Dam Market is a crowded and bustling trading place where you can see the local activities in Nha Trang City.
This market is the central one where the local people and tourists can go shopping and taste a lot of local food.
Dam market in Nha Trang
Address: Ben Cho, Van Thanh ward, Nha Trang city, Khanh Hoa province, Vietnam
Opening hours: 5:00 am – 6:30 pm
The name Dam market is derived from a small one built at the end of 7-hectare damp (in Vietnamese is Dam in 1908, so the people called it Dam Market.
However, the building of the present was built in 1980 with a lotus design and a diameter of 66.5m.
The area of both the ground floor and second floor is 5,270 m2 wide, which can welcome more than 3,000 visitors every day.
Guides to visit Dam market
Dam Market provides a full range of essential items to serve the daily life of the people, from normal living products to souvenirs and specialties in Nha Trang.
When you come to the market, you will see a lot of visitors, especially foreign tourists.
Like other famous markets in Vietnam, the Dam market is divided into three main areas, including the centre area, the right-wing, and the left-wing area. Each type of item is also grouped in various sections to help visitors buy them easily.
Seafood and food stalls are the two most popular stalls in the Dam market. The seafood is fresh because they come directly from the local sea.
During the peak tourist season (from May to August), the market welcomes more than 1,000 visitors per day.
Besides shopping, most of the visitors coming here are very interested in learning about the life of the indigenous people.
1. Dam Market Central Area
Essential items for daily life, such as clothes and toys are available in the central area. These things mainly serve the needs of local people.
The centre also sells small souvenirs and lovely handicrafts that simulate the image of the coastal city of Nha Trang, made by talented hands of the sea artisans.
You can go to the central area of the Dam market to find a few favourite items to decorate your homes or as gifts to relatives and friends.
2. Right-wing area of the market
If you are looking for Nha Trang specialties or want to enjoy the local dishes, then go to the right-wing section of the market.
You will find this place sells various things from rice paper, salt, and green chilli to fish cakes and fish sauce. You can choose to buy a few items as gifts.
In addition, the right-wing area also displays a lot of local dishes: Nem (sour spring rolls), or fish vermicelli.
Inspired by the countryside of Vietnam, the space of this area is impressively designed with a leaf roof to help visitors feel the closeness and coziness.
You can order a bowl of hot fish noodle soup, sit and enjoy directly at the market to feel the soul of a coastal market.
Not picky or luxurious, the food in the market is simple and rustic, but when eating once, you will remember forever. Not miss the opportunity to enjoy these local flavours.
3. Left-wing area
This area sells a variety of seafood. There are a lot of kinds of fresh seafood such as shrimp, crab, crab, squid, cuttlefish, rays, and fish.
Dried seafood, such as dried shrimp, dried squid, and yellow thread fish, are processed and marinated according to the local people’s recipe. Plenty of Vietnamese tourists like to buy this food as a gift when visiting Dam Market.
Opposite to the dried seafood is the dried fruit area. If you do not like dried seafood, different dried fruits will be a great choice to taste.
Notes when visiting Dam market
1. Bargaining is possible in Dam Market.
If you go shopping in the Dam market, remember to bargain the price before deciding to buy any product at this market.
Although it is the oldest famous market in Nha Trang, besides the extremely friendly sellers, many shops challenge the high price.
Therefore, when making a purchase, you can start the price by one third or even half of the price they offer you.
2. Take pay attention to avoid buying fake goods.
Many visitors coming to Dam market are often impressed by the unique and sophisticated handicrafts.
However, if you do not have experience in choosing and testing products, it will be easy to buy fake ones at a very high price.
Please note that the products made by the craftsmen themselves are perfect, delicate to every detail because they put a lot of effort into their spiritual child.
3. Pay attention to pickpockets.
Every day, the Dam market has thousands of visitors to visit and shops. So pickpocketing still happens sometimes.
You should be careful to protect your belongings and personal property to avoid leading to unfortunate troubles.
When travelling to Nha Trang, visiting the Dam market can enrich your journey. You can explore the exciting daily life of the local people.
List this destination in your itinerary to come when you have a chance!
Besides this market, do not forget visiting nearby tourist attractions, such as the Ponagar Tower and the Stone Church.