Food, T-shirts, cloth and material, souvenirs, kitchenware, spices, fruit, flowers, watches, jewellry -- just some of the things on offer at Ben Thanh market where you'll findeverything you need under one roof. The quality of goods varies, and you must bargain -- expect the initial price to be inflated up to two or three times what it should be. Nearby is the International Trade Centre (ITC), with more shoes and jewellry, but also a good place to pick up DVD's and CD's -- checking the quality of those new releases on the DVD players available before purchase is advisable.

Saigon's premiere District One shopping centre is Diamond Plaza, home to three floors of shopping and an entertainment complex including pool, cinema, arcade games and bowling. Not only is this the newest shopping centre in the city, it's also the most expensive, but the place to buy brand names at brand prices. Parkson is also fairly high-end, selling top brand jewellry and the latest fashions over four floors.

Le Loi Street bisects the heart of Saigon's shopping district. Along one side are stalls and shops selling tourist souvenirs and nick-nacks such as books, T-shirts and handicrafts. On the south side, nearest the river, a range of posh coffee shops surround the Saigon Centre. A fun 'Kids World' resides on the first floor, while parents can browse the home furnishings on display higher up in the building. The Tax Plaza is just a little further down Le Loi, on the corner of Nguyen Hue. The first floor is dedicated to electronics and perfume. The upper floors have reasonable mens/womens clothing, shoes and sportswear -- there's also a western-style supermarket. Prices are reasonable, but buyer beware. Across town and nearer to Pham Ngu Lao is another threestorey centre, Zen Plaza, easily recognisable by it's chess board design.

Zen Plaza sits on trendy Nguyen Trai St, an excellent shopping strip with all of Vietnam's top high street brand shops sandwiched between smaller independent designer boutiques. Fashion labels and their outlets are taking off all over the city, and the best places to look for that locally designed cocktail dress or smart causal shirt are along here and just across the roundabout, the northern end of Ly Tu Trong. Dong Khoi and surrounds also houses some boutiques, but another enclave exists on Hai Ba Trung in District Three, starting just before the junction with Nguyen Thi Minh Khai and running to just before the big pink church and Tan Dinh market.

Dong Khoi St itself is a haven for art lovers, with too many art shops to mention. Also to be found in among expensive-looking coffee shops are plenty of local fare and lots of postcards. If something specific is on your mind, it's best to check the listings in AsiaLife HCMC, a monthly free magazine. For anything electronic head to the area behind Sun Wah Tower (Nguyen Hue St, Huynh Thuc Khang St and Ho Tung Mau St). For cameras and accessories try the Tax Plaza and the numerous shops on the opposite side of Nguyen Hue. For shoes, walk past the clock entrance of Ben Thanh market and turn left, cross the road and turn right into a small alley called Luu Van Lang -- shoes galore. All designs are only in one size, so the challenge is to find your size in a colour and design that suits -- luckily the selection is large enough to pull this off.

Ben Thanh Market - Roundabout of Le Loi & Tran Hung Dao, District One. Daily 06:00-18:00
International Trade Center - 101 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, District One. T:  (08) 829 8189 . Daily 08:00-19:00
Diamond Plaza - 34 Le Duan, District One. T:  (08) 825 7750 . Daily 09:30-22:00
Parkson - 35-45 Le Thanh Ton, District One. T: (08) 913 5623Daily 09:30-22:00
Saigon Center - 65 Le Loi, District One. T:  (08) 823 2505 . 09:00-21 :00 Mon-Fri & 09 :00-21 :30 Sat & Sun.
Tax Plaza - 39 Le Loi, District One.T:  (08) 821 3849 . 09:00-21 :00 Mon-Thu, 09:00-21:30 Fri-Sun.
Zen Plaza - 54-56 Nguyen Trai St, District One. T:  (08) 925 0339 . Daily 09:30-22:00