walk around. The market is tidily divided into areas for dry goods, fresh fruit, fish and meat, and clothing. Keen cooks can stock up on inexpensive fish paste and sauce, and there are a few stalls serving steaming bowls of pho and banh canh, a soup with thick noodles made from tapioca flour. All manner of fruit is available here, with some vendors selling sliced mangos ready to go in a plastic bag.