In Ho Chi Minh City, Ben Thanh Market, Saigon Square, or large shopping centers seem to be too famous for most people. But there is still a place that attracts a lot of attention from locals and tourists, which is the Russian Market. Unlike other countries, Vietnam only has 2 seasons, the rainy season and the dry season, so the average temperature never drops below 20 degrees Celsius.
Especially in Ho Chi Minh City, where it is mostly hot and sunny, but the Russian Market has existed for over 20 years with products mainly used in cold winter countries with temperatures below 0 degrees Celsius. Do you want to know why? In this article, Jackfruit will reveal to you the reasons why the Russian Market is favored by locals and foreign tourists and is often visited whenever they need to buy warm clothes. Keep reading and enjoy the bustling atmosphere at this special market.
Location and Visting Information at Russian Market
- Address: 328 Vo Van Kiet Street, Co Giang Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
- Hours: 9 AM – 6 PM daily
Russian Market is a major trading center between Vietnam and Russia. Located on the main Vo Van Kiet street and only 1km away from Ben Thanh Market, you can easily move to shop at both locations by bicycle, motorbike (if you have a license), or book a ride on technology ride-hailing apps like Grab, Be, Xanh SM. Because the streets in Saigon are very crowded and it’s difficult to cross the road. So, if you don’t have a license or are not familiar with booking rides on apps, you can experience a bike tour to easily move to the market with the support of a tour guide.
Hint: Jackfruit Adventure Cycling Tour will take you there!
Russian Market will be most crowded and bustling around 10 AM and most shops will close at 6 PM, so you should not go too early because if you are the first person to ask to buy but don’t buy, the sellers will not be happy because in Vietnam, it is believed that the first buyer (or the one who opens the sale) will determine whether they will sell a lot that day or not. Opposite, if you arrive too late, many stalls have closed, which will limit your shopping opportunities and affect your shopping experience.
The Story Behind the Russian Market
After the end of the war against America in 1975, Vietnam and the Soviet Union have always maintained close diplomatic relations. The Soviet Union provided economic aid, military support, and training to Vietnam, creating an environment that attracted many Vietnamese to study in Russia and Russians to immigrate to Vietnam for work. Recognizing the increasing need for trade in goods between the two countries, a student who had studied in Russia (the former Soviet Union) established the Russian Market and attracted small traders to cooperate in trading goods at the market.
Initially, the market was located at a general grocery company, but due to some political changes in the Soviet Union, the market temporarily ceased operations and was officially re-established in 2009 at the Central Garden building until now. Because the small traders here had studied and worked in the Soviet Union, most of them could communicate in Russian besides Vietnamese and English.
When mentioning the name “Russian Market”, many people will think that the market sells all products imported from Russia, but the truth is that the clothing at the market is produced for export to Russia and other Eastern European countries – cold harsh climates, and only food and souvenirs are imported from Russia. Due to the already good relationship between Vietnam and Russia, the import and export of goods have been smooth up to now for 23 years. The Russian Market is a symbol of the friendly cooperation between Vietnam and Russia.
From the entrance gate of the market, you can feel the Russian atmosphere thanks to the architecture simulating the times of the Tsar, the shops inside also have Russian signs creating a feeling for tourists as if they are in a market in Russia and also making many Russians remember their homeland, so Russian Market is quite familiar to the Russian community living in Ho Chi Minh City. One Russian person shared that he often goes to the market on weekends to buy food from his homeland and some essential items such as clothes, shoes, hats, and backpacks.
Thanks to good quality and affordable prices, the Russian Market is growing and becoming a familiar sightseeing and shopping destination for most Russian, Hungarian, Bulgarian, Czech Republic, German, American, South Korean, Japanese tourists, and there are travel companies organizing tours to bring tourists to visit the market to promote the image of the Russian Market in Vietnam to international friends. It can be said that in the southern region, the largest market specializing in winter items is Russian Market, only Russian Market.
What buy at Russian Market?
Russian Market is a bustling market with many tourists from different countries, so the market will also have a large space, with 3 floors covering a total area of nearly 2000m2 and about 200 wholesale and retail stalls providing all kinds of warm clothing from thick coats to various local Russian food and souvenirs. You can stroll around the stalls to observe and find suitable products based on your requirements. The main items sold at the Russian Market include:
Clothing and accessories
Although selling many types of products, warm winter clothes in the Russian Market are still the most popular. Because seasonal clothing in Saigon is widely available in shopping centers, but items that can keep you warm in harsh temperatures from 0 degrees down can only be found at the Russian Market. There is a saying that “if you want to buy warm clothes, you have to go to the Russian Market,” not only Saigonese people, but people from other provinces of Vietnam also come to the Russian Market to buy warm clothes whenever they need to travel abroad.
The fashion products in the Russian Market are extremely diverse, from winter clothes, down jackets, fur coats, woolen coats, leather jackets, knitwear, and vests. Not only limited to warm coats, the Russian Market also sells thermal accessories such as woolen scarves, hats, shoes, and socks. Some stalls even sell a combo for traveling to cold countries, many sellers share that if you miss out on these, it’s hard to buy them in cold countries, so you have to be fully prepared to feel at ease. These combos are cheaper than buying individual items, ensuring that if you need winter clothes, after shopping and stepping out of the Russian Market, you will not lack anything.
The vendors here are also very friendly, they are willing to answer all questions and provide the best product advice for you. After purchasing, they even advise customers to check the products for any defects so they can exchange them for other products. In addition to product quality, the vendors in the Russian Market always leave a good impression on customers when they come to shop.
Souvenirs, specialties, and food
In addition to clothing items, many tourists come to the Russian Market to buy local specialties and typical Russian souvenirs. Furthermore, if you go deep into the left side of the market, you will see a Russian restaurant serving many typical Russian-Vietnamese dishes, next to it is a mini supermarket specializing in selling Russian food and toys. Ms. Khanh Van, the owner of the supermarket, shared that due to fate, she knew the demand for local Russian food by Vietnamese people and foreign tourists, so she imported typical Vietnamese food to sell such as:
- Packaged foods: Buckwheat, salted lard, salted fish eggs (best-selling), black caviar, goose liver pate, black bread, chocolate, pastries, black bread, sausages, Vodka, etc.
- Toys and other items: Matryoshka dolls – a symbol of Russia, Baba Yaga Dolls, ceramic dishes, folk paintings, books and stories, etc.
More than just a shopping experience, you can also explore the culture, history, and art of Russia through the products displayed at the stalls. Especially, at the Russian Market, there is a bar counter where you can rest while immersing yourself in the bustling shopping scene here. Surely, if you have visited the Russian Market once, you will remember this place forever.
Tips for Visitors when shopping at the Russian Market
- The best time to visit the market is in the morning when the air is still cool and the market is not too crowded.
- You should wear low-heeled shoes to avoid foot pain and carry comfortable items to move easily as the stalls in the market are closely spaced, creating narrow walkways.
- You should prepare cash for transactions because most buying and selling processes at the market are done in cash.
- Avoid wearing too much jewelry and keep valuable items, and phones in your backpack to avoid theft.
- Before buying, carefully check the quality of the products, especially souvenirs and food to ensure there are no signs of damage or defects.
- You should check prices around the stalls in the market to compare and choose the most suitable price.
- It’s still advisable to negotiate prices even though the prices are not inflated too much.
Let’s wrap it up
Russian Market is a perfect place for those who want to find warm winter clothes and more, it is also a symbol of the strong relationship between Vietnam and Russia over the years. Whether you are looking for warm clothing, traditional souvenirs, traditional food, or just want to explore the rich cultural paintings from Russia, the Russian Market promises to bring you unforgettable experiences from objects to people here.
Explore more: 25 Unusual Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City
Enjoy the Russian Market with Jackfruit Adventure
At Jackfruit Adventure, we organize Ho Chi Minh City Cycling Tour and Team Building Ho Chi Minh. With a deep knowledge of Saigon City and local connections, we believe we can give you an awesome bonding time together. Contact us today if you have any requests or questions about preparing a trip for your team to bond in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.
