I can count the number of times I actually walked into a shopping mall in Vietnam. Not only because there are hardly any shopping malls here but also because there isn't much to shop for in these malls. Back home, shopping malls are really huge and it's like a one stop shop destination while the ones here are such a disappointment. One has better chances to buy things by just shopping in those wholesale markets or street side markets.
Anyhow, it was by coincidence that I walked into Saigon Center or best known as Takashimaya; Takashimaya occupies at least half of the entire shopping center. I had the intention to send my Thomas Sabo bracelet charm for cleaning since the silver has started to loose its charm. Sadly, they had moved out from Saigon Center since business has gotten so bad. So much for my one time to visit a shopping mall.
The entrance
View from the top
However, it didn't turned out all bad after all. I did walked around the concourse level and to my surprise, I found myself surrounded by Chinese houses look alike booths. These booths were occupied by hotels and bakeries selling different varieties of moon cakes. Oh course, it was going to be the 8th month of the Chinese Lunar calendar and on this month, the Chinese culture to celebrate Moon Cake Festival is expected to happen. This is probably one of the few similarities between Vietnamese & Chinese culture.
One of the booths
Plenty of varieties of moon cakes
The entire set up was nicely build up with an entrance & exit arch for people like me to take photos. And each booths had displays of moon cakes from their own company. I'm not really a moon cake person and I knew I wouldn't be able to finish one myself so I decided against buying one. Maybe, I'll wait till closer to the actual date to get one - by then the prices should be really affordable 😆
Options to choose from
Shoppers browsing through the booths
A must take photo location. Just look at the big fake mooncake
So much for indoor shopping - this is the closest to a moon cake market one can get in this country
This is an inspiration from Denise 
This is the one tag and weekly challenge that I try to make a point to join; not to mention that I'm also a fanatic when it comes to sight seeing or shopping in any form of market - indoors, outdoors, food, textile, accessories and etc.
It is always interesting to see the different markets around the globe!
There's so many different cultures and beauty in this world and the more we travel and open up our eyes, the more we gain.
It's easy to participate :
- Go to the market! Any market will do! Food, Clothing, Plant or Animal, if you wish. You can go to the zoo or an art auction. Anywhere or anything that you pay money for a service.
- Take pictures! Be creative (or not)
- Tell us a little bit about the market, what brought you here?
- Post the picture(s)
- Don’t forget to hashtag it! #MarketFriday by
- Minimum 250 words
