The best area to look for maps, books and stationery is along the north side of Le Loi street, between the Rex Hotel and Nam Ky Khoi Nghia street, in the Dong Khoi area. There are many small, privately run shops as well as the large government-run ones.
On De Tham street, around Pham Ngu Lao, there is a handful of shops dealing in used paperbacks and bootleg CDs. Here you can also swap books. Check out the following places.
Fahasa Bookshop
Add: 185 B Dong Khoi and 40 Nguyen Hue street
Tel: 822 4670 and 822 5446
One of the best government-run bookshops, with good dictionaries, maps and general books in English and French.
Phuong Nam Bookshop
Add: 2A Le Duan street
Tel: 822 9650
Opened: 8am-9.30pm
Carries imported books and magazines in English, French and Chinese, mostly of the instructional variety.
Tiem Sach Bookshop
Add: 20 Ho Huan Nghiep street
Opened: 8.30am-10pm
Not so much a bookshop as a backdrop of used English and French titles for the cosy Bo Gio cafe.
