Nha Trang Markets Guide

Nha Trang’s traditional markets are where you see the city beyond its beaches and resorts. From the iconic Dam Market, known for local specialties and souvenirs, to Xom Moi Market, where residents shop for fresh seafood, produce and everyday food, each market has its own character. This guide helps you choose the right market for what you want to eat, shop for and experience like a local.

1. Dam Market – Best for First-time Visitors

  • Opening hours: 5:00 AM–6:30 PM daily
  • Best shop for what: Local specialties, dried seafood, souvenirs, clothing and handicrafts

Dam Market (Chợ Đầm) is a practical first stop if you want to get a quick introduction to Nha Trang’s traditional shopping culture. Located on Phan Boi Chau Street, the covered market brings together dried seafood, local snacks, clothing, handicrafts, household goods and souvenirs, so first-time visitors can browse several types of local products in one place. For souvenirs, look for the dried-goods sections, where Nha Trang specialities such as dried squid, dried shrimp and other coastal products are commonly sold. If you are buying something to take home, compare prices between stalls and ask about the price before purchasing, particularly for products sold by weight. Dam Market works well as an easy introduction to Nha Trang shopping, while travellers looking for a more everyday local-food experience should continue to Xom Moi Market.

dried seafood

2. Xom Moi Market – Best for Local Food

  • Address: 49 Ngo Gia Tu Street, Nha Trang
  • Opening hours: 6:00 AM–5:00 PM daily
  • Best shop for what: Fresh seafood, fruit, vegetables, local breakfast and everyday groceries

Xom Moi Market has been part of local life since the 1960s and now operates from a permanent market building with around 1,150–1,200 traders selling fresh seafood, fruit, vegetables, groceries and household goods. Its seafood section is particularly relevant to Nha Trang’s coastal food culture, with fish, prawns, squid and shellfish among the products sold. For travellers interested in local food, visit in the morning when the market is busiest and breakfast stalls are operating. You can look for familiar Nha Trang dishes such as fish noodle soup, jellyfish vermicelli and bánh căn, then walk through the produce and seafood sections to see the ingredients used in everyday meals. Arriving before 9:00 AM gives you a better chance to experience the market at its freshest and most active.

3. Nha Trang Night Market – Best for Evening Shopping & Souvenirs

Nha Trang Night Market is the most convenient choice when you want to combine shopping with an evening stroll through the city centre. Set near 2/4 Square and the beach, the market comes alive after dark with stalls selling small souvenirs, jewellery, clothing, handicrafts and local snacks. Unlike the daytime markets, it is geared more towards visitors and works best for relaxed browsing rather than buying fresh ingredients. The market also makes an easy stop after dinner or a walk along Tran Phu Street. Take your time comparing souvenirs and browsing the food stalls, but remember that this is a tourist-oriented market, so the experience is quite different from shopping alongside local residents at Xom Moi or buying seafood close to the fishing ports.

Night market Nha Trang

4. Vinh Luong Seafood Market – Best for Fresh Catch from Fishing Boats

Vinh Luong Seafood Market is closely connected to Nha Trang’s fishing industry rather than designed around sightseeing or souvenirs. Located beside Vinh Luong Fishing Port north of the city, the market handles fresh catches brought ashore from fishing boats, including fish, squid, prawns, crabs and other seafood. The port also serves as an important seafood distribution point for the wider area. Go early if you want to see the market at its most active. Around the fishing port, you can watch seafood being unloaded, weighed, iced and moved on for sale to local traders and restaurants. That working-port atmosphere is what sets Vinh Luong apart from central Nha Trang markets: you are seeing the seafood trade at its source rather than simply shopping for seafood in a city market.

5. Binh Tan Market – Best for Seafood at Local Prices

Binh Tan Market is a better fit for travellers who want to explore a busy local seafood market without travelling as far from central Nha Trang as Vinh Luong. Located in the south of the city, it benefits from its proximity to several fishing ports, with fresh fish, prawns, crabs, squid, shellfish and other seafood brought in through the local supply network. The market also sells dried seafood, making it useful for both cooking and buying food to take home. The main difference from Vinh Luong is the shopping experience. Vinh Luong gives you a closer look at the fishing-port and wholesale side of the trade, while Binh Tan functions more like a large local market where residents come to buy seafood and everyday ingredients. Visit in the early morning for the freshest selection and busiest trading atmosphere.

6. Vinh Tho Market – Best for a Cozy, Local Neighborhood Experience

  • Address: 49 Hai Thang Tu, Vinh Tho, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa, Vietnam
  • Opening hours: 5:00 AM–9:00 PM daily
  • Best shop for what: Fresh seafood, local produce, and budget-friendly street food

Vinh Tho Market, also known locally as Cho Bau, offers a much smaller-scale experience than Dam Market or the larger seafood markets. Located on Hai Tháng Tư Street in Vinh Tho, it serves the surrounding neighbourhood with fresh seafood, vegetables, everyday groceries and simple local food. Rather than travelling here for a particular souvenir, come to see how residents shop for their daily meals and essentials. Its appeal is the neighbourhood atmosphere. You will find a more compact collection of stalls and everyday interactions than at the tourist-focused Nha Trang Night Market or the busy seafood trade around Vinh Luong. If your idea of “shopping like a local” means slowing down, browsing small stalls and seeing an ordinary side of Nha Trang, Vinh Tho Market is the better match.

fresh seafood in market

Tips for Shopping at Nha Trang Markets

Shopping at Nha Trang’s traditional markets is easier when you match your timing and approach to what you are buying. For fresh seafood and produce, go early, particularly at markets connected to the local fishing trade. Ask the price before agreeing to a purchase, especially when seafood is sold by weight, and check that the final weight matches what you ordered. A few simple habits also make market shopping smoother:

  • Carry cash: Small notes are useful because many traditional-market stalls still prefer cash.
  • Ask the price first: Agree on the price before the vendor weighs or prepares your seafood.
  • Check the weight: For seafood sold by kilogram, watch the scale and confirm the weight before paying.
  • Bargain where appropriate: Bargaining is more common for souvenirs, clothing and dried goods, while fresh seafood often follows daily market prices.
  • Bring a reusable bag: Useful if you plan to buy fruit, dried seafood or other market goods.
  • Keep valuables secure: Traditional markets become crowded, particularly during busy morning periods, so keep your phone and wallet close.

Where to Stay for Easy Access to Nha Trang Markets

For travellers who want to explore Nha Trang’s markets without giving up a beachfront base, InterContinental Nha Trang is a convenient option on Tran Phu Street. Its central location makes it practical to head out for an early visit to Xom Moi Market or Dam Market, then return to the hotel and the beachfront for a more relaxed part of the day. The location also works well if you are using the markets as part of a wider food-focused itinerary. Xom Moi is particularly worthwhile for experiencing everyday local food and fresh ingredients, while Dam Market is better suited to browsing dried seafood, local specialities and souvenirs. If you prefer to book directly, InterContinental Nha Trang offers direct booking benefits up to 20% off with IHG One Rewards members receiving an additional 10% off the public promotional rate, subject to participating hotels, rate conditions and availability.