Han Market — what to buy, and how to haggle so you don't overpay

Han Market sits right at the corner of Tran Phu and Hung Vuong streets, an easy walk from the Han River bank. It's the market that tourists visit the most in Da Nang, which also makes it the place where prices tend to swing the most.

Easy-to-remember layout: the ground floor has dried goods, spices, dried seafood, and snacks; the second floor is almost entirely clothes and fabrics. If you want to buy souvenirs to take home, just stay on the ground floor — no need to go upstairs.

The most popular items: tamarind-braised squid, sun-dried squid, Tra River goby fish, dried shrimp, dried beef, sesame candy, and various fermented fish sauces. For dried goods, be sure to ask about the packaging date — items that have been sitting too long develop a rancid, oily smell, and you'll notice it as soon as you taste it.

About bargaining: dry goods stalls in this market mostly have posted prices that are fairly honest, so haggling a lot isn't really reasonable. On the other hand, stalls selling clothes, bags, and souvenirs usually quote a price that's considerably higher than what they'll actually sell for — offering half and then negotiating up is about right.

A few things you should know before you enter:

The market opens early, around 6 AM, but it's busiest from 9–11 AM and early afternoon. Bring cash. Many stalls accept QR code scanning, but not every stall does. If you want to eat there, the food area is inside; there are bánh bèo, bún mắm, and all kinds of chè available. Please don't ask about the price if you don't actually intend to buy — at a traditional market, that can easily become awkward for both sides.

If you just want to buy specialty products quickly and don't feel like haggling, supermarkets or specialty shops along Bach Dang also sell similar items at fixed prices. In exchange, though, you miss out on the atmosphere of the market.