Ben Thanh (Cheap Counterfeit) Market Saigon (2022)

Ben Thanh Market (chợ bến thành) is ready for you. The counterfeit (fake) goods market is open finally. Once packed with tourists now the place stands empty but the vendors are on their "A game". Ben Thanh Market is one of Ho Chi Minh City's (Saigon) biggest tourist marketplace where you can by Clothing, Jewelry, Luggage, Food, Fresh Foods, Souvenirs, Trinkets and numerous things too many to list. On the same day my fellow expat Andrew and I recorded for our Saigon Economic Devastation in District one of Saigon Vietnam video we decided to swing through Ben Thanh Market to buy a hat on out way to the Ben Thanh Food Court to see if we can find him a hat. I warned him the vendors would be like hawks on a squirrel but we went in anyways. Then I decided to turn on the camera. You can witness how much the vendors of Saigon's biggest tourist Market place, Ben Thanh Market, wanted to make a sale to the only tourist looking people in the empty market. They will be so happy to see the tourists return to Vietnam and the now empty market once again flooded with tourists and money. I can't wait to see what happens.

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I am an American Expat in Ho Chi Minh City, (Saigon) Vietnam. (I dislike the word Expatriate). I have lived in Vietnam for 3 years, I am almost considered an expert at living abroad. As I live, work and travel in Vietnam and south east Asia, I want to take you around with me to show you what I saw in Vietnam, in South East Asia and talk with you about my experiences living in Saigon HCMC and take you with me as I travel vlog around Vietnam and South East Asia in 2022. I am not a backpacker but I started by wanting to backpack through South East Asia. I was going to just visit of vacation, but I was going to take part in tourism activities. I was going to be a globetrotting tourist but I never really planed to document mytravels. Was going to be a long holiday trip, maybe I would become a digital nomad. But I knew Vietnam would be my home when I got here, now Saigon is my home, where I work and live, but I still plan to motor bike across Asia, motovlog Vietnam, moto vlog South East Asia, dare I motorbike into China? And also fly around South East Asia, to tour and travel, But for now, this is my Vietnam life, my HCMC Saigon life, my expat life. I always thought living abroad would be scary, but it's interesting and fulfilling. The food is amazing, the culture is fascinating and the people are friendly and welcoming. If you ever wanted to take the leap to travel and live abroad, Tourism in Vietnam is buzzing right now since Vietnam reopens. I am often asked: are Vietnam borders open? Yes indeed, tourism reopened in 2022. Want to know what I saw in Vietnam and my life in HCMC Saigon. What I think about Vietnam and traveling and living abroad? What to do in Vietnam? How do live in Asia? What to do in Saigon? How to work, or work as a teacher in Asia? How to get a visa or what a digital nomads life could be like in Asia or Vietnam? What is it like to be an Expat in Vietnam and South East Asia? I am an expat, a Saigon Vlogger, a HCMC vlogger, a moto vlogger, a lifestyle vlogger, a digital nomad resource, a Saigon nightlife vlogger, an immigrant, a migrant worker. I make vlogma videos, (wth is vlogma) I want a daily vlog, but ain't got the time. But I can do a video diary, which makes me an online creator. Why anyone would watch vloggers as bad as me, I don't know. Sometimes I make food vlogs, foodporn? Did you know yum in Vietnams mean "horn..", well, neverminded. I hope you will feel encouraged by my channel. I will show you a lot of things like how to live abroad, how to be a digital nomad, how to work in Asia, how to experience Vietnam, how to make friends and build a life in Asia, how to enjoy the culture and food. How to be a gamer in Asia. How to live a life in Asia, like a normal person. How to be a happy person. I am not a Vietnam digital nomad in HCMC. But I know a few. Did you actually read all that? Tell me in the comments that you did and I will give you shoutout in my next video. Some keywords I like to include are: tourist ben thanh market

[explorerable]

Andrew is so clued up mate I am defo lovin your vlogs mate it’s deep and more informative 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[Mr.SteveMcQueen]

One of my best friends is a manager with Nike in Vietnam. I have even visited Nike headquarters in Saigon which is not open to the public. Nike subcontract with many manufactures in North and South VN. Nike managers manage quality control at each of these factories (these facilities are not Nike employees). When you see actual Nike products, they can be real Nike but sold at a significant discount when subcontractors leak/skim products to local market. For the buyer it can be a great deal for them getting genuine Nike products at a large discount. I have done this with North Face in Hanoi. Lots of genuine North Face products 100% genuine... yet very cheap.

[jamespunch]

Keep pumping the vids out and you will get there.

[jaredpearson]

I got an idea for a video. You teach english if I recall? I wonder what that is like? What a typical day looks like, how difficult it is, maybe an example of how you prepare for a lesson or something? I have been debating on teaching in vietnam or japan. I think japan has higher requirements such as a bachelors degree and a TEFL cert but it also pays a lot more.

[metalhamster]

Enjoying your channel. You've got the dialogue down I think, good delivery, too. You're mate seemed a bit wired, a bit like me after I've been on the caffeine.

[davidanderson]

What is the Mexican restaurant. I have tried to find in your video but not sure which one

[saleemjaved]

Pls make a video of Russia market and the prices pls

[jleong]

Great content, keep it up! I was curious about a comment you made about being worried about your bike. Is there a lot of bike theft in HCMC? Can you pay someone to watch your bike when you plan to park for a while?

[hiroshiyamashita]

Bought shirts and pants in the mall in Singapore, less than 10 wash, and its gone. I guess you have to trace the product, where its made. But paying that much more in Singapore, its just not worth it.

[asthasr]

I found that if you go to the local-oriented malls (like Vincom Mega Mall or Vạnh Hạnh), or some of the department stores that have large buildings like Big C/LotteMart, you'll sometimes find independent sellers in the small spaces that sell stuff like hats at better prices than the malls and touristy markets. Local markets are even cheaper, but the barrier to entry is much bigger if you don't speak Vietnamese.

Also, hate to say it, but buying Levis at a mall in Vietnam doesn't mean they're not counterfeit. A lot of mall goods are fake, too.

[usa]

Just be advise that Vietnam is already opened for all tourists👍 I just arrived to Vietnam from California with the tourist Visa without any problem 👌

[Peetah]

All the wishes the vendors and hotel operators made at the pagoda over tet have just granted :-)

[helene]

The pushiness is uncomfortable. I get that they need the money but it's overwhelming.

[viniciusvoon]

Pls don't pay more than vnd150 for any item.

[dancooper]

That place is a dump. Won’t be long before the bulldozers go thru it & a new shopping precinct goes up.

[avfx]

Pro tip ... the outer vendors charge more and are put in place by owners ... the inner is cheaper ... also do please understand that people are indeed poor ... and though it may be a pain they are pushy they need the money ... it is in part karma though as they were very rude pre covid when they had lots of tourists ... it was the only time while here I have been told to feck off and go home when I refused a pushy seller ...
Do also keep this in mind ... social media is run by the military as is the net ... and if you project you are not respectful it will not work out well ... anyways hope you are settling in ... good to see you can work as a teacher again... 👍