Three Vietnamese cities. Three night markets. Three completely different evenings. Choosing between Hoi An, Dalat, and Ben Thanh comes down to one question: are you after atmosphere, authenticity, or energy? Here is what you will actually find — and pay — at each.
Hoi An Night Market: UNESCO Setting, Lanterns, and Bargaining Theater
Location: Nguyen Hoang Street, An Hoi Island, Hoi An (5-minute walk across An Hoi Bridge from the Ancient Town)
Hours: Daily 17:00–23:00; stalls start filling by 18:00 and peak activity runs 19:00–22:00
Entry fee: The night market on An Hoi Island is free to enter. The Hoi An Ancient Town itself charges an entrance fee of 120,000 VND for international visitors and 80,000 VND for Vietnamese nationals — but An Hoi Island is across the river and does not require this ticket. (Source: Vietnam Airlines travel guide )
The market stretches 300–500 metres along Nguyen Hoang Street, with dozens of stalls split into two zones: crafts and shopping along the main stretch, and street food on the parallel Cong Nu Ngoc Hoa Street. The lanterns and ceramics here are genuine local artisan products — not mass-produced imports.
Prices you will pay:
- Food: cao lau 50,000 VND, bánh mì 20,000 VND; most dishes 20,000–50,000 VND (~$0.80–$2)
- Lanterns: 30,000–300,000 VND depending on size and design
- Hand-painted silk and souvenirs: 10,000–300,000 VND
Sellers start 2–3× above fair price. Bargaining to 60–70% of the asking price is the standard move — vendors expect the back-and-forth and treat it as part of the night, not a confrontation.
What makes Hoi An the most photogenic of the three: lantern boat rides on the Hoai River (negotiate before boarding), flower lantern releases on the water, and Bai Choi, a traditional Vietnamese folk game with UNESCO recognition. None of this exists at Dalat or Ben Thanh.
Best season: January–April (dry season, the Ancient Town most photogenic). Avoid October–November — heavy rains bring flooding.
If Hoi An is on your itinerary, the Hoi An day trips guide shows what to pair with your market evening.
Dalat Night Market: Highland Produce and the Calmest Atmosphere in Vietnam
Location: 4 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, Ward 1, Da Lat — city centre, adjacent to Xuan Huong Lake
Hours: Daily 17:00–00:00; peak atmosphere 19:30–22:00. Closed during Tet (Lunar New Year).
Entry fee: Free
Of the three markets, Dalat is the most locally-oriented. Seller pressure is notably low — bargaining is normal but vendors are not aggressive. The crowd is a genuine mix of locals and tourists, rather than the tourist-heavy scenes at Hoi An and Ben Thanh.
Prices you will pay:
- Snacks: 20,000–50,000 VND; grilled skewers 5,000–15,000 VND per stick
- Dried fruit and highland produce: 40,000–80,000 VND per 100 grams
What defines Dalat is what you cannot find anywhere else in Vietnam: locally grown strawberries, avocados, artichokes, artichoke tea, and Dalat wine — genuine highland specialties tied to the city’s cool climate and elevation. Dalat also sells hand-woven woolen garments suited to its 15–20°C nighttime temperatures, making it the only Vietnamese night market where you might actually want a jacket.
Best time to visit: Year-round; weekdays are noticeably quieter than weekends. Dalat’s highland climate is pleasant in every season — there is no bad time.
For everything beyond the market, the Dalat travel guide covers the full city in practical detail.
Ben Thanh Night Market and Bui Vien Street: Scale, Energy, Zero Authenticity
Location: Ben Thanh night stalls — Le Loi Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Bui Vien Walking Street — District 1, 5 minutes’ walk from Ben Thanh.
Hours:
- Ben Thanh perimeter night stalls: 18:00–00:00 nightly; best 19:00–21:00
- Bui Vien: officially pedestrianised Saturdays and Sundays 19:00–02:00; bars and food open on other nights too
Entry fee: Free (the outdoor night stalls do not require the 15,000 VND daytime indoor market fee)
Ben Thanh by day is one of Vietnam’s most famous indoor markets, housing approximately 3,000 stalls. After dark, street vendors set up along the perimeter with food and souvenirs. The night scene is explicitly tourist-facing — Ben Thanh is a permanent fixture on the HCMC tourist circuit.
Prices you will pay:
- Street food: 15,000–50,000 VND; seafood grills 150,000–300,000 VND
- Bui Vien food: 10,000–80,000 VND; grilled skewers 20,000–40,000 VND per stick
Food stalls at Ben Thanh’s night section run fixed prices — no negotiation. Souvenir vendors start 2–3× inflated, same as at Hoi An. Confirm prices before ordering on Bui Vien; the rule for seafood is to ask the price of everything before it goes on the grill.
Bui Vien is a different experience: 200+ bars, restaurants, street food stalls, and live music venues packed into one neon-lit block, with fire shows and spontaneous performances on weekend nights. Loud, frenetic, memorable for what it is.
Best season: Year-round; dry season November–April is most comfortable. Bui Vien peaks Friday–Saturday nights.
Vietnam Night Markets Side by Side
| Factor | Hoi An | Dalat | Ben Thanh + Bui Vien |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hours | 17:00–23:00 daily | 17:00–00:00 daily | 18:00–00:00 (Bui Vien Sat–Sun to 02:00) |
| Entry fee | Free (An Hoi Island) | Free | Free (outdoor stalls) |
| Food range | 20,000–50,000 VND/dish | 20,000–50,000 VND/dish | 15,000–300,000 VND |
| Seller pushiness | Moderate — bargain to 60–70% | Low — relaxed | Food: fixed; souvenirs: inflated start |
| Local vs. tourist crowd | Mostly tourists | Mixed local and tourist | Primarily tourists and backpackers |
| Authenticity | High for crafts | Highest — genuine regional produce | Lowest — commercial |
| Atmosphere | Cultural, romantic, family-friendly | Relaxed, cool highland evening | Party, urban, backpacker strip |
| Stand-out feature | Lantern boats, Bai Choi, UNESCO setting | Strawberries, artichokes, woolen goods | Scale, fire shows, Bui Vien energy |
| Go here if you want | Beauty and cultural experience | Authenticity and unique produce | Variety and nightlife in one block |
| Avoid if you | Hate identical stalls and bargaining | Want entertainment and loud nights | Want anything not tourist-facing |
Which Market Fits Your Trip?
Hoi An is the choice for couples, photographers, and anyone who wants the quintessential Vietnam night photo. Budget 150,000–200,000 VND for food and one or two lanterns, then add 30,000–50,000 VND for a lantern boat ride on the river.
Dalat is for travelers who care more about what they bring home than how the photos turn out. Arrive by 19:30 to catch peak atmosphere. Budget 100,000–200,000 VND for produce and highland specialties. If you are heading to Dalat, it is worth planning your stay around what the city offers beyond the market .
Ben Thanh and Bui Vien suit first-time visitors to Ho Chi Minh City who want to see everything in one evening and travelers who want a loud, social night out. Set an evening budget of 200,000–400,000 VND and keep a close eye on seafood grill prices before ordering.
For a comprehensive guide to shopping across Vietnam beyond night markets, the Vietnam souvenir guide covers markets, supermarkets, and duty-free across the country.
Practical Tips for All Three Markets
Cash only at all three markets — keep small bills in 20,000 and 50,000 VND denominations, not large notes.
Bargaining works on souvenirs and clothing everywhere. Start at 50–60% of the asking price and expect to settle around 70%. Food at sit-down stalls is generally fixed. At Ben Thanh, food stalls have fixed prices and will not negotiate.
Weekends are noticeably busier at all three. Hoi An is most crowded in high season (January–April). Dalat is calmest on weekdays year-round.
Watch for: At Hoi An — agree on the lantern boat price before getting in. At Ben Thanh — seafood grills with no visible pricing. At Bui Vien — pickpockets in dense weekend crowds.
One thing not to skip: At Hoi An, release a paper lantern on the river for 30,000 VND. At Dalat, try artichoke tea (20,000–30,000 VND per cup; it tastes nothing like artichokes). At Bui Vien on a Saturday night, stay long enough to catch a fire show — they’re spontaneous and free.
FAQ
Which Vietnam night market is best for first-time visitors?
Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City is the easiest starting point — it is large, central, open every night from 18:00, and combines shopping and food in one location. If atmosphere matters more than scale, Hoi An Night Market offers a more memorable experience with its riverside setting and lanterns, operating daily from 17:00.
Is Hoi An Night Market free to enter?
Yes. The night market on An Hoi Island (Nguyen Hoang Street) is free. The Hoi An Ancient Town on the opposite bank charges a separate entrance ticket — 120,000 VND for international visitors — but this is the Old Town fee, not a market entry fee. Crossing An Hoi Bridge to the market does not require a ticket.
What time does Dalat Night Market close?
Dalat Night Market closes around midnight. Peak atmosphere runs 19:30–22:00. Some stalls stay open later, but the main market winds down by 00:00. The market is closed during the Tet holiday.
Which Vietnam night market is the most authentic?
Dalat Night Market is the most locally-oriented. It draws a genuine local-tourist crowd, sells highland products (strawberries, artichokes, Dalat wine, woolen goods) that locals actually buy, and has notably lower seller pressure than Hoi An or Ben Thanh. Ben Thanh is explicitly commercial and the most tourist-facing of the three.
Do I need to bargain at Vietnam night markets?
Yes, for souvenirs and clothing at all three markets. Vendors quote 2–3× the going rate and expect negotiation — start at 60% of the asking price and settle around 70%. At Ben Thanh’s food stalls, prices are fixed and bargaining is not expected. At Dalat, the approach is gentler than at Hoi An or Ben Thanh.
Trying to figure out which markets fit your Vietnam route and how to sequence your evenings? Our team is based in Vietnam and can help you build an itinerary that matches your cities and dates. Message us directly on Telegram @vietnam_samurai — we respond within a day with a concrete plan.