Ben Thanh Market – The most famous market in Sai Gon
If Dong Xuan Market is the culture of Hanoi, Ben Thanh Market is one of the unique features of Saigon that anyone will remember the first when visiting Sai Gon. It will be a great regret that you miss Ben Thanh market – one of the most famous night markets in Vietnam when you come here.
The address of Ben Thanh Market
Ben Thanh Market is located in the South Gate - the intersection of Phan Boi Chau, Phan Chu Trinh, Le Thanh Ton, and Quach Thi Trang Streets, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1. It is the oldest market in Sai Gon. The most prominent symbol of Ben Thanh market is the image of a clock at the South Gate of the market like the Big Ben clock in London.
Origin of Ben Thanh Market
The market has the history of the formation from the early 17th century, near the Saigon River. At this time, Ben Thanh Market is the purchase place of small traders. In the war of resistance against French colonialism, the market is located on the banks of the Ben Nghe River, which is used to serve visitors and soldiers in the city. Therefore, the market is called the Ben Thanh Market.
Inside Ben Thanh Market
How to get to Ben Thanh Market?
To get to the market faster, you should use a motorbike or taxi. You can also catch the bus to save money because the ticket bus is very cheap. Another reason is that Ben Thanh Market and Central Bus Station are close by, so most of the buses can take you there. You will need about 1 to 2 hours to visit, enjoy food and shopping in the Ben Thanh Market.
What to buy in Ben Thanh Market
With an area of over 13,000m2, Ben Thanh Market is considered as the largest retail market because you can find here all kinds of goods, from the popular to the highest product, especially the most selective food. The South Gate overlooking Quach Thi Trang Square with the symbol of the three-sided clock tower is the main gate. Inside the cage house is the place to sell fabrics and dry food.
The North Gate on Le Thanh Ton Street is vibrant with fresh flower stalls and fruits of the sellers inviting passersby. The East Gate on Phan Boi Chau Street attracts customers with the colorful type of cosmetics and candies. The West Gate on Phan Chu Trinh Street is a place to attract women because of the diversity of styles and sizes of shoes, handicraft products, souvenirs.
Also, along the corridors surrounding the cage house of the market are the stalls selling all kinds of consumer goods for tourists, especially souvenir, ready-made clothes, silk fabrics, handmade products, embroidery, brocade.
What to buy in Ben Thanh Market
What to eat in Ben Thanh Market
Ben Thanh Market is also famous for its diverse and rich cuisine. Saigon tea is not strange to people in all regions. When coming to Ben Thanh market, you will be overwhelmed with the long chain of tea stalls with all colors from the green rice, yellow banana, and corn, white coconut milk, purple taro, red agar-agar with imitation pomegranate seeds.
And in particular, the gate number 7 has a sweet soup shop with over 40 years specializing in South sweet soup. Main dishes include broken rice, rice with grilled pork chop, noodles, spring rolls, noodles with grilled pork, seven-color sticky rice. The junk food is mixed rice paper, Vietnamese Crepe, snail dishes, cakes.
Ben Thanh Night Market
Ben Thanh Market is also extremely vibrant at night. Starting at 7 pm, 178 stalls flow into Phan Boi Chau Street and Phan Chu Trinh Street with its handicraft products, souvenirs, clothes, and unique food stalls. Brilliant and bustle are what you can be seen in Ben Thanh Market when the moon is up. It seems that this is the real time of the market.
Ben Thanh Night Market
There are many commercial activities here. Also, a lot of tourists and local people visit, enjoy the food as well as are ready to live with a "the second Saig Gon" - Saigon at night. When you come to Saigon, it is necessary to perceive and understand quickly: the day's fast is the work, the worries of life and the quickness of the night are the colors of parties. Visitors to Ben Thanh Night Market are often those who love the unique culture of Saigon as well as find souvenirs for themselves and their family. Also, Ben Thanh night market also welcomes a large number of young people come here after a day of study and work with tiredness.
Ben Thanh Market is one of the long-standing symbols of Ho Chi Minh City. As an essential fact, anyone coming to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam will visit Ben Thanh market to find the best items for the best gift to relatives or friends. To get more information about the Sapa trip from Saigon, feel free to contact us via our website. Share it if it is useful to you. Have a great trip!
