Vietnam Market Hours: When to Shop, When to Bargain (and When They’re Closed)
✅ Last verified on-the-ground: 2026-07-17
Vietnam runs on a different clock than you think. Morning wet markets wrap up by 9 AM while night market food stalls don’t fire up until 5 PM. This guide gives you the exact opening and closing times for the markets backpackers visit, plus the food-stall windows that matter for backpackers. Planning the wider region? Our Southeast Asia backpacking hub covers the full multi-country route.
Quick Answers
| What | Answer | Price (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| When does Ben Thanh Market open? | 6 AM for the outer daytime section, 6 PM to 4 AM for the night market food court | Free entry |
| When does Dong Xuan Market open? | 6 AM to 6 PM, closed Mondays | Free entry |
| When does Hoi An Central Market open? | 6 AM to 9 PM daily, night trading from 7 PM | Free entry |
| When do weekend night markets run? | Friday to Sunday, 6 PM to 11 PM in Hoi An and Hanoi | Free entry |
| When does Tet close all markets? | About 3 days before Lunar New Year through the 3rd day of Tet | — |
Day Markets vs Night Markets: Two Different Schedules
Vietnamese markets split into two distinct ecosystems. Day markets (chợ) are functional wet markets serving locals: produce, meat, fish, household goods, and a tourist-friendly souvenir section around the edges. Night markets (chợ đêm) are the entertainment tier, mostly catering to visitors with street food, souvenirs, and sometimes live music. Both follow tight schedules, and the gap between them is wide.
Day markets across Vietnam broadly run 6 AM to 6 PM, with most closing by 7 PM. Night markets pick up around 5 PM to 6 PM and run until 10 PM, 11 PM, or even 1 AM depending on the city. The Ben Thanh Night Market in Ho Chi Minh City runs from 6 PM to 4 AM, which is unusually late and a major draw for backpackers who finish dinner and want to keep moving.
The split exists because vendors serve two crowds. Morning shoppers want fresh produce and breakfast. Night shoppers want dinner, drinks, and souvenirs. Trying to buy street food at 2 PM or fresh vegetables at 10 PM will leave you disappointed.
Ben Thanh Market (Ho Chi Minh City)
| Section | Hours | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Outer daytime market | 6 AM to 6 PM | Daily |
| Inner tourist hall | 7 AM to 7 PM | Daily |
| Night market (south gate) | 6 PM to 4 AM | Daily |
| Food stalls (night) | 5 PM to 1 AM | Daily |
Ben Thanh Market is the most-visited market in southern Vietnam, anchoring District 1 just south of Pham Ngu Lao. The day market caters to tourists and locals buying textiles, lacquerware, and souvenirs from the inner hall. Prices here are inflated compared to local wet markets; expect to bargain down to about 60 to 70 percent of the first quote.
The night market takes over around the south gate and along Phan Boi Chau and Phan Chu Trinh streets. Book a Ho Chi Minh street food tour if you want a guide to handle the Vietnamese-language bargaining for you. Food stalls start firing up grills around 5 PM but the market hits full stride after 7 PM when the temperature drops and the lanes fill.
Dong Xuan Market (Hanoi)
| Section | Hours | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Main wholesale hall | 6 AM to 6 PM | Tuesday to Sunday |
| Wholesale hall | Closed | Mondays |
| Night market (around the perimeter) | 7 PM to 11 PM | Friday to Sunday only |
Dong Xuan is Hanoi’s largest covered market, sitting at the north end of the Old Quarter. The wholesale section sells fabrics, electronics, and household goods in bulk, so most backpackers skip the inner halls and head for the night market that wraps around the building.
The night market here is Hanoi-only, running Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings. It stretches from Dong Xuan gate down Hang Ngang, Hang Dao, and Hang Duong streets. Souvenir stalls open around 6 PM, food vendors by 7 PM. The full sweep of vendors takes about 40 minutes to walk; budget 90 minutes if you’re stopping for snacks.
Note the Monday closure. Most Hanoi tourists hit the Old Quarter on weekends, but if you’re here mid-week and want the night-market experience, check our Hanoi guide for the weekday alternatives like Ta Hien beer street.
Hoi An Central Market
| Section | Hours | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Day market | 6 AM to 9 PM | Daily |
| Fresh produce (riverside) | 5 AM to 9 AM | Daily |
| Lantern-lit night trading | 7 PM to 9 PM | Daily |
Hoi An’s central market sits on the river, two blocks east of the Japanese Covered Bridge. It’s the one market in Vietnam where you can realistically shop and eat across a full 16-hour day without leaving the same building. The main hall opens at 6 AM and is fully active by 7 AM, while the riverside fresh produce section starts earlier at 5 AM. Lantern-lit souvenir stalls keep trading into the evening.
For more on Hoi An after dark, see our Hoi An beyond the lanterns guide.
The day market is where locals shop: herbs, fresh noodles, rice, fish, and street breakfast. Tourists who wander in around 8 AM to 9 AM get the full sensory overload of Vietnamese market culture without the hard-sell pressure of the night stalls. Prices here are closer to local rates than at any of the famous markets in HCMC or Hanoi.
Weekend Night Markets Across Vietnam
| City | Night Market | Hours | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ho Chi Minh City | Ben Thanh Night Market | 6 PM to 4 AM | Daily |
| Hanoi | Dong Xuan Night Market | 7 PM to 11 PM | Fri to Sun |
| Hoi An | Hoi An Night Market | 5 PM to 10 PM | Daily |
| Da Nang | Son Tra Night Market | 6 PM to 11 PM | Fri to Sun |
| Da Nang | Helio Night Market | 5:30 PM to 10:30 PM | Sat to Sun |
Da Nang has two notable night markets. Son Tra Night Market, near My Khe Beach, focuses on seafood and souvenirs, open Friday to Sunday. Helio Night Market, west of the Dragon Bridge, is more of a food-and-entertainment complex running Saturday and Sunday evenings.
For backpackers basing themselves in Da Nang, our Da Nang guide covers the cheap eats and beach access, while the Da Nang nightlife guide maps the late-night options.
Food Stall Hours: The Real Operating Windows
Here are the actual food-stall operating times:
| Window | What’s Open | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 5 AM to 8 AM | Breakfast pho, banh mi, xoi (sticky rice) | All day markets, riverside stalls |
| 8 AM to 11 AM | Coffee, banh cuon, lighter snacks | Day markets, street vendors |
| 11 AM to 2 PM | Com tam (broken rice), bun, lunch sets | Day markets, lunch-only stalls |
| 2 PM to 5 PM | limited; cafes and a handful of snacks | Tourist-area cafes only |
| 5 PM to 8 PM | Grills, seafood, banh xeo, full night menu | All night markets, restaurant zones |
| 8 PM to 11 PM | Late-night snacks, beer, dessert | Night markets, backpacker streets |
| 11 PM to 4 AM | Limited; Ben Thanh Night Market food court, Ta Hien beer corner | HCMC, Hanoi late spots |
The 2 PM to 5 PM gap is real. Most food vendors close for the afternoon break (which is also when the temperature peaks). Backpackers who try to walk into a wet market at 3 PM looking for street food will find nothing cooking. For the 2 PM to 5 PM window, head to one of the sit-down restaurants listed below rather than relying on hotel kitchens or convenience stores.
For solid Vietnamese food in any of these windows, the picks below handle both the day and night rush.
Where to Eat Around Vietnam’s Markets
Local Vietnamese spots:
- Nhà An: Local Vietnamese food with vegan options in a cozy setting, near the Hanoi Old Quarter. Ideal lunch stop when the wet markets start winding down.
- Vietnamese Soul Food: Flavorsome Vietnamese street food experience, popular in HCMC. Worth visiting for a banh mi or bowl of bun bo Hue when day-market stalls have already closed.
- Sen Trang An Vietnamese Restaurant: Traditional Vietnamese restaurant with a focus on local flavors and cultural experience, good for a sit-down dinner between market runs.
- NGON DA NANG: Authentic Vietnamese dishes including Bun Cha Ca and Banh Xeo, in Da Nang’s market district. Rustic decor matches the night-market vibe.
- Hoang’s Restaurant: Vegan-friendly Vietnamese restaurant with a cozy and welcoming vibe, useful when the wet-market produce stalls are closed but you still want plant-based food.
Indian/veg-friendly fallback (when you need a guaranteed vegetarian meal):
- A Taste Of Saigon - Old Market: Traditional Vietnamese dishes in a lively market setting, plus an explicit vegetarian section.
- MẸT Hội An: Famous for Cao Lâu and an extensive vegetarian menu, ideal for the gap hours when the Hoi An market stalls are between shifts.
- MẸT Vietnamese Restaurant & Vegetarian Met 2: Vegetarian Vietnamese dishes with a lively atmosphere, useful in HCMC and Hanoi.
Bargaining Windows: When Vendors Are Most Flexible
| Window | Bargaining Power | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 6 AM to 8 AM | High | Vendors want the first sale of the day |
| 30 minutes before close | High | Vendors don’t want to pack inventory home |
| Rainy days | High | Foot traffic drops, vendors are motivated |
| Tet week (3 days before) | Mixed | Some vendors close, others raise prices for last-minute items |
| Day 1 to 3 of Tet | Closed | Markets shut completely |
| Peak tourist hours (10 AM to 2 PM) | Low | Tourists pay, vendors know it |
The standard approach is to ask the price, counter at 50 to 60 percent, and meet around 70 percent. At closing time (especially at night markets around 10 PM to 11 PM), vendors often accept 50 percent to clear inventory. The same applies to morning wet markets, where produce vendors will negotiate hard if you’re buying in bulk before the morning rush peaks.
Tet Closures: When Everything Shuts Down
| Date (Lunar Calendar) | What Closes | What Stays Open |
|---|---|---|
| 23rd to 27th of 12th lunar month | Wholesale markets thin out | Day markets still operating but reduced hours |
| 28th to 30th | Most markets close early or for cleaning | Convenience stores, some restaurants |
| 1st to 3rd of Tet | Almost everything closed | International hotels, major restaurants, hospitals |
| 4th to 7th of Tet | Limited re-opening | Markets slowly resume, vendors trickle back |
| 8th to 15th of Tet | Full operations resume | Normal hours |
The exact dates shift each year on the Gregorian calendar. For 2026 Tet dates and a full Tet travel guide, see our Tet festival guide. The short version: don’t plan to shop for souvenirs during the 3 days immediately before or after Lunar New Year’s Day. Markets physically close, and the ones that stay open double their prices.
If your trip overlaps with Tet, book accommodation in advance and stock up on snacks before the 28th of the 12th lunar month. Convenience stores (Circle K, FamilyMart, 7-Eleven, GS25) stay open through Tet, which is why most backpackers end up eating convenience-store food for the first three days of the new year.
Market Hours vs Convenience Stores
| Source | Day Hours | Tet Hours | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day markets | 6 AM to 6 PM | Closed | Fresh produce, breakfast, souvenirs |
| Night markets | 6 PM to 11 PM | Closed | Street food, souvenirs, atmosphere |
| Convenience stores | 24/7 | 24/7 | Snacks, SIM cards, water, beer, ATM |
Convenience stores (7-Eleven, Circle K, FamilyMart, GS25, Bach Hoa Xanh) are the only retail layer that doesn’t close. Every Vietnamese city has dozens within walking distance of the backpacker zones. They serve as backup meals, SIM-card vendors (yes, you can buy a SIM at 7-Eleven), and emergency ATMs during market closures.
Where to Stay
For market-hopping basecamps, hostels near Ben Thanh (HCMC), the Old Quarter (Hanoi), and the night-market walking streets of Hoi An put you within walking distance of the morning and evening vendor windows covered above. Book early for Tet and weekend stays.
For the full route planning and sleeper-bus tips, see our Hanoi to HCMC itinerary.
How to Get Between Vietnam’s Markets
The markets listed above span four cities. Most backpackers hit them on a Hanoi-to-HCMC route, taking the Reunification Express or sleeper buses.
| Route | Mode | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Hanoi to Hoi An | Sleeper bus | ₹825-₹1,320 (~250,000-400,000 VND or ~$8.55-$13.68) |
| Hanoi to Da Nang | Sleeper bus | ₹737-₹1,289 (~200,000-350,000 VND or ~$7.64-$13.37) |
| Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City | Train (Reunification Express) | ₹1,650-₹4,950 (~500,000-1,500,000 VND or ~$17.10-$51.29) |
| Da Nang to Hoi An | Local bus or Grab | ₹74-₹184 (~20,000-50,000 VND or ~$0.76-$1.91) |
| Within HCMC | Grab Bike | ₹35-₹80 (~10,000-25,000 VND or ~$0.36-$0.83) |
| Within Hanoi | Grab Bike | ₹35-₹80 (~10,000-25,000 VND or ~$0.36-$0.83) |
For a full corridor breakdown, see our Hanoi to HCMC itinerary and the December packing guide if you’re travelling through Tet.
Connectivity for Market-Hopping
Markets themselves rarely have reliable Wi-Fi, so you’ll want a local SIM for Grab rides, Google Maps navigation between markets, and translator apps for bargaining.
Physical SIM: Buy a Viettel or Mobifone SIM at any day market, convenience store, or airport kiosk. Activation takes about 10 minutes with your passport. Plans start at ₹184 (~50,000 VND or ~$1.91) for 30 days with 3 GB data, going up to ₹737 (~200,000 VND or ~$7.64) for 30 days with 60 GB.
eSIM: If you don’t want to swap physical SIMs, Get Nomad eSIM works on most Indian phones sold after 2020 and activates before you land.
Common Market Mistakes Indians Make
Showing up at 10 PM to a day market. Wet markets shut by 7 PM, and many vendors have packed up by 6 PM. If you want fresh produce or breakfast food, be there by 7 AM.
Bargaining at the wrong hour. Vendors at peak tourist hours (10 AM to 2 PM in HCMC and Hanoi) know tourists pay full price. Come at opening or 30 minutes before close.
Assuming night markets run every day in every city. Hanoi’s Dong Xuan Night Market is Friday to Sunday only. HCMC’s Ben Thanh Night Market runs daily. Da Nang’s Helio is Saturday to Sunday only. Check the day before.
Planning a market-heavy Tet trip. Three days before and three days after Lunar New Year, markets physically close. Plan around it or accept that you’ll be eating convenience-store banh mi for a week.
Not bringing cash. Many market vendors don’t accept cards. Bring small-denomination VND (50,000 and 100,000 notes work best for bargaining).
Safety Notes Around Markets
Markets are generally safe, but the same tourist-targeted scams from the broader Vietnam safety guide apply: pickpocketing in crowded night markets, fake vendor stalls overcharging for “local” prices, and Grab drivers refusing short trips from market areas after dark.
A few specific notes:
- Ben Thanh inner hall: Aggressive touts push tourists toward “fixed price” stalls. Always ask for the price before touching anything.
- Dong Xuan wholesale section: Mostly locals; tourists wandering in are assumed to be buyers. Exit politely if you’re just looking.
- Hoi An night market: Safe but crowded; keep bags zipped and on your front.
- Da Nang Son Tra Night Market: Pickpocket reports from late-night weekends; keep valuables secure.
For real-time safety context before your trip, check the Indian MEA travel advisory for Vietnam and the destination country’s own advisory pages.
Subodh’s Take
Market hours in Vietnam follow the rhythm of Vietnamese life, which means everything is front-loaded. Wake up early for wet markets, sleep off the afternoon heat, and come back out for the night stalls. The travellers who complain that “everything is closed” are the ones showing up at 3 PM expecting a market to be open. The vendors aren’t hiding from you. They’re at home, resting, eating lunch, and avoiding the heat, just like anyone with sense would.
Plan around the Tet closures if your dates overlap, keep small bills ready for bargaining, and accept that the 2 PM to 5 PM gap is part of the rhythm. Once you sync to it, the markets feel less like an obstacle course and more like the daily heartbeat they are.
FAQ
What time does Ben Thanh Market close? The day market closes at 6 PM. The Ben Thanh Night Market at the south gate runs from 6 PM to 4 AM daily, with food stalls peaking between 7 PM and midnight.
Is Dong Xuan Market open every day? No, Dong Xuan is closed Mondays. Tuesday to Sunday it’s open 6 AM to 6 PM. The night market around the building runs Friday to Sunday, 7 PM to 11 PM.
What time does Hoi An’s night market start? Souvenir stalls open around 5 PM. The market hits full activity by 7 PM and most vendors wrap up by 10 PM.
Are Vietnam markets open during Tet? No. Markets close about 3 days before Lunar New Year and stay closed for the first 3 days of Tet. Limited re-opening from day 4, full operations by day 8 to 15.
Do I need to bargain at Vietnamese markets? Yes, especially for souvenirs and textiles. Day-market produce uses fixed pricing, but tourist sections expect negotiation. Start at 50 to 60 percent of the quoted price.
Can I use credit cards at markets? Mostly no. Bring VND cash in small notes. Major hotels and the inner Ben Thanh tourist hall sometimes accept cards, but most stalls are cash-only.
What’s the cheapest time to buy souvenirs? The 30 minutes before night-market close, when vendors are packing up. You can often get 50 percent off the opening quote.
