If you consider shopping to be an integral part of your holiday, the Central Market is the main place for shopping, open from morning until late afternoon. Here you can find clothes, food and useful things for your daily needs. There are some souvenirs to be found, but you’ll have to peruse and use your hunting skills.

Some popular things to buy in Phan Thiet include: Nuoc Mam (fish sauce), dragon fruit, needlework, ceramic objects and Cham textiles. On your shopping excursions you will likely come across a number of things that may look exotic and tempting to buy, but are better left alone. Buying corals and coral accessories only contributes to the already significant damage to Vietnam’s coral reefs. Other products to watch out for include sea turtle products, rice wine with endangered animals in the bottles, things made of ivory and alligator hide.

There are a number of good markets in the area. In Phan Thiet, you might want to start at the Co-op Mart on the corner of Nguyen Tat Thanh and Tran Hung Dao, for souvenir and jewelry shops.

Phan Thiet Central Market, which is the largest in the province, is the place for local stuff such as fresh fruit, coconut candies, dried seafood, and sand paintings.

Cho Gao floating market

In the early morning, you could travel by your comfortable bus towards Can Duoc, where you come aboard of your boat to cruise to the Cho Gao floating market.

This sightseeing is extremely interesting as you participate in the life of the local people. The market is a melting pot of colors, shapes, sounds and smells. Rice, fresh fruit, fish, handicrafts, bonsais, almost everything is for sale, a great opportunity to find some nice souvenirs for the loved-ones at home!