In addition to unique architectural works such as the Notre Dame Cathedral or Independence Palace, Saigon also has old markets that are considered symbols of the city.
Besides the historical values, the following markets in Saigon are also busy shopping places for the locals, attracting a large number of tourists to visit.
1. Ben Thanh Market
Address: Le Loi Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Ben Thanh Market is always an interesting shopping destination for visitors to Saigon. It is one of the oldest markets in Ho Chi Minh City and one of its most attractive attractions.
This market, operated from 1914 to the present, is a busy trading place and witness to the city’s many changes and ups and downs. This site is the interfering point between old Saigon and the present.
This market concentrates on clothes, sandals, fabrics, handicrafts, brocade products, jewelry, and local food.
With long-standing traditional values, the market attracts a lot of foreign tourists to visit and shop. So, you will encounter all languages when trading there.
At night, plenty of shops gather around the Ben Thanh market, establishing a busy night market that creates a vibrant and colorful Saigon.
2. Binh Tay Market
Address: Thap Muoi Street, Ward 2, District 6, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Binh Tay market, located at the western gateway of Saigon, is always one of the famous destinations marked on the tourist map in Vietnam.
The market, which was opened in 1930, has Asian-style architecture. The roof corners curve in the style of Vietnamese temples, roofing with yin and yang tiles, both ancient, airy, and cool.
A unique market feature is a large outdoor courtyard in the middle, which creates a fantastic space and harmoniously uses natural sunlight.
In addition to its typical architectural features, the Binh Tay market is also the busiest hub center in Saigon and offers many types of goods.
This place attracts most professional traders because most goods are wholesaled and transported to the southwestern provinces in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam.
If you intend to find and buy household goods and electronics for your family during your visit to Saigon, Binh Tay market is the right place to go.
When you come to this market, you can meet friendly sellers who always welcome visitors and offer an affordable wholesale price.
3. Tan Dinh Market
Address: Hai Ba Trung, Tan Dinh ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tan Dinh market, bearing the city’s historical mark, has always been a famous and familiar shopping spot for many Saigonese.
The main gate of the market, built in 1926, was designed quite nicely. It is a good spot for taking beautiful pictures when visiting this place.
The market sells many items, the most famous of which are fabrics and cuisine.
Most visitors appreciate the food stalls at Tan Dinh market because of their diverse and tasty dishes, such as vermicelli, crab noodles, a mixed fruit plate, fish-sauce vermicelli, and sticky rice with chicken.
The Tan Dinh market is always the best choice if you want to buy cheap fabric. So, many families and tourists from different regions come here to shop for clothing.
4. An Dong Market
Address: An Duong Vuong street, ward 9, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
An Dong market is one of the central markets in Saigon, and this one captures the hearts of the people attached to this city.
For more than 60 years, the An Dong market has contributed significantly to the circulation of goods in the central area of Saigon.
If you like to check out the latest fashion designs, the An Dong market is a suitable place. Many people evaluate that the fastest fashion models, including new clothes, shoes, and fashionable accessories, will be updated quickly in this market.
Besides for sale, the upper floor of the market also has a convenient bank for tourists to exchange money during sightseeing and shopping.
5. Ba Chieu Market
Address: Bach Dang Street, Ward 1, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
As one of the oldest retail markets in Saigon, Ba Chieu has been associated with many people in the Binh Thanh district and Saigon from ancient times to the present.
The market is in a beautiful and convenient location, so it can attract a large number of customers who shop and visit daily.
The primary commodities traded in this market are clothes, shoes, fruits, and food. Because the prices are pretty low, it is suitable for almost all customers to shop.
In particular, the Ba Chieu Market is busy at night. The night market, which is opened in front of the building, mainly sells clothes, shoes, and street food.
At night, the night market becomes more bustling because flowers and fruits are more popular in this area. So, visiting the Ba Chieu Market at night is one of the interesting activities to do when you stay in Saigon.
6. Ho Thi Ky Flower Market
Address: Alley 52, Ho Thi Ky, Ward 1, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
The over-30-year-old market operates day and night. Hidden in a small alley, the Ho Thi Ky Flower Market is one of the largest wholesale flower markets in Ho Chi Minh City.
When the streets started settling at night, Ho Thi Ky Market in the heart of Saigon still worked with the sound of buyers and sellers, bustling with flower trucks.
The flowers here mainly come from Da Lat City and the western provinces in the Mekong Delta, so they get a low price. Vans usually leave Dalat in the afternoon and arrive at the market at midnight to keep flowers fresh.
At night, the market is distinct and beautiful, adorned by the vibrant colors of many flowers. Under the yellow light, voices and laughter mix together, creating a vibrant market.
It would be great if you could come here once at late night to experience Saigon’s lively life of daytime or night.
Conclusion
The ancient and busy markets in Saigon, Ben Thanh Market, and Binh Tay Market are popular with almost all tourists.
The remaining markets have strong the style of the local people, and there are a few areas in the market that are not neat and clean.
However, each market has its own beauty, always welcoming those who love to explore the native culture.
Besides visiting the other tourist attractions in Ho Chi Minh City, spending a short time in one of these Saigon markets can enrich our experience in Vietnam.
