Table of Contents
In this article we will share our best secrets and top tips for bartering in Asia. Bartering can be a lot of fun and effective bartering can save you a lot of money on your trip in 2026. There are some very common mistakes people make when they are bartering. This can lead to you paying more than you need to or not getting what you really want.
We have lived in Asia for years and travelled the length and breadth of Asia. Bartering really is part of life in Asia. We really hope that our failures and successes can help you.
Before you read on… You may also be interested in our top tips for booking super cheap flights. ALSO don’t miss our FULL GUIDE to the cheapest countries in southeast Asia
Bartering in Asia and responsible tourism
When I first started living in Asia I felt very uncomfortable bartering. Why should I try and push a local for a lower price? Over time I have come to realise that no one will sell something for a price that they are not happy with. What’s more, bartering can actually be a lot of fun and it can help you connect with a culture on a new level.
There are times to refrain from bartering – its normally easy to discern a real need. Recently we met a very old lady selling handmade bracelets in the mountains of north Vietnam. That was definitely not an opportunity to barter. In contrast, some of the popular night markets – you will see stalls stacked high with products. Loads of tourists. And to be honest, the prices can be quite high. Bartering somewhere like this is definitely a good idea. So just take it situation by situation.
A few things to know about bartering in Asia
Before you read on there are a few things to get your head around. It’s rare to find legit brands on markets in Asia. Most items are knock offs – and the quality is generally not great. And of course there is no after care or consumer rights. So you really are buying as seen. You will sometimes see prices written down. Just because it is written doesn’t mean it is a good price or a fixed price.
We definitely recommend bartering for local tours and trips. Paying more doesn’t necessarily get you more. It’s tempting to assume you will get a better tour or experience if you pay more. Booking online in advance is generally more expensive than booking locally. Often the cheapest way to book a trip is through a local tour agent.
HERE are our top tips for bartering in Asia
1 Do your research before you start bartering in Asia
One of the most common mistakes bartering in Asia is going in blind. People start bartering without knowing how much things should really cost. As a result they may offer prices that are far too low or too high. So it’s worth getting a feel for the market. Ask a few places to get a feel for their starting prices. Watch what locals are paying and chat to people about fair prices. Normally people are surprised how cheap things are in Asia. Local markets in southeast Asia tend to be cheap. A simple t-shirt may cost as little as $1, sunglasses (fake branded) normally cost $2 – $3. Nice garments are likely to cost $5 – $10 on local markets. A nice bag may cost $10 – $20 depending on the quality and design. These are of course rough prices, but hopefully this should give you a feel for what you should be aiming for.
2 Don’t offer a price that is too low
A big mistake bartering in Asia is offering a price that is too low. If you go in offering an unrealistically low price, this conveys a lack of knowledge and confidence. The seller is likely to recognise this and will therefore stick to a higher price. Work out people’s average starting prices by asking around a little. As a rough guide, a fair price is often around a half or two thirds of the original asking price. So lets say, on average market sellers are quoting $10 for a handbag. You should be able to negotiate the price down to roughly $5 – $7. If you are pushing for $3 you will probably waste a lot of energy and may not actually get the price below $10 for the bag. This is of course a rough rule – every situation is different. But hopefully this gives you something to work with.
3 Start with something you are not so interested in
This one works a treat. Good market sellers will be watching your interest and deciding the price based on your interest. They are also likely to give a higher price for the first thing you ask about. Asking about it first shows more interest. Find something that is similar to what you want and get the price. If you follow with “Oh ok, how much is this one please?” and point to what you really want – the seller is likely to drop the price a little. You are implicitly communicating that the initial price is too high so you want something different. And they may not even know you have actually started bartering with them.
4 Know what to barter for
Bartering is generally fine in most Asian countries. It is more important to know what things you can and can’t bater for. Don’t worry if you get this wrong. If you’re being polite, people are generally lovely and will just tell you if they wont barter. The most common things to barter for in Asia are transport, trips, accommodation and products in markets. Bartering in touristy spots is actually more important because very often tourist spots have much higher prices. In Asia people don’t generally barter for food – street food in Asia tends to be very cheap any way. And restaurants generally have fixed prices. If someone is not willing to barter on price, they may be willing to barter in different ways. For example, a guest house may not lower their price per night, but they may be willing to add a mattress to a room to host a family. Or a car rental company may not reduce the price, but may allow a late drop off for example. So consider other things that you can barter for.
5 Don’t barter with the wrong person
This one takes some practice and experience. But in some cases it’s just not worth trying to barter or buy from someone. In some tourist spots locals can be very intense and they may go for the hard sell. They may appear to barter a little, but they can actually be quite scammy. Try to read the seller and if they are being intense or you just feel uncomfortable, politely and confidently move on. Don’t get drawn in just because someone is being intense or pushy.
6 Keep asking questions
Bartering is a negotiation and you don’t want to give away your bottom line too fast. It’s better to ask questions “What is your best price for X?” and “can you do that for a lower price?”. Questions can diffuse any tension and help you get a feel for prices and how much people are willing to shift on the price.
7 Don’t play your power cards to early
In some cases you may have some power cards. These are things that could get you a lower price. For example, if you are shopping on a market stall and you want to buy 3 T-shirts, this is a bigger sale and so this should get you a lower price. Or if you’re planning to stay somewhere for 5 nights, you should be able to negotiate a slightly cheaper deal. Don’t play these power cards too early. Get their starting price first. Barter a little. And then when you have a slightly lower price, play your power cards and see if they can drop the even more. Very good market sellers may try and push to find out your power cards early. If you can, be confident and keep your cards close to your chest until you’re ready to barter.
8 Keep it friendly and positive
This may be one of the most important tips for bartering in Asia. Keep the tone friendly, positive and fun. A little humour can always help. Bartering can actually be a lot of fun and a great way to connect with a culture. You will find some people who are just unwilling to barter at all. Other people may be very willing to barter and may even want you to barter a bit. So just keep it positive and keep an open mind.
9 Don’t insult people products
Don’t insult someone products. Insulting someone’s products wont help you get a lower price – it will just make a tense and awkward situation. Some market sellers can take it quite personally if you are derogatory about their products. In bartering you don’t need to say negative things about someone’s products. We do always recommend checking products carefully and considering the build quality. But there is no need to discuss that with the market seller. You can even say a product is beautiful or lovely – and still barter for a lower price.
10 Know exactly what you’re buying before you barter
Imagine that you have just walked in to a small tour office in the north of Thailand. And let’s say you are trying to book a 3 day and 2 night mountain trek with a home stay. Imagine they give you a quote. This is a pretty big thing to barter for. It is likely to be expensive and you will probably have a lot of questions. Make sure you know exactly what you are bartering for before you start trying to negotiate a lower price. If you rush in and barter with their price before finding out exactly what is included, they may happily offer a lower price, but then exclude certain parts of the trip. For example, let’s say that a hotel pick up is normally included. If you barter before you have checked, they may offer a lower price but then not include this. So get a price and check everything before you start bartering. The same is true if you’re travelling with kids. Make sure the price they are quoting includes kids and everything elese. And then start bartering on the inclusive price that you have been offered. This limits their opportunity to make back the money in other ways (e.g. charging extra for kids).
11 Be the first to buy
If you’re bartering in Asia a little cultural knowledge can go a long way. In some cultures the first buyer is actually considered lucky. So they will be very keen to make their first sale of the day. Aim to get into the market early before the crowds have moved in. Some superstitious market sellers may be willing to give you a genuine bargain for good luck.
12 Learn a little language before bartering in Asia
And finally – we always recommend learning a little local language. Just a handful of phrases like “how much does this cost?” and polite words like “thank you” and some numbers can go a long way. By learning a little language you are showing an interest in their culture and a willingness to connect with locals. They may find it funny, and they are more likely to be warm and open to bartering with you. We lived in Cambodia and learned Khmer. This always made markets a lot of fun and locals were very willing to barter and give a nice discount.
How to travel Thailand for less than £20 per day
We’re committed to helping you travel savvy and on a budget.
Don’t miss our epic guide on HOW TO TRAVEL THAILAND for under £20 per day
