Ben Thanh Market - Ho Chi Minh City - Vietnam

“Brilliant – Bustling” is what can be seen at Ben Thanh market when the moon rises. It seems that this is the "real life" time of this market.

After 6 p.m, the night market begins. Street stalls are put outside of Ben Thanh market. Ben Thanh market closes the two avenues at the west and east doors of Ben Thanh to clear pass for the night merchants. During the night market you can find all sorts of food and merchandise.

If mentioning Saigon is referring to the bustle and fast living, it is necessary to feel and understand better that: the fast of the day is the work, the worries of life and the fast of the night are the color of the city. parties. If you can fully feel those two nuances of Saigon, you must have had many wonderful years here.

The day market of Ben Thanh operates all year round from about 6 a.m to 6 p.m. The market colorful bustling place full of locals and tourist with over 1500 vendors squeezed together selling everything from food to souvenirs.

The market is organized each by the four main gates. The main southern gate is filled with vendors who sell clothing, jewelry cosmetics and alike. This is the way we will enter if you are looking up souvenirs. We continue walking on the main pathway to the northern gate.

The northern gate lies along Le Thanh Ton street where the food market starts it's loaded with exotic fresh fruit, seafood and other food stands. This is where you can come for delicious and authentic vietnamese food for reasonable price like pho and broken rice you'll have to stand and sit on a stool but that's how the locals eat, try some vietnamese coffee.

The east gate is located along Phan Boi Chau street. If you're coming from the east gate, you'll find dried and canned goods, spices and vietnamese coffee. The west gate is located along Phan Chu Trinh street. This section of Ben Thanh Market is where you can find shoes, art items, souvenirs and also some cosmetics as well.

Ben Thanh Market arose from informal markets by early 17th-century hawkers gathered near the Saigon River. Market was officially established by the French colonialists after capturing Gia Dinh citadel in 1859 (see Saigon Citadel). This market was destroyed by fire in 1870 and rebuilt to become the largest market in Saigon. In 1912, the market was moved to a new building and was called New Ben Thanh Market to distinguish it from the predecessor market. The building was renovated in 1985. The market originally formed in the early 17th century as an informal food market set up by local hawkers. When the neighboring Gia Dinh citadel was overthrown by the French empire in 1859, the market was properly built and declared officially established along the French Colonial Road. The original structure consisting of a wooden thatched roof which was later destroyed by fire in 1870 was rebuilt to be known as "Les Halles Centrales".

In 1912, the market was moved into the building that people are familiar with today, using a fireproof metal structure to become the largest and most central market in the city. When all the vendors moved into the new market, the old building was not demolished but turned into a wholesale market called Cho Cu or Cho Cu. The new market was renamed Ben Thanh market to distinguish it from the predecessor market. The name Ben Thanh is derived from the words "harbour" (Ben) and "citadel" (Thanh).

Not forgetting to mention the diverse and rich cuisine of Ben Thanh market. Saigon tea is certainly not strange to people in all regions, coming to the market, you will be overwhelmed with a long line of tea stalls of all colors from the green of the nuggets, the yellow of banana, the corn, the white of tea, coconut milk, the purple color of taro, the red color of pomegranate seeds, etc. And especially, at Gate 7 there is a tea shop with more than 40 years of experience specializing in Southern tea dishes.

The main dishes must include broken rice, rib rice, vermicelli, spring rolls, grilled meat vermicelli, seven-color sticky rice. Snacks are plentiful such as mixed rice paper, Hue cake, snail dishes, flour cake, etc.

Besides, if you would like to come destinations or enjoy specialities in Ho Chi Minh City in Ho Chi Minh City Tour Package, you can refer Vietnam travel blog and guide so as to know more informations about services and entertainments here.

Saigon roads are always crowded with people passing by, so you should pay attention when crossing the street. At times of crowds, be careful with your bags to avoid being robbed or robbed.

Although the rhythm of Saigon is very fast, don't be in a hurry, come and feel it slowly, starting from Ben Thanh market, starting from Notre Dame Cathedral... starting from the most familiar things here. And you will find the deep beauty of Saigon hiding behind those hurried notes!

Let's refer more package tours in Vietnam, you will understand and love here as your second hometown.

Mr. Ming - Note. The content of the article is copyrighted by IN TOURIST COMPANY LIMITED. All copies must indicate the source, the author's name, along with a link to the corresponding content at INTOUR (Images are collected from Facebook, Instagram. Thank you for sharing the necessary images).

Ben Thanh Market is so large that it takes up an area where four main streets cross in downtown Vietnam district one. The main entrance Ben Thanh Market is located on the southside at the corner of Le Loi street and Quach Thi Trang roundabout in the Ben Thanh ward, district one area. This is where we enter the market. The most prominent symbol of the market is the image of the clock at the south door of the market like Big Ben in London.

The market was originally structured near the Saigon River. Formerly a wet market, the surrounding canals make it easy for boats to pick up and return items for trade. After being relocated in 1912 near My Tho train station, now Saigon bus station, the market owns one of the most prime locations in District 1.