Ha Long, Vietnam
Best places to shop in Ha Long
4 markets, malls and shopping districts in Ha Long — what to buy, when to go, and the tourist traps to avoid at each one.
Last updated 2026-08-09
1. Ha Long Night Market
Photo: Guillaume Paumier · CC BY 3.0 · source
The main tourist market near Bai Chay — pearls, dried seafood, souvenirs and clothing.
Where: Night MarketMap: Open in Maps Best time: Nightly 18:00–23:00Cost: BudgetWatch out Freshwater and imitation pearls are widely sold as Ha Long saltwater pearls. A real pearl feels gritty against a tooth edge and is cool to the touch; plastic is smooth and warm.
2. Ha Long Marine Plaza and Sun World area
Photo: HONG SON · Pexels License · source
The modern retail strip at the cable-car end of the bay — chains, cafés and souvenir shops, at fixed prices.
Where: MallMap: Open in Maps Best time: Daily 09:00–22:00Cost: Mid-range
3. Ha Long Market (Cho Ha Long I)
Photo: Michelle Maria · CC BY 3.0 · source
The working town market away from the cruise terminal — produce, dried squid, fish sauce and household goods at local prices.
Where: MarketMap: Open in Maps Best time: Daily 06:00–18:00Cost: Budget
4. Quang Ninh pearl farms
Photo: Federico P · Pexels License · source
The working pearl farms on the bay, visited by boat — a demonstration of seeding and harvesting, with a shop attached.
Where: LuxuryMap: Open in Maps Best time: Daily, as part of a bay cruiseCost: Mid–LuxuryTip: Farms issue certificates and will state whether a pearl is saltwater or freshwater in writing. That is the difference between the market stalls and here.
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