Overview
Dong Ba Market is in the centre of Hue City, Vietnam, next to the Perfume River. It is the largest and oldest market in Hue, built in 1899. The market has three floors and hundreds of small stalls. You can find almost everything here: fresh food, clothes, shoes, souvenirs, and local snacks. The unique feature is the lively atmosphere. Vendors call out to customers, and the smell of cooking food fills the air. Dong Ba Market is famous for its traditional conical hats (non la) and ao dai dresses. It is also the best place to taste real Hue food like bún bò Huế. The ideal time to visit is early morning from 6:00 to 9:00. The market is less crowded, and the food is very fresh. Late afternoon from 15:00 to 18:00 is also good for buying souvenirs and watching local life. Avoid midday because it is hot and very busy. The market is closed only on the first day of Lunar New Year. It is a fun place for budget travellers and food lovers.
Exploring Dong Ba Market
Dong Ba Market is quite large, covering approximately 15,600 square meters across three floors with hundreds of different stalls selling a wide variety of goods. So what does Dong Ba Market sell?
- Floor 3 - Fabric and Clothing Area: This is an ideal space for fashion and shopping enthusiasts. Here, visitors can easily find shops selling fabric for making ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress), a characteristic feature of Hue.
- Floor 2 - Handicraft Area: This is where many stalls sell handicrafts and traditional items such as incense sticks, Hue eucalyptus essential oil, paper offerings from Sinh village, exquisite jewelry from Ke Mon village, and Hue's signature conical hats...
- Floor 1 - Food and Dried Goods Area: This is the food area specializing in delicious Hue dishes and is considered the most attractive area of Dong Ba Market. This area sells a variety of dried seafood from Central Vietnam and specialty fish sauces from Hue, such as Hue shrimp paste, sour shrimp paste, snakehead fish paste, fermented fish paste, etc.
The vendors here are also very friendly, hospitable, and provide thorough advice, so you can choose whatever you like. However, the dried specialties have quite strong smells, so you should remind the vendor to pack them very carefully!
What to see nearby
Imperial Citadel
The Imperial Citadel is a huge fortress with palaces, temples, and the Forbidden Purple City. It was the home of Vietnam’s emperors. You can walk through old gates, see royal gardens, and learn about Vietnamese history. The Citadel is very close to Dong Ba Market, only a 10-minute walk.
- Location: 1 km west of Dong Ba Market (Trang Tien Street)
- Open time: 7:00 – 17:30 daily
- Suggested activities: Walk around the moat, take photos of the flag tower, explore the Forbidden Purple City
- Must-try local food: Bánh bèo (steamed rice cakes) at a small stall near the Citadel entrance – 15,000 VND ($0.65)
- Entry fee: 200,000 VND ($8.50)
Truong Tien Bridge
Truong Tien Bridge is a famous iron bridge that crosses the Perfume River. It was built in 1899 by the French. The bridge is beautiful at night when colourful lights turn on. You can walk or ride a bike across it. From the bridge, you see nice views of the river and boats.
- Location: 500 metres south of Dong Ba Market (Le Loi Street)
- Open time: Always open (best view after sunset)
- Suggested activities: Walk across the bridge at sunset, take photos of the river, rent a dragon boat
- Must-try local food: Kem bơ (avocado ice cream) from a cart near the bridge – 12,000 VND ($0.50)
- Entry fee: Free
Thien Mu Pagoda
Thien Mu Pagoda is a seven-storey pagoda on a hill by the Perfume River. It is about 15 minutes by taxi from Dong Ba Market. The pagoda has a large bronze bell and a peaceful garden. You can see the famous old car of a former monk. The view of the river from the pagoda is very calm.
- Location: Kim Long Road, about 4 km west of Dong Ba Market
- Open time: 8:00 – 18:00 daily
- Suggested activities: Ring the small bell for good luck, walk in the garden, take a boat from the pagoda to the market
- Must-try local food: Chè đậu xanh (green bean sweet soup) sold near the pagoda entrance – 10,000 VND ($0.45)
- Entry fee: Free (donation welcome)
Suggested 1-Day Multi-Point Itinerary
Start your day at 7:00 at Dong Ba Market. Spend one hour walking through the food section. Buy fresh fruit and watch vendors prepare bún bò Huế. At 8:30, walk to the Imperial Citadel (10 minutes). Explore the Citadel for two hours until 10:30. Then walk back to the market (10 minutes) for a second visit – this time for shopping. Buy souvenirs like a conical hat or a small painting. Have lunch at the market’s food court at 12:00. Try cơm hến (clam rice) and bánh khoái. At 14:00, walk to Truong Tien Bridge (5 minutes). Take photos and enjoy the river breeze. At 15:00, take a taxi to Thien Mu Pagoda (15 minutes, 50,000 VND / $2.10). Spend one hour at the pagoda. Return to Dong Ba Market at 17:00. Rest and have coffee. At 19:00, walk to Le Loi Street Night Market for dinner and shopping. Finish your day at 21:00. This itinerary is easy and not rushed.
Pro-Traveler Experience Tips
Bargain politely: Prices at Dong Ba Market are not fixed. Start by offering 50–60% of the first price. For example, if a shirt is 200,000 VND ($8.50), offer 100,000 VND ($4.25). Smile and be friendly. If the vendor says no, slowly walk away – they may call you back.
Bring small notes: Many stalls do not have change for large bills. Bring 10,000, 20,000, and 50,000 VND notes. USD is not accepted inside the market. ATMs are near the main entrance on Tran Hung Dao Street.
Try everything – but be careful: Street food is safe if you choose busy stalls. Look where locals eat. Avoid raw vegetables unless they are washed with purified water. Drink bottled water only.
Go early for fresh food: The best seafood and meat arrive before 6:00. If you want to see the fish market, arrive at 5:30. By 9:00, most fresh food is sold out.
Keep your bag safe: The market is crowded. Pickpockets can be a problem. Wear your backpack on your front. Do not put your phone in your back pocket. Use a cross-body bag with a zipper.
Wear cool clothes: The market has no air conditioning. Wear cotton or linen. Bring a small fan. Wear comfortable sandals because floors can be wet.
Take a cyclo for fun: Outside the market, many cyclo (bicycle taxi) drivers offer tours. A 30-minute ride around the market area costs 100,000 VND ($4.25). Negotiate price before getting in.
