Shopping in Phan Thiet - Mui Ne

Mui Ne and Phan Thiet are famous for the local fish sauce called the nuoc man, which is sold abundantly if you have acquired a taste for it. The geometrically patterned cloth made by the Cham people is quite attractive and also very popular.

For some great tips on where to shop in Mui Ne, see our Mui Ne shopping guide below. Our Vietnam Shopping Guide offers some great ideas for shopping throughout the whole country. Don't forget to take a break from shopping to relax and take in the views at one of the beautiful beachside restaurants in Mui Ne.

Mui Ne Shopping Guide

One thing is for certain, your Mui Ne and Phan Thiet holiday will not leave a hole in your pocket. Mui Ne shopping highlights include local paintings, picturesque photos, ceramics, the ubiquitous nuoc mam and local produce such as the Dragon fruit. Though you can always pick up some local artefact as a reminder of your Mui Ne holiday, do not expect anything to be of very high quality.

Typical souvenirs, such as the traditional pointed Vietnamese hats, and slippers, shoes and handbags made from local materials such as bamboo and silk are widely available. Hand crafted items such as vases, trays, lacquer ware, wood-block prints, rosewood boxes, oil-based or watercolour paintings, reed mats, bamboo blinds, ceramics, carpets and leather work are also easily available.

For expensive and valuable items such as jewellery or antiques, be sure to be mindful of the regulations that govern their sale. Do consult the dealer for complete information before you buy.

Bargain before Buying

As experienced visitors to Eastern countries will tell you, bargaining is half the pleasure while shopping. Don't be in a hurry to buy anything that you fancy before you have had a chance to compare its price at other shops first. While bargaining, however, keep in mind that aggression is not viewed favourably - politeness and a smile will get you everywhere, including a drop in the originally quoted price that leaves both seller and buyer satisfied with the deal.

Local wisdom holds that street vendors sell items at throwaway prices whereas malls or markets are expensive. However, that's a popular myth and you should try and look around before deciding for yourself. A little patience and you will be rewarded with some interesting souvenirs to carry back home.

Jewellery and Gem Stones

It's always a good idea to have an expert certify any expensive item that you plan to buy, especially to find out if the item is a genuine antique. Fake antiques or copies are common in the Vietnamese market, so beware of duplicates being passed off as the real thing. Vietnam is rich in gemstones, but these are pretty expensive and the unwary tourist should be suspicious of deals that promise low prices. If you plan to buy jewellery, do so at recommended outlets that are well known.

Local Shopping

While Vietnam has a number of things to offer, it's always good to be prepared while travelling as your favourite soap or brand of chocolate may not be available at Mui Ne. However, souvenir shops are mushrooming now at the quiet fishing villages of Mui Ne and Phan Thiet, due to the tourist boom. These shops stock locally made jewellery, fabric, Cham designs and ceramics, leather work and assorted souvenirs.

At Mui Ne, local produce is available in a small market in the town but other than that, it does not have much to offer. Phan Thiet, on the other hand, has a number of shops that sell the popular Nuoc Mam (fish sauce). Dried seafood, coconut cakes, bananas, sesame and cashew candies, local produce like dragon fruit, embroidery, paintings and lacquer, textiles (blankets, scarves and handbags) and ceramics wrought in the ancient Cham style, crocodile leather and sand paintings are some of the things you can buy here. Handbags, jewellery and craft items made of shell are popular buys. Fabric in Cham patterns is also available and can be made up by a local tailor into clothes for a reasonable price. Be sure to haggle so that you get the best price!

Markets

Local produce is widely available in markets. The Co-op Mart in Phan Thiet on the corner of Nguyen Tat Thanh and Tran Hung Dao is a good place to start. Here, you will find mostly souvenir and jewellery shops. The largest of these is the Phan Thiet Central Market and is the place to go to for local produce such as coconut candy, fresh fruit, dried seafood and sand paintings. The village market at Mui Ne offers a choice of fresh fruit.

What Not to Buy Here

If you're a first time visitor, there are some products that you may find for sale here that are prohibited by the Vietnam government. Some of these may be illegal in your country as well, or are damaging to the environment and the indigenous people.

These include:

- Coral and coral products: Bear in mind that coral reefs are being destroyed by the minute and stay away from these products.

- Sea Turtle: Sea turtles are listed as endangered species and are illegal. Despite this, preserved sea turtles are available in shops in Hanoi and are sold openly.

- Rice wine containing animal products: Wildlife populations are on the decline in Vietnam. Used as ingredients in rice wine, most of these animals are globally threatened and endangered, including snakes.

- Ivory, bone and tooth products: Ivory is deemed illegal in most countries, irrespective of the animal it was sourced from. Some ivory may come from legal sources but it's hard to distinguish.

- Alligator and crocodile leather: These are illegal in many countries, so resist the temptation to buy items made from them.