Nha Trang is a beautiful beach in the south of Vietnam. Many visitors love to come here to spend time relaxing on the crystal clear beaches, sunbathing on the endless white sand, and enjoying the bar scene. Besides these activities, another thing I enjoy doing when traveling is shopping. So what should you buy in Nha Trang and where to get it? Read on to find your answer.
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The best things to buy in Nha Trang
Nha Trang Specialties
Every province or city in Vietnam has its own specialties, so does Nha Trang. Many visitors, especially the Vietnamese, love to bring home some seafood, seahorse, bird nest, and mango rice paper as a present for their friends and family.
Seafood
If the reason that you love the beach is because it means you get to eat seafood, well, congratulations on hitting the jackpot! With a long coastline and 19 islands, Nha Trang receives many gifts from the ocean. You can find different types of fresh seafood from spidercrab, squid, shrimp, echinus, to sea snails and many kinds of fish. If you want to throw a sea feast party at Tran Phu beach, go shopping for seafood at the wet market in the early morning and cook it at home or in your hostel’s kitchen.
Most locals frequent Binh Tan and Xom Moi for seafood. Most of the fishing boats bring their fresh products to these markets for retailing and distributing to many restaurants in town. If you go in the morning, you can find some great ingredients with reasonable prices.
The price of seafood fluctuates according to the season. It’s better to go to the market with a local if you can, or talk to a local about the price range before you go. Then you will have some idea about how much money you should pay for certain seafood in order to avoid overpaying.
Salaganes’ nests – Yen sao
Khanh Hoa province and Nha Trang city are well-known for having good quality edible salaganes’ nests. The salaganes’ nest is made of swiftlets’ solidified saliva. It can be turned into different kinds of dishes, but two of the most popular dishes are salaganes’ nest drink and salaganes’ nest soup.
People believe that the salanganes’ nest is the secret to a long life.
People believe that the salanganes’ nest is the secret to a long life. Traditionally, the salanganes’ nest is used as beauty food. It enhances the skin’s health as it helps cell growth, as well as promotes overall immunity.
However, there are many places that sell faux salaganes’ nests in Nha Trang. So you should buy it from trustworthy companies such as Yen island in Nha Trang bay and Khanh Hoa bird nest company.
The price of a salaganes’ nest is expensive. For a dried one, it can cost up to 20,000,000 VND/nest (910 USD). The cheapest one is around 3,000,000 VND per 100 grams (137 USD). If you want to try salaganes’ nest but don’t want to spend a lot of money, you can buy those that have already been made into a drink (or concentrated salaganes’ nest) for 36,000 VND (1.70 USD) here.
Nha Trang also has a special festival to honor the founder of this enterprise. Find out more here.
Mango rice paper – Banh trang xoai
Though banh trang xoai originally comes from Cam Ranh city (Khanh Hoa province), Nha Trang has a large number of people demanding it. The rice paper is made of the best quality mango, characteristically sweet and juicy, from Cam Ranh. The process to make it is very simple. First, the mango is blended. Then the mixture is boiled and stirred with sugar for two to three hours until it becomes concentrated, filling the room with a sweet scent. After that, the mango mixture is poured on a tray covered with plastic. Finally, it is left to dry until it’s no longer sticky. The taste of mango rice paper is sweet and a bit sour. This delicacy is something that mango lovers look forward to when booking their trip to Vietnam
You can find banh trang xoai at Dam Market, 11E Thai Nguyen St. and 127 Yersin St.
For a bag of 200 grams of mango rice paper, it only costs 25,000 – 30,000 VND/200g (1.20 – 1.40 USD).
Souvenirs
The joy of a trip sometimes lies in buying souvenirs for someone you care for. Some popular souvenirs that people usually buy in Nha Trang are pearls, fine art handicrafts, and postcards/photography.
Pearls
Pearls are a popular souvenir that visitors usually buy when traveling to Nha Trang because they symbolize the wildness of the ocean and they grow naturally in the nearby waters.
If you’re looking for a present for the women in your life, there is no better gift than the Vietnamese pearl.
Pearls can be found in Vung Tau, Quy Nhon, and Phu Quoc as well. But what makes pearls in Nha Trang so special is they are formed naturally, thanks to the great natural condition of the ocean there. Even though it is very easy to seek pearls in every corner of Nha Trang, not all of the shops are reliable. Moreover, because of the high-class price (over 100 USD for each item) you should prepare for extra room in your budget if you really want to shop for pearls there.
Here are some prestigious shops in which to find your pearls:
Long Beach pearls
Address: 30A Nguyen Thien Thuat, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa
Phone: 0935 489 996
Business hours: 10 AM – 10 PM
Website: Long Beach pearls
Hoang Gia pearl
Address: Ground floor, 20 Tran Phu, Nha Trang
Phone: (+84)258 222 66 88 – 0908 258 818
Business hours: 9 AM – 10 PM
Website: Hoang Gia pearl
Saigon Pearl
Address: 150 Hung Vuong, Nha Trang
Phone: (+84)58 3523 987
Business hours: 9 AM – 10 PM
Website: Saigon Pearl
Artwork and Fine art handicrafts
Artwork
I definitely advise fine art handicraft collectors to visit XQ Su quan for fantastic hand embroidered pictures. Bring the charms of Vietnam into your living room with stunning pictures made by local talented artisans. The price of these pictures vary, starting from 500,000 VND (23 USD) to over a hundred million VND (more than 5,000 USD)!
XQ Su Quan
Address: 64 Tran Phu St. – Nha Trang City
Phone: (+84) 25 8352 6579
Business hours: 7:30 AM – 10 PM
Website: XQ Su Quan
Fine art handicrafts
If pottery is something you love, why don’t you bring home some bowls, plates, vases, or a simple cup made by traditional artists in Nha Trang? These pieces have a pretty decoration with a simple design. Not to mention, some even have a Champa influence which is characterized by simple clay-pots with Champa patterns, Apsara dancer statues and so on. You can also find unique products made of natural bamboo, burned eggshells, and lacquer. All of these crafts are sold at a reasonable price.
Where to find it:
Bau Truc pottery
Address: 135 Hoang Hoa Tham, Loc Tho Ward, Nha Trang city
Phone: (+84)258 3522 843
My Village
Address: 6G Hung Vuong, Nha Trang City
Business hours: 9 AM – 10 PM
Clothing
Clothing in Vietnam is cheap and it’s even cheaper in Nha Trang. In case you are in the mood to do some shopping for fashion, here are some options for tailoring and off-the-rack clothing.
Fabric and tailoring
Tailored clothing has accrued a good reputation in Nha Trang among travelers. You can have an adorable dress made or a full suit done within a day for a competitive price. You can either choose the design on the mannequin or in the catalogue. If you’re feeling creative, you can also come up with your own design and bring your fabric of choice to the tailor. They will make your dream pieces of clothing come true.
Trustworthy tailor shops:
Hoang Yen Tailor
Address: 128 Nguyen Thien Thuat, Tan Lap Ward, Tp. Nha Trang
Phone: (+84)583521615
Business Hours: 8 AM – 10 PM
Silk and Silver Nha Trang
Address: 6 Tran Quang Khai, Nha Trang, Vietnam
Phone: (+84) 258 625 2120
Off-the-rack
The Bambou Company sells environmentally-friendly yet fashionable clothing made of fiber materials. You can also look for inexpensive ready-to-wear items for men and women at some shops listed below.
The Bambou Company
Address: 15 Biet Thu, Nha Trang city
Phone: (+84) 258 352 3616
Dam – Vay Nha Trang
Address: 147/10 Duong Hien Quyen, Vinh Hoa Ward, Nha Trang
Phone: 093 621 66 46
Business hours: 9 AM – 9 PM
Senmi Nguyen
Address: 54 Dinh Tien Hoang, Nha Trang City
Phone: 093 778 70 71
Business hours: 9:30 AM – 9:30 PM
Website: Senmi Nguyen
Him Closet
Address: 72 Dong Da, Nha Trang City
Phone: 090 514 04 93
Business hours: 9 AM – 9:30 PM
Website: Him Closet
7 must-visit shopping locations in Nha Trang
Here is a list of scven shopping locations you should check out when visiting Nha Trang.
Dam market – Cho Dam
Like Ben Thanh market in Saigon, Dong Ba market in Hue, and Dong Xuan market in Hanoi, Dam Market is a well-known shopping location in Nha Trang, where travellers usually visit to hunt for local food or souvenirs before leaving the coastal city. This is the biggest market of Nha Trang city, home to over 1,500 kiosks. You can find a variety of goods here such as dried aliment, fresh seafood, souvenirs, and more. You should keep in mind that because the market is also seen as a tourist attraction, the sellers tend to overcharge you. Therefore, don’t hesitate to bargain, in case you really want to buy something.
Pro tips:
- Getting lost in Dam market is likely because the market is big and there are not many signboards to direct you. So beware.
- As you go deeper inside the market, the prices get cheaper.
- Make friends with locals and go shopping with them if you can. They can help you get the things you want for a better price.
- Keep your eyes on your belongings. The always crowded market is an ideal place for pick-pockets to conduct their crimes.
General information
Name of place: Dam market – Cho Dam
Address: Van Thanh, Nha Trang city
Business hours: 7 AM – 6 PM
Xom Moi market
Located in the city center of Nha Trang, Xom Moi market is perfect for those who want to buy fresh seafood in Nha Trang. It functions like a normal market, apart from the fact that 70% of the products sold are seafood, fresh meats, and organic vegetables. The food stalls of the market are also known for providing inexpensive, delicious and hygienic dishes.
Pro tip:
- Go to the market early in the morning for fresh seafood caught by the fishing boats just returning from the ocean.
General information
Name of place: Xom Moi Market
Address: 49, Ngo Gia Tu, Tan Lap, Nha Trang City
Business hours: 6 AM – 5 PM
Nha Trang night market
Nha Trang night market is also known as the walking town of Nha Trang. There are over 50 stalls running their business in this market. The main merchandise sold here includes souvenirs and clothing, together with 16 food counters. Spending time wandering in this night market is not a bad activity to do in the evening. But again, watch out for your belongings!
General information
Name of place: Nha Trang Night Market
Address: Tran Phu – Hung Vuong
Business hours: 2 PM – 11:30 PM
Maximark Nha Trang
Sometimes you will have to shop for necessary items (like shampoos, shaves, etc.,) during your trip. I recommend visiting Maximark Nha Trang. Launched in 2010, Maximark Nha Trang has becoming the frequented shopping place for locals and visitors. It has five floors which integrate many convenient services. The first to the third floor is a supermarket, where you can find commodities. The food court and restaurant are on the fourth floor. Last but not least, Lotte cinema is on the fifth floor, where you can spend your spare time watching a blockbuster movie during your vacation.
General information
Name: Vincom Maximark
Address: 60 Thai Nguyen, Phuong Sai Ward, Nha Trang City
Business hours: 8 AM – 10 PM
Lotte Nha Trang
Lotte Mart is a huge shopping mall in Nha Trang with the area of 10,000 square meters. There you can find commodity goods, a game center, fashion, and cosmetics.
General information
Name of place: Lotte Nha Trang
Address: 58, 23/10 St., Phuong Son Ward, Nha Trang City
Business hours: 8 AM – 10 PM
Nha Trang Center
Nha Trang Center Mall has a convenient location on Tran Phu street, the most beautiful street of Nha Trang. This shopping mall has four floors; you can find clothing, jewelry, cosmetics, and home appliances. It also has a cinema for your entertainment. Once in a while you might miss the taste of fast food. Well, you can find KFC and Lotteria there.
General information
Name: Nha Trang Center
Address: 20 Tran Phu, Loc Tho Ward, Nha Trang City
Business hours: 9 AM – 10 PM
I have detailed all that you need to know about shopping in Nha Trang. I hope you will have a wonderful time in this lovely beach city. More on Nha Trang:
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