Saigon Center: a Shopping Paradise for Travellers to Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City, also called with the former name Saigon, is the largest city in Vietnam, which attracts millions of domestic and foreign tourists. This city is a leading center of culture, science, business and finance of Vietnam, along with historical and modern constructions that have become the symbol of Ho Chi Minh City.

When it comes to shopping in Ho Chi Minh City, beside the traditional markets like Ben Thanh, Binh Tay or An Dong Market, you can enjoy convenient shopping at modern shopping centers. And if you would like to get high-class products, an address that you should not ignore is Saigon Center, one of the five most luxurious shopping malls in Ho Chi Minh City.

I. Construction and Architecture

Saigon Center, or Takashimaya Ho Chi Minh City, gains a prime ground right in the most bustling streets of Ho Chi Minh City – Le Loi and Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street. It is a mixed-used complex building with distinct areas for shopping malls, restaurants, offices and high-class apartments. The construction of Saigon Center included two phases, which was finally completed in 2017. While the investor of this construction is Keppel Land Ltd, a Singaporean conglomerate, almost all the stores in Saigon Centers belong to a Japanese corporation – Takashimaya.

The Phase 1 of Saigon Center, the first tower, was completed in 1996. At the time it was inaugurated, the tower 1 of Saigon Center broke the record of all the previous buildings to become the tallest building in Vietnam with 25 storeys of 106 meter-high.

In 2011, the Phase 2 of Saigon Center started its construction, a 43-storey tower and a retail podium with 6 storeys. On July 30, 2016, the shopping mall of Saigon Center was officially opened for public by Takashimaya Company, although it was not until 2017 that the second tower of Saigon Center was completed. Tower 2 of Saigon Center is at a height of 193.7 meters with 43 floors and became the fourth tallest building in Vietnam at that time.

Since it was inaugurated, Saigon Center has become one of the most crowded and luxurious shopping centers in Ho Chi Minh City, attracting not only the wealthy but also many youngsters who want to experience a sumptuous Saigon. The exterior grand architecture and the interior combination of opulent furniture and green trees of this shopping center make it seem to be another Takashimaya Singaporean Shopping Center, a famous shopping mall in Singapore, according to many people.

II. What to Shop at Saigon Center?

When entering Saigon Center, you will be absolutely immersed in the deluxe atmosphere and the eye-catching designs of the malls that are divided and organized clearly. Comprising eight floors for shopping malls and food courts, Saigon Center is the destination where you can find high-quality commodities of well-known and high-class brands in Vietnam and all over the world, even though the propositional prices are not pocket-friendly.

Each storey of Saigon Center has some kinds of specific products. While B2, L5 and L6 floors are used for restaurants and food courts, B1, L1, L2, L3 and L4 floors are for fashion products such as exclusive clothes, accessories and cosmetics.

1. Clothing and Fashion Products

Fashion products are the most outstanding commodities in Saigon Center. There are total five floors for fashion products like clothes, dresses, shoes, handbags, sportswear and so on, with the presence of luxury brands in the world such as Gucci, Chanel, Santoni, Casadei, Lacoste, Levi’s, Descino, Zuciani, Rylko, Adidas, Nike, Puma and so on. Besides, you can find many contemporary international collections of fashion brands on the L2 floor. If you do not want to spend a fortune for clothing, or just a little bit cheaper casual fashion, you can choose some Vietnamese stores like Bon Mua Boutique, Hoang Phuc or An Phuoc.

2. Jewelries and Accessories

High-class jewelries and accessories are also plentiful in Saigon Center with earrings, bracelets, necklaces, watches and glasses from well-known brands such as Chanel, Gucci, Daniel Wellington, Hublot, Pandora, Valmont, Moschino and PNJ, a famous Vietnamese jewelry company. All the jewelry and accessories, which are made of precious materials such as gold, silver, pearl, diamond,  are paid attention to detail in order to become extremely meticulous products, which help the owner to adorn the swanky beauty.

3. Cosmetics and Beauty Salons

These beauty products for sure interest girls and women most. In Saigon Center, you can buy authentic beauty products like fragrance, lipsticks, beauty lotions, and make-up products of leading brands, including Hermes, Dior, MAC, Clarins, The Face Shop, Vichy, Clinique, Laneige, Bvlgari and a lot of other famous companies.

Furthermore, on the floor of L2, you can experience the world-class services in the beauty salons such as nail salon, hair salon and facial salon. Going shopping and coming back with a new and gorgeous appearance will help you to be more confident and stunning.

4. Products for Children

On the L3 floor, there are plenty of toy stores and children’s clothes. This is the place where you can find high-quality toys as well as clothes for your and children without worrying about the potential negative effects of the equivalent products in the market. There are a lot of characters coming from favorite cartoons and movies of all the children in the world such as Barbie Doll, Disney Princess, Thomas and Friends, Simba, Transformers and so on. A nursery room is also in this area to help you mind your children when going shopping in Saigon Center.

5. Souvenirs

There are some souvenir shops on B2 floor for you to choose some things to bring home such as The Gift Farm, Gift Corner, L’angfarm and even Annam Gourmet Market. Beside traditional souvenirs like fine arts handicrafts of Vietnam, you can choose some types of  agricultural products of Da Lat like dried persimmon and atiso tea, coffee bean in L’angfarm or high-profile fruits in Annam Gourmet Market.

III. What to Eat at Saigon Center?

1. Asian Cuisine

On B2 floor, you will have an experience of different dishes from many Asian countries such as Vietnamese pho, mochi and sushi of Japan, douhua of China, kimbap and kimchi of Korea and many other types of food. Each stall in this neighborhood was organized and decorated in the typical style of the equivalent nation with the combination of light and furniture, which makes this floor an ideal destination for you to have stunning photos and wonderful experiences.

2. Fast Food and Drinks

Also located on B2 floor are a variety of coffee shops, milk tea stalls and fast food restaurants. If you want to have a snack, don’t miss French fries, burgers and fried chicken in McDonald’s or Japanese cakes in Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart. And if you are a fan of milk tea, there are various brands of high-quality milk tea there such as Phuc Long, Bobapop, Gongcha and Kouji Milk Tea. Wanting a cup of Vietnamese coffee? Just go to Highlands Coffee and Annam Café on B2 floor!

3. Luxurious Restaurants

The floor of L5 and L6 are the areas for luxurious restaurants, where you can enjoy an opulent meal in a sumptuous atmosphere with stunning lights, modern-style furniture and harmonious music. Particularly, on the L6 floor, there is a restaurant and rooftop garden, where you can enjoy relaxing moments with food and at the same time, contemplate the shimmering and bustling streets outside. Although the charge is as deluxe as the atmosphere and food there, it is still worth your try.

IV. Nearby Attractions and Hotels

1. Attractions

• Ben Thanh Market

Also located on Le Loi Street is Ben Thanh Market, a symbol of Ho Chi Minh City. If you are on a tight budget but still want to go shopping in Ho Chi Minh City, Ben Thanh Market is a more-than-awesome place for you, where you can discover the culture and cuisine of Ho Chi Minh City.

Location: Le Loi Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

• Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts

The Fine Arts Museum is one of the must-to-visit museums for tourists when coming to Ho Chi Minh City. This construction contains the unique architecture as well as the valuable object on display. This museum is an ideal place for you to explore the French and Chinese architecture and also Vietnamese historical artifacts as well.

Location: 97A Pho Duc Chinh Street, Nguyen Thai Binh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

• Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Zone

Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Zone is the most bustling street in Ho Chi Minh City, especially on weekends, when a lot of entertainment activities are held there. If you are interested in the modern life of Ho Chi Minh City, let’s come to Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Zone.

2. Nearby Hotels

There are some suggestions for you to choose a hotel right in the city center in the nearby neighborhood:

• Sedona Suites Ho Chi Minh City: 28^th floor, Saigon Center, Le Loi Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
• Liberty Central Saigon City Point: 59 Pasteur Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
• Rex Hotel Saigon: 141 Nguyen Hue Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
• Royal Hotel Saigon: 133 Nguyen Hue Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

V. How to Get to Saigon Center?

Due to the location of Saigon Center in the most bustling area in the center of Ho Chi Minh City, you can easily get there by bus, taxi or motorbike. From Tan Son Nhat International Airport, you can catch a taxi or bus number 109 to reach Saigon Center in about 45 minutes. Besides, from other destinations in Ho Chi Minh City, you can take buses number 04, 18, 53, 56, 93, 123 and 152. The ticket price for going by bus is much more pocket-friendly than going by taxi, only about 10,000 VND.

Thanks to the convenient location of Saigon Center, you can enter this shopping mall from three sides: Le Loi Street, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street and Pasteur Street.

VI. Extra Tips

• Most of the items at Saigon Center, especially clothing and accessories cost a fortune, be sure that you are not on a tight budget when deciding to buy them.
• The food and drinks on B2 floor is much cheaper than on the rooftop floors – L5 and L6.
• The parking areas for motorbike are on ground floors – B3 and B4. The parking fee after 17.00 is cheaper because the fee in daytime is counted on an hourly basis.
• Saigon Center is often called Takashimaya Vietnam. In the nearby area, there are many other famous shopping centers such as VinCom Center, Saigon Square and Diamond Plaza.

Saigon Center is one of the five best shopping malls in Ho Chi Minh City. If you are a shopaholic or you are eager to explore new things, it is a flaw when you miss this shopping mall. Let’s enjoy an exciting shopping experience in Saigon Center on the nearest day!