2026 Ho Chi Minh City Grade B guide to Vietnamese ceramics and lifestyle shops｜Affordable, design‑forward souvenirs in District 1

If you’re looking for a shop that isn’t over‑touristy but sells stylish Vietnamese souvenirs, Grade B in District 1 is worth adding to your Ho Chi Minh City shopping list. The "Grade B" in the shop name doesn’t mean poor quality — the brand’s concept is embracing imperfections, accepting the subtle flaws that can occur in handmade or production processes and letting customers buy beautiful home goods at more affordable prices.

What is Grade B?

The Grade B District 1 store is located at 58 Lê Lợi, Phường Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, within easy walking or driving distance from Ben Thanh Market, Đồng Khởi Street and Saigon Centre. Official information shows the District 1 branch’s opening hours are 09:30–22:00, which is friendly for travelers who sightsee during the day and shop in the evening.

The store focuses on ceramics and home aesthetics: black metal shelving against white brick walls, neatly arranged, so browsing feels like visiting a small design exhibition.

What’s worth buying at the District 1 store?

The most attractive items are of course Vietnamese ceramics. On the shelves you can find cups, plates, bowls, tea sets, vases, table accessories and small home ornaments, in colors ranging from cream, beige and gray to pink, mint green and blue. Some styles are minimalist Nordic, while others retain the natural texture of handmade ceramics; whether for personal use or as gifts they’re more distinctive than mass‑produced souvenirs.

If you like matching tableware, look for cups, plates and bowls in the same color family; if luggage space is limited, small cups, saucers, spoons or mini vases are easier to bring home. The store also carries glassware, cutlery, candles, diffusers and wooden decor.

When choosing souvenirs for family or friends, consider their daily habits. Coffee lovers are suited to mugs or small trays; those who cook will appreciate plates, bowls and table accessories; if you’re unsure of someone’s home style, cream, off‑white and gray‑blue are generally easy to match. For people who enjoy styling their rooms, vases, candlesticks or small ornaments are more travel‑friendly than large pottery.

What makes Grade B special is the chance to find outlet, clearance or items with slight visual differences. Before buying you can check rims, glazes and the bottoms, and confirm the actual condition with staff; if you like a style, decide early because quantities may not be consistent.

How to choose and bring items home?

Information published by Corner notes that Grade B staff will carefully pack items for travelers and can provide an itemized price list.

When packing yourself, leave cushioning between cups and plates and put heavier items in the center of your suitcase. These practical, understated Vietnamese home souvenirs often look better over time than typical tourist‑print memorabilia.

The farther Thảo Điền branch

If you plan to visit Thảo Điền for cafés, restaurants and design shops, you can also arrange to visit another Grade B. The branch is located at 14 Trần Ngọc Diện, Thảo Điền, Thu Duc City, Hồ Chí Minh and opens 09:00–20:00. This location is farther from District 1 and not recommended to visit solely to buy a small item; but if your itinerary already includes Thảo Điền, it’s convenient to stop by.

Thảo Điền has cafés, restaurants and other lifestyle shops nearby, making Grade B a good stop for a half‑day design and coffee route.

How to plan your itinerary?

For first‑time visitors, prioritize the 58 Lê Lợi branch in District 1. After visiting Ben Thanh Market or Saigon Centre, you can go to Grade B to pick ceramics and home goods; if you buy a lot, return to your hotel to sort your luggage. If you want to rest after shopping, you can also go to Win Royal Spa, address 48 Lê Thị Hồng Gấm, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, opening hours daily 09:00–22:00, to experience a Vietnamese head‑wash massage or a massage and comfortably wrap up an afternoon of shopping.

Grade B suits travelers who like design, home goods and practical souvenirs. If you’re interested in cups and plates, ceramics, vases or small home ornaments, the District 1 store is worth reserving time to treasure‑hunt.

The charm here isn’t buying every single tourist souvenir at once, but finding one piece you truly want to take home among different colors, shapes and glazes. Even if you end up buying just one cup or a small saucer, you can bring Vietnamese design into everyday life.