Explore Vietnam's Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City
Ben Thanh Market is one of the famous destinations in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. When arriving in Ho Chi Minh City, visitors must definitely visit Ben Thanh market because this is not only a place to shop for local products, but also an interesting cultural experience. Traveling to Ben Thanh Market not only helps visitors better understand the history and culture of Saigon, but also gives visitors many experiences and discoveries of the City's typical culinary culture, and can shop. quality items at reasonable prices, learn about and admire Ho Chi Minh City's distinctive architecture as well as connect and interact with local people
Introducing Ben Thanh Market
History of Ben Thanh Market
Old Ben Thanh Market (before 1911): The early Ben Thanh Market existed before the French invaded Gia Dinh. Initially, the market was located on the banks of the Ben Nghe River, next to a river wharf near Gia Dinh citadel. A bustling trading place, there is a wharf ferrying passengers from the sea, gathering hundreds of goods, and along the river wharf, large and small merchant boats come and dock. After the French invaded Gia Dinh, Ben Thanh market was also burned down. And it took a year for the market to be restored at the same location.
New Ben Thanh Market (From 1912 to present): After a long time of use, the old market was seriously degraded, the stalls began to rot and were at risk of collapsing at any time. Therefore, France chose a new location to build a larger market to serve busier trading needs.
The new market area was originally an old swamp called Bo Ret pond and was filled in by the French to build the market. In 1912, the market was built by the French construction contractor Brossard et Maupin and it took 2 years to complete. The architectural designs from the past have been retained despite going through many debates and repairs.
Geographical location of Ben Thanh market
Ben Thanh Market is located in the center of District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The official address of the market is Le Loi Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1. Opposite the market is Quach Thi Trang construction site, currently Ben Thanh subway station. In addition, the market also has 4 main doors leading to busy streets in Saigon, making it convenient for tourists to travel.
How to get to Ben Thanh market
Because it is located in the center of District 1, getting to Ben Thanh market is not difficult, you can travel by any means you want. - Motorbike, car: If tourists ride a motorbike or car, they can easily get to Ben Thanh Market via Le Loi, Phan Chu Trinh, Nguyen Trai... And park at the surrounding parking spots. around the market. - Bus: Bus routes connecting many areas in Saigon all stop at Ben Thanh Market.
The stops are usually about 200 - 500m from the market. You can get off at the station and just walk a few minutes to get to the market. - Taxis, motorbike taxis: If you are not familiar with the streets of Saigon, it is most convenient to use these means of transportation. Because they will take you right to the market gate. Maybe on the way you will hear interesting things about this city.
Operating hours of Ben Thanh market
Ben Thanh Market is open daily from 6am to 7pm. However, after 7pm, Ben Thanh night market is extremely busy and crowded. There are two ideal times for you to visit Ben Thanh market: - From 7:30 am - 6:00 pm: Suitable for tourists who want to visit and shop inside the market. - After 7pm: This time is for those who like the bustling atmosphere at night with colorful stalls. Because the market has a quite large area and thousands of stalls are located close together, it can take visitors nearly 2 hours to fully explore this market.
The ideal time to visit Ben Thanh Market
If you want to travel to Saigon and explore Ben Thanh market to the fullest, choose to go in the sunny season, at this time the weather is dry and convenient for moving and taking more beautiful check-in photos.
Ben Thanh Market is also a great destination to enjoy typical Saigon cuisine. Delicious and popular dishes that need to be mentioned when visiting this place include:
- Bun rieu: The most delicious dish in Ben Thanh market that you should not miss. Not too fussy, the vermicelli bowl only includes pieces of crab paste, pork blood and tofu, combined with a rich broth that makes diners extremely satisfied.
At night, Ben Thanh Market is also very vibrant with many entertainment and culinary activities. Ben Thanh Night Market begins operating at 7pm with more than 100 stalls lining Phan Chu Trinh and Phan Boi Chau streets on the side of the market with thousands of handicrafts, souvenirs, clothes, and accessories. events and nightlife bars with all kinds of seafood, grilled food, beer bars, and extremely bustling water bars.
Every evening, Ben Thanh night market attracts more than 1,000 visitors to visit, eat and shop. Including both locals and tourists, immerse yourself in the vibrant and bustling atmosphere of the city.
