Do Not Start with the Question “Where Is It Cheaper?”
Central Ho Chi Minh City brings together many shopping centres and boutiques from international brands. Saigon Centre, Union Square, the Dong Khoi – Le Loi area and Diamond Plaza are all within relatively easy reach for guests staying downtown.
Luxury goods do not have a fixed price difference between Vietnam and markets such as Singapore, Thailand, Japan or Europe. Retail prices can vary according to brand policy, exchange rates, import duties, collection cycles and global price adjustments. If you are considering a high-value purchase, compare the exact item at authorised boutiques and check whether the transaction qualifies for VAT refund.
Compare the same product code, size, material and collection rather than looking only at a brand’s average pricing.
Not every boutique or retailer participates in Vietnam’s VAT refund programme for departing international visitors.
If you plan to claim VAT when leaving Vietnam, keep the goods unused and retain the required documentation.
Trade agreements can affect import duties for certain product groups over time, but final retail prices are also shaped by brand strategy, exchange rates, distribution costs and global pricing adjustments. For high-value items, comparing the official boutique price at the time of purchase is the most reliable approach.
International Visitors May Be Eligible for a VAT Refund — If the Purchase Meets the Rules
Foreign visitors and overseas Vietnamese carrying goods out of Vietnam may be eligible for a value-added tax refund if their purchases meet the current requirements. For high-value items, it is better to check the refund conditions at the boutique before paying so that all invoices and supporting documents are prepared correctly.
Five Things to Check Before You Buy
Foreign nationals or overseas Vietnamese using a passport or international travel document issued by a foreign authority when departing Vietnam.
The goods must be purchased from a retailer participating in the VAT refund programme for departing visitors. Ask the boutique staff before completing the transaction.
The total value of eligible goods purchased from one retailer in one day must be at least VND 2,000,000. Multiple invoices from the same retailer on the same day may be combined where the rules allow.
Eligible goods must be unused and meet the relevant condition requirements. The VAT refund invoice and declaration must be issued no more than 60 days before the departure date.
Visitors receive 85% of the total VAT amount on goods that qualify for refund. The remaining 15% is retained as the service fee for the commercial bank acting as the refund agent.
Buying a handbag at a boutique in the city does not automatically make it a duty-free purchase. Under the VAT refund scheme, the customer pays at an eligible retailer and later claims part of the VAT when departing through a participating border checkpoint. Duty-free shops operate under a different mechanism.
Vung Tau Is Now Part of the New Ho Chi Minh City, but It Still Feels Like a Separate Coastal Journey
Since 1 July 2025, Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong and Ba Ria – Vung Tau have been merged into the new Ho Chi Minh City. Vung Tau therefore now falls within Ho Chi Minh City’s administrative boundary. From a travel perspective, however, the journey from central Saigon to the Vung Tau coast still deserves its own schedule and transport plan.
A Coastal Rhythm within the New Ho Chi Minh City
Following the administrative reorganisation, Vung Tau is now part of the new Ho Chi Minh City. The former Vung Tau city area is now organised into new wards such as Vung Tau, Tam Thang, Rach Dua and Phuoc Thang, while the name Vung Tau continues to be widely used in travel and everyday life.
The journey usually takes around 105–120 minutes depending on weather and sea conditions. It is a convenient option for guests already staying in the city centre.
Actual travel time varies significantly with traffic and the departure point. It should not be assumed that the journey from central Ho Chi Minh City will take only a little over an hour.
For travel communication, phrases such as “Vung Tau in the new Ho Chi Minh City” or “from central Ho Chi Minh City to the Vung Tau coast” are both clear for international visitors and consistent with the current administrative context.
Stay Close Enough to Return and Recharge between Shopping Stops
For guests shopping in central Ho Chi Minh City, accommodation does not need to be inside the shopping centre itself. What matters more is having quick access to Dong Khoi, Le Loi, Saigon Centre, Union Square and the main shopping streets without spending too much time in traffic.
Located in the Ben Thanh area with convenient access to Saigon Centre, Le Loi, Dong Khoi and the city centre’s shopping and dining districts. A strong option for guests who value location and walkability.
Explore El Pino RealmLocated at 174 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, Abora suits guests who want to stay close to central Ho Chi Minh City while returning to a warmer, more relaxed space after a day of shopping and meetings.
Explore VIBE AboraThree Days: Shop Downtown, Then Spend a Day by the Sea
A Comfortable, Unhurried Itinerary
Check in downtown → Saigon Centre / Le Loi area → Dong Khoi → evening in central Ho Chi Minh City.
Diamond Plaza or another luxury shopping area → confirm VAT refund eligibility before payment → spend the afternoon at a café, spa or restaurant.
Depart from Bach Dang by high-speed ferry to Vung Tau if the timetable fits → relax by the coast → return to the city centre or stay overnight depending on your schedule.
Travellers need to complete the required inspection of goods and invoices before receiving the refund. For high-value purchases, keep the documents easy to access and avoid packing the items too deeply in checked luggage before the inspection is complete.
What to Know Before Buying Luxury Goods in Ho Chi Minh City
No. There is no fixed price difference that applies across all brands and products. Compare the official price of the exact item at the time of purchase and consider whether the transaction qualifies for VAT refund.
Potentially, yes. The transaction must satisfy the programme requirements, including visitor eligibility, purchase from a participating retailer, minimum purchase value, valid goods and documentation, and departure through a checkpoint that provides VAT refund services.
No. Under the current mechanism, visitors receive 85% of the VAT amount on eligible goods, while 15% is retained as the service fee for the refund bank.
No. The individual retailer must participate in the VAT refund programme. Ask the boutique staff before completing payment.
No. Vung Tau is part of the new Ho Chi Minh City following the administrative reorganisation, but there is no administrative unit called “Vung Tau District”. The former Vung Tau city area has been reorganised into new wards and communes.
The high-speed ferry from the Bach Dang area usually takes around 105–120 minutes depending on conditions. Road travel varies more with traffic, so no fixed travel time should be treated as guaranteed.
A Better Journey Begins with the Right Choices, Not a Promise of the “Lowest Price”
Stay centrally for easier shopping, understand the VAT refund rules and reserve a separate rhythm for the Vung Tau coast — a practical way to combine city and seaside travel within the new Ho Chi Minh City.
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