Secret Guide to Conquering Han Market in Da Nang: What to Buy as Gifts & Bargaining Tips So You Don't Get Ripped Off

When it comes to a souvenir shopping paradise on a trip to Da Nang, the first name that pops into any traveler's mind is surely Han Market (Chợ Hàn). Located right at the bustling Tran Phu – Hung Vuong intersection beside the Han River, this market is always crowded with both domestic and international tourists. So what should you buy at Han Market, and how should you bargain to avoid getting "ripped off"? Check out these practical tips below!

1. Han Market floor guide: Where to go to buy exactly what you need?

Floor 1 (Dried & Fresh Food Paradise): This is a wonderfully fragrant area with hundreds of specialty stalls. Here you will find traditional fermented fish sauces, dried seafood, specialty sweets and cakes from Central Vietnam, tropical fruits, and even a street food area where you can snack on the spot.

Floor 2 (Fashion & Fabrics): Focuses on ready-made áo dài, fabric for áo dài/silk dresses, beachwear with banana and floral-leaf prints, sedge sandals, handwoven rattan bags, and fashion accessories.

2. Top "worth every penny" gifts you must buy at Han Market

Vacuum-packed dried seafood: chewy, fragrant sun-dried squid, sweet and sour tamarind-glazed squid, spicy caramelized leatherjacket fish, and crispy caramelized baby crab. Ask the seller to vacuum-seal everything carefully so you can easily pack it in your checked luggage for the flight without any odor escaping.

Baked coconut cookies & sesame-peanut chewy candy: A simple, rustic gift that's incredibly addictive, and very affordable too, perfect for buying in bulk as gifts for your coworkers at the office.

Central Vietnamese fermented sauces: mắm nêm (fermented anchovy dipping sauce), mắm ruốc (shrimp paste), and the famous Dì Cẩn sour shrimp paste. Remember to wrap them in several layers of cling film before checking them in!

Conical hats, woven rattan & bamboo goods & Ao dai: Rustic woven rattan and bamboo handbags or airy linen and silk outfits are perfect for snapping Instagram-worthy photos right in the Old Quarter, and they also make souvenirs full of Vietnamese character.

3. Spot-on bargaining tips for first-timers

Compare prices at 2-3 stalls: Don't rush to buy at the first stall you see when you walk in. Head deeper into the middle of the market and ask for prices at a few places to get a sense of the general price range.

Bargaining rule: For fashion items, footwear, and handicraft souvenirs, you can confidently negotiate a discount of 20% – 30% off the price the seller quotes. As for confectionery and dried seafood, prices are usually listed quite close to the actual value, so you can bargain lightly for a few tens of thousands of dong off or ask for an extra small pack to try.

Golden time: Go to the market between 9 and 11 a.m. or 2 and 4 p.m., when the vendors have already made their first sales of the day and are in a much more relaxed mood for doing business.