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Shoppers
browse clothes at a shop in Saigon Square Centre
in downtown Ho Chi Minh City
On the
corner of Hai Ba Trung and Nguyen Du streets in downtown
Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon Square centre is just 50 metres
from the crossroads on the way leading to the Saigon
River.
Crowded,
lit with colourful lights, full of diversified goods,
foods and drinks, “Saigon Square by night” is easy to
recognize by its red banner “Welcome to Russian market”
in front.
The centre,
with some 50 shops surrounding a supermarket in the
middle called Citimart, is popular for hip, young people
with its inexpensive clothes, luggage, shoes, eyeglasses,
watches, pens and furniture.
Salesgirls
at some of the front shops may joyfully invite you to
drop in to have a look, but take it easy to have a leisurely
walk, because there are a lot of other shops inside.
To buy
clothing, you have a myriad of choices, including jeans,
shirts, jackets, sweaters, and pullovers, all at great
prices. One overcoat for men or women costs some VND200,000
to VND300,000, a pair of jeans costs from VND150,000
to VND200,000, and women’s shirts cost from VND50,000
to VND100,000.
John
Biddle, from Great Britain, told to the Daily while
holding a pair of shorts that Saigon Square was a very
good place for him to come for shopping during the weekend
and to enjoy food. He finds it even more interesting
than Ben Thanh Market, since people can find things
with acceptable prices. These shorts cost VND
125,000, he added with a jolly smile.
Lying
inside the square, Resto restaurant is open from 9:00
a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and shoppers who feel hungry after
walking around can step inside to call for a coffee
to relax. Pizza, sandwiches, spaghetti, hamburgers,
fried rice and more are always available.
At Moonlight
shop, many Vietnamese original bags, candles and essences
are displayed with low prices attached – VND 30,000
for a big candle, and VND 60,000 for a bottle of essence.
To look
for Vietnamese traditional gifts for friends, just walk
deeper inside the square, Chaufia Handicraft shop is
not difficult to spot. There, you can choose many grass
products, sea grass bags or bis and small trays made
of water hyacinth tree. Close to Chaufia are other antique
grace shops to provide more choices.
If shoppers
want to buy high-quality products displayed on shelves
from popular to up-market brands in cool air, Citimart
supermarket in the centre of the square is the best
choice.
Nam Kyung
Tae, from Korea, told the Daily that he has been living
in Vietnam for six months, and thinks this square is
a very interesting place for him to take his girlfriend
to do shopping. Tae said that 90% of the items here
good and are at low prices. Although some of the clothing
and slippers have small sizes that don’t fit westerners,
salespeople there are anxious to serve customers, and
are willing to search to find the perfect fit.
Nguyen
Thi Kieu Diem, a salesgirl in front of Citimart’s door
told the Daily that on a normal day, she can sell from
15 to 20 items to foreigners, but she can sell more
during the weekend. Some foreign shoppers still remember
her when they come back to her shop, she added.
The centre
is located at 80 Hai Ba Trung Street in District 1,
and is open daily from the morning until 9 p.m. (SGT) |
