💰 Click here to see Vietnam Budget Breakdown
💰 Prices updated: October, 2026. Budget figures are estimates — always verify before travel.
Exchange Rate: $1 USD = ₫25,964.41
Daily Budget (per person)
Shoestring: ₫650,000 – ₫1,550,000 ($25.03 – $59.70)
Mid-range: ₫1,800,000 – ₫3,900,000 ($69.33 – $150.21)
Comfortable: ₫5,200,000 – ₫9,100,000 ($200.27 – $350.48)
Accommodation (per night)
Hostel/guesthouse: ₫120,000 – ₫350,000 ($4.62 – $13.48)
Mid-range hotel: ₫780,000 – ₫1,850,000 ($30.04 – $71.25)
Food (per meal)
Budget meal: ₫60,000.00 ($2.31)
Mid-range meal: ₫250,000.00 ($9.63)
Upscale meal: ₫800,000.00 ($30.81)
Transport
Single metro/bus trip: ₫10,000.00 ($0.39)
Monthly transport pass: ₫300,000.00 ($11.55)
Nha Trang is known for its beach, so many visitors only see the souvenir shops on the seafront. Those shops often charge double what locals pay. In 2026, the city has a better option: a mix of old-school markets, modern malls and a few specialist stores that sell Khanh Hoa products at fair prices. This guide shows you where to go and what to buy, so you don’t leave with a bag of overpriced dried squid.
Cho Dam Market: The Main Event
Cho Dam is Nha Trang’s biggest traditional market. It is a large round building near the Cai River, a short Grab ride from the beach strip. Come in the morning, when the stalls are full and the air is cooler. Most stalls open around 6am and begin closing in the late afternoon.
The ground floor is the most useful for visitors. You’ll find dried squid, dried fish, shrimp and sauces. The smell of salted seafood hits you at the entrance, and the sound of vendors chopping, calling out prices and snapping plastic bags follows you through the aisles. The upper levels sell fabric, clothes, bags, sandals and household goods.
Cho Dam is best for gifts you can pack easily: candied fruit, dried mango, coffee, tea, fish sauce and cheap cotton clothes. Prices are not always marked, so ask at two or three stalls before you buy.
Xom Moi and Neighbourhood Markets
If you want to see how locals shop, head north to Xom Moi Market. It is mostly fresh produce, meat, seafood and flowers, with a few stalls selling cheap clothes and kitchen items. You won’t find many souvenirs here, which is the point. Prices are fair and nobody is selling to tourists.
This is the place to pick up tropical fruit for the hotel room, fresh herbs if you have a kitchen, or a basic dress or shirt for much less than the seafront. Go early. By late morning, the best fruit is gone and the lanes are hot and crowded.
In the evening, small night stalls appear around the beachfront and central streets, selling T-shirts, hats, beach bags and cheap jewellery. Their locations shift from season to season, so ask your hotel what is running that week. Treat these as casual browsing rather than serious shopping, and expect to bargain.
Malls and Supermarkets
When the midday heat reaches 33–35°C, the malls are where you want to be. Nha Trang Center, on the beachfront Tran Phu road, is the most convenient for tourists. It has fashion shops, a food court, a cinema and a supermarket. Vincom Plaza Nha Trang, on Le Thanh Ton, is a larger, more local-feeling mall with international brands, kids’ areas and cafés. Opening hours are roughly 9:30am to 10pm.
For supermarkets, GO! Nha Trang on the western side of the city is the best stop for packaged gifts. The aisles are full of Vietnamese coffee, tea, cashews, dried fruit and sauces at fixed prices, so there is no bargaining stress. It is also the easiest place to buy sunscreen, toiletries, and travel adaptors.
Malls are also the safest places to buy electronics, sports gear and international clothing. Everything has a price tag, and returns are possible. Vietnam’s VAT refund scheme for foreign visitors started in 2025, but it only works at registered stores and above a minimum spend, so ask at the till before you pay.
Streets and Specialty Stores
Some of Nha Trang’s best products are not sold in markets. They are sold in dedicated shops, mostly along Hung Vuong, Tran Phu and the streets around the centre.
- Agarwood (tram huong): Khanh Hoa is one of Vietnam’s best-known agarwood regions. Shops sell incense, bracelets and carved items. Real agarwood is expensive, and the smell should be soft and sweet, not sharp or chemical.
- Hand embroidery: Galleries such as XQ sell silk-thread pictures that take weeks to make. Prices are fixed and the work is genuinely detailed. These are gifts you’ll keep, not trinkets.
- Pearls: Several jewellery shops sell cultured pearls from the region. Ask for a certificate and compare at more than one store.
- Bird’s nest (yen sao): Khanh Hoa’s swiftlet nests are famous across Vietnam. Buy only from shops with clear product labels and receipts, not from sellers who approach you on the street.
The backpacker streets around Nguyen Thien Thuat are packed with tour desks, bars and swimwear shops. They are fine for last-minute flip-flops or a beach bag, but not for serious purchases.
What to Buy and Where
- Dried squid and seafood snacks: Cho Dam, for the best choice. Supermarkets for fixed prices and neat packaging.
- Fish sauce: Nha Trang is known for it. Supermarkets and Cho Dam both sell good bottles, but check the seal and the nitrogen “degree” on the label, where a higher number means a stronger, richer sauce.
- Candied fruit and coconut sweets: Cho Dam and gift shops near the centre.
- Coffee and tea: GO! Nha Trang or specialty coffee shops for roasted beans with a clear roast date.
- Beachwear and sunscreen: Tran Phu shops for convenience, Nha Trang Center for brand names, Cho Dam for the cheapest.
- Art and handicrafts: Embroidery galleries and small craft shops, not street stalls.
- Agarwood and pearls: Specialist stores with certificates only.
2026 Shopping Budget
Prices have crept up since 2024, especially in tourist areas. These are realistic 2026 figures, using roughly 26,000 VND to 1 USD.
- Budget (market shopping): 300,000–600,000 VND ($12–23) gets you a bag of dried fruit, a few T-shirts, a bottle of fish sauce and some coffee. A plain cotton T-shirt costs about 80,000–150,000 VND ($3–6). A 500g pack of dried squid costs about 250,000–450,000 VND ($10–17), depending on quality.
- Mid-range (malls and gift shops): 800,000–2,000,000 VND ($31–77) covers branded clothing, quality coffee, packaged specialty foods, and a small embroidery or craft item. A bottle of good fish sauce costs about 50,000–120,000 VND ($2–5).
- Comfortable (specialist stores): 3,000,000 VND ($115) and up for agarwood pieces, certified pearls, bird’s nest or large embroidery pictures. Quality items can run into the tens of millions of VND, so set a budget before you walk in.
Paying, Bargaining and Avoiding Rip-Offs
Cash still rules in traditional markets, but payment habits are changing. Malls and larger shops take foreign cards, and many vendors now accept QR payment through Vietnamese banking apps. Foreign visitors can’t always use these, so keep cash ready. ATMs near Tran Phu and inside malls are easy to find, though most charge a fee of around 20,000–50,000 VND per withdrawal.
Bargain at markets and street stalls, not in malls or fixed-price shops. A good rule is to start at about 60% of the first price, smile, and settle somewhere around 70–80%. If you are told a price in a language other than Vietnamese before you ask, you are probably paying a tourist price. Walk away politely and check the next stall.
Watch out for three common problems. First, “bird’s nest” and “pearls” sold without paperwork are often fake or low grade. Second, dried seafood is sometimes weighed with extra packaging, so watch the scale. Third, tour-group shopping stops often add a large commission to prices. If your tour stops at a shop, you can say no to buying anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best market in Nha Trang for tourists?
Cho Dam is the best all-round market for visitors. It sells dried seafood, sweets, coffee, clothes and household items in one building. Go in the morning for the best selection and cooler temperatures, and compare prices at several stalls before buying anything.
Is Nha Trang cheaper than other Vietnamese cities for shopping?
For local specialties like dried seafood, fish sauce and candied fruit, Nha Trang is usually cheaper than Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Fashion and handicrafts cost about the same as elsewhere. Seafront shops are the most expensive, so shop at Cho Dam or supermarkets for better value.
Can I bring dried seafood home from Nha Trang?
Usually yes, but rules depend on your destination country. Many countries restrict meat and animal products at customs. Vacuum-sealed, commercially packaged dried seafood is safer than loose bags. Check your home country’s import rules before you fly, and keep receipts with you.
Are there shopping malls in Nha Trang?
Yes. Nha Trang Center is on the beachfront Tran Phu road, and Vincom Plaza Nha Trang is on Le Thanh Ton. Both have fashion shops, food courts and cinemas. GO! Nha Trang is a large supermarket good for packaged gifts at fixed prices.
What is the best souvenir to buy in Nha Trang?
Popular choices include Nha Trang fish sauce, dried squid, candied fruit, coffee and hand-embroidered pictures. Agarwood and bird’s nest are also famous in Khanh Hoa, but buy them only from reputable specialist stores that give receipts and product details.
Explore more
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Where to Go Out in Nha Trang? The Best Bars, Clubs, and Beachfront Nightlife
Top 10 Bars in Nha Trang for Every Vibe: From Chill Lounges to Lively Pubs
