Ben Thanh Market - Ho Chi Minh City

"Visiting this market is a real experience. The market is well organised in sections from clothes to bags to souvenirs, food, flowers and more. Be prepared to be harangued by the sellers who will not let you pass without trying to sell you something.
Once you have decided what you want to purchase the sellers are open to negotiation. At the end of the day they want to sell you there goods. It is hot and sticky in the market. The small cafes offer very cheap food and drinks. My mango smoothie was probably the best I had in Ho Chi Minh and the cheapest.
Beware of pick pockets."

The entrance of the market

The Ben Thanh Market - is the most famous market for tourists in Ho Chi Minh City, where you can buy any kind of souvenir. The market is a real attraction in Saigon and an important symbol of the city. Here you can buy everything from clothing, fabrics, kichenware till food.

However, there are cheaper markets in the city, but the history of the Ben Thanh Market and the central location in Saigon make it the most popular market for tourists. The prices are low and you can negotiate. Especially if you want to buy multiple items at once.
There are over 3,000 stalls in Ben Thanh. This will include ceramics, clothing, watches, lighters, t-shirts, coffee, handbags, shoes, rice hats, tailored suits and dresses, and there are many Vietnamese dishes at some stalls, such as noodle soup and fruit smoothies.

A lot of items

Both seller within and outside the Ben Thanh Market are somewhat intrusive. So you have to get used to reject them politely whether to ignore their sales pitch. It is always best to look at the different stalls before you want to buy something. You don't get the best deals by buying something at the first stall. It is always best to look at the different stalls to buy something at a cheap price.

The stalls inside the Ben Thanh Market close between 17:00 to 18:00.
While the inside in the market hall becomes quiet, outside it's getting very busy. People are busy setting up the night market, mainly souvenirs, T-shirts and food. Just like any Asian night market, you can hunt here on out chances.
Later at night it's getting really very busy . Not only the vendors to persuade you to buy anything, but there are also street vendors. They tryto sell different items such as postcards, ciagarette lighters and bracelets.

In the old days the market used to be a casual place where street vendors came together. This was close to the river in Saigon. During French colonial period it became a formal market in 1859. In 1870 a fire destroyed the market and after it was rebuilt, it became the largest market in Saigon.
In 1912 they moved the whole market to a new building and they called it "The New Ben Thanh market," to distinguish it from his older brother himself. The building was renovated in the year 1985.
Other markets in Saigon are:

- Yersin Market aka Dan Sinh Market
- Binh Tay Market
- The Flower Market
- Russian Market

Everything for sale