Money · shopping

How to haggle in Vietnam

Bargaining in Vietnam is a friendly game, not a fight. Haggle at markets and with street sellers, expect fixed prices in shops, supermarkets, on apps and for pre-booked cars, and stop when the gap is less than about 10,000 dong.

When to haggle, and when not to

Haggle where there is no price tag: markets, street stalls, souvenir sellers and unmetered motorbike taxis. Don’t haggle in supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacies, most restaurants, on trains and buses, or for anything priced on a ride-hailing app. If a menu or tag has a price, that is the price. Our money guide covers notes, ATMs and paying by phone, and it helps to have small notes ready so you can pay the agreed amount without asking for change.

How the game works

A trader’s first price is an opening bid, and it is not an insult. Vietnamese shoppers are often quoted high at first too, and plenty of locals dislike haggling as much as visitors do. So laugh, make a joke, and counter. Raise your offer in small steps and keep the real change in mind: a few thousand dong is not worth a bad mood.

  • Ask the price, then say it is a little much and offer lower.
  • Smile. A sense of humour does more than a hard stare.
  • Walk away if you can’t agree. If you made a fair offer, you’ll often be called back. If you weren’t, there will be another seller down the row.
  • If you pushed too hard, there is no shame in going back and paying the proper price.

Know when to stop

If you are arguing over less than about 10,000 dong, stop. That is well under a dollar. If you are hot, tired or thirsty, stop and drink some water first, because dehydration ruins tempers faster than any trader. Don’t assume you are being ripped off either: some prices, for a bottle of water or a bus ticket, are the price everyone pays.

Remember too that a trader’s margin may be what feeds the family, and the thing you are fighting over is cheaper than at home. If you want it and the seller won’t move, buy it. If you don’t need it, leave it. And if a fellow traveller says they paid half, let it go. The deal is done, and the argument will spoil your afternoon.

Taking the haggling out of getting around

The trips where visitors most often feel overcharged are the short rides: motorbike taxis, unmetered cars and the airport run. A metered taxi or an app fare removes the haggle, and so does a car booked in advance. We sell private transfers from Saigon airport at a fixed price, with the driver’s name sent the evening before, so there is nothing to negotiate when you land tired. If you would rather not bargain at all, pay the price asked. Your trip will still cost far less than most places, and you will enjoy it more.

FAQ

Questions travellers ask us

Do you have to haggle in Vietnam?

Only in some places. Markets, street stalls, souvenir sellers and motorbike taxis without a meter expect a negotiation. Supermarkets, convenience stores, most restaurants, metered taxis, trains, buses and anything priced on an app are fixed.

How much should I bargain down?

There is no fixed percentage. A first price at a tourist market can be well above the going rate, so a counter-offer around half is a normal opening, then meet somewhere between. Agree the price before you take or eat anything, and don't argue over a few thousand dong.

Is it rude to haggle in Vietnam?

No, at a market it is normal and traders expect it. Keep it good-humoured, smile and don't raise your voice. Pushing hard over tiny sums, or bargaining and then refusing to buy, is what causes bad feeling.

How do I avoid being overcharged by a taxi or motorbike taxi?

Use a metered taxi, or agree the fare before you get in. A booked car at a fixed price removes the argument altogether, which is why many visitors book the airport ride ahead.