 | Ho Chi Minh City Ben Thanh market Reviews | 1 - 10 of 62 |  |
Since its birth in the early 19th century, Bến Thành Market has seen its share of disasters.
In 1859, a French canon destroyed the market and resulted in its location being moved from Saigon River to Tổng Nha Ngân Khố (Treasury) on Nguyễn Huệ Avenue.
In 1870, a fire destroyed a large part of the market.
In 1911, the market was intentionally demolished for safety reason and construction began on the present location. The work finished on March 1914 and the inauguration lasted three days. With the second new location, Bến Thành was also known as Chợ Sài G̣n or Chợ Mới (New Market) while the old location with only few remaining stores being called Chợ Cũ (Old Market).
Bến Thành Market is a square building with four gates that look onto Quách Thị Trang Plaza, Phan Bội Châu, Phan Chu Trinh, and Lê Thánh Tôn Streets. The side that looks onto the plaza has a tower with three clocks, all made by Citizen and none showed the correct time for the entire twenty years I lived in the city. Since the last interior makeover in 1985, the clocks seem to work properly most of the time, so kudos for the new regime.
With over 3000 stalls in the market, there is nothing you cannot find in this oldest and busiest market in Vietnam. Leave a Comment
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Tip Update: This place is listed under Patricia Schultz's "1000 places to see before you die" so it's a must see.
Have you heard of the old adage, " if you want it, we have it?" Well, this applies here, they have coffee beans for the isomniacs, snake wine for impotent men, enough bags and shoes to satisfy Imelda Marcos , etc etc. Just remember to drive a hard bargain when you are here. There's always a two-step pricing for people who look sadly like a Japanese ( moi ) or Caucasians. Yeah, it's almost as though we are wearing T-shirts that say , "Big Spender"
To see photos of the snake wine and other curiousities, click on b'packer's HCMC page Leave a Comment Directions: At the intersection of Le Loi, Ham Nghi, Tran Hung Dao and Le Lai streets, District 1. Not too far from backpacker's district
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This is the biggest market in HCMC. You can practically get everything here - clothes, food, utensils, arts and crafts, souvenirs, meat and vegetables, coffee powder, etc etc. It's open air - you can move through the many galleries gaping at how many things are being sold here. Bargain hard before you buy anything. My favourite section is the food section - where you can slurp down warm Vietnamese Beef Pho (noodles) (~5000dongs), have cold desserts (~2000dongs) and watch the world go by...as long as you don't mind the chaos going around you.
Jan 2007 Update (from friends): ..." am glad that I have gotten there now than later cause it is now largely invaded by tourists, especially those from Europe. So things are getting expensive and we got slightly burned at Ben Thanh market buying some local delicacies. Later, we actually go to their supermarket which was alot cheaper!!"... Leave a Comment Directions: Near Pham Ngu Lao - the backpacker's district!
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Ben Thanh market was founded since the French occupation in the 19th century. It was originally located on the bank of Ben Nghe River near Gia Din Fort until 1899 when it was moved to the present location. The market is now standing at the intersection of Le Loi, Ham Nghi and Tran Hung Dao Avenue – the centre of the city. Almost every road in the city is connected to the market. The main gate of the market is a yellow clock tower that becomes the symbol of the city.
Inside is a tightly organized grid of aisles, arranged according to product. Clothes, shoes and fabric dominate the front, before giving over to kitchenware, cooked food, fresh vegetables and a somewhat alarming display of seafood and meat (some of it still alive). There is plenty for the visitor to buy, but the main attraction is the way in which the bustling market is still very much part of the city's life and economy.
Opens 6:00 am to 6:30 pm Everyday. Address: Le Loi, Ham Nghi and Tran Hung Dao AvenueDirections: intersection of Le Loi, Ham Nghi and Tran Hung Dao Avenue, District 1, Sai Gon
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Ben Thant Market was built in 1914. The clock tower with 4 clocks facing 4 directions is considered the symbol of the City. The market is one of the biggest markets in the city where everything can be found, from vegetables to fish, electronic gadgets, clothings and leather bags, shoes etc..
The market now also caters to the increasing tourist visiting HCM City... with a wide range of cheap imported goods, mainly from China...
At the back of the market, small food stalls serve a wide variety of local dishes... Leave a Comment Address: Le Loi Boulevard, District 1Directions: At the junction of Ham Nghi, Le Loi and Tran Hung Dao boulevards... The market is opened between 6:00am to 7:00pm daily...
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HCMH is not complete without going to Ben Thanh market. You get all kinds of stuff here but you must do these:
(1) Bargain Bargain Bargain
(2) Bring a calculator - you need it to convert Dong to US$ or to your local currency
(3) Best to avoid Fridays and Saturdays - thats when the crowd is incredible. Lots of foreigners like me go and shop. The prices they quote for the goods is higher on Fri/Sat than if you are there on late Sunday evenings/ Mondays. You could try this wonderful clothes shop named Phanh
(4) Dress lightly as you will be going into a "sauna"
A much cooler place which I visited was Andong Market
Other Interesting HCMC Places Leave a Comment Address: everyone knows Ben ThanhDirections: District 1 near New World HotelOther Contact: Appreciate your rating below
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The market is located right in middle of QUAN 1 of Ho Chi Minh City. The round about in front of the market is almost a must-pass for most tourists in order to access to various museums and other city attractions.
You can find thousands of super small lots that selling almost everything money can buy. Of course do not expect superior quality for the money you paid for the goods & services. Leave a Comment
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Locates at the intersection of Le Loi ,Ham Nghi , Tran Hung Dao and Le Lai Avenues . It’s the biggest market in HCMC and also a place attracts many foreign tourists , almost everything is sold in this market u can find anything u want but it’s also known as the most expensive market , things are always charged much higher than other places .If u visit the market if u really wanna buy some T-shirts or sth please haggle to have a bargain .
U can find the “business” not only have in the market but also on the streets around it there are many shops dealing in food , shoes ,sandals , and even second-hand clothes.
One more thing u should beware of is that street venders outside the market,i recommend u be careful with them and shouldnt buy anything from them.
Hope u have a nice trip!! :) Leave a Comment
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Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon is the commercial hub of Vietnam and certainly its most lively city. This place springs to life early in the morning with the hustle and bustle of the local markets and the incessant honks and noise from all manner of vehicles. If you would like to see Saigon up close and personal you should visit the large local markets of which Ben Thanh Market is the oldest and largest in Saigon. I was amazed at how large and varied and different this market is than anything I am use to at home.
'Ben' means pier or port and 'Thanh' means fort. It gets its name from the original market which was located on the shores of the Ben Nghe river close to old fort Gia Dinh. Its proximity to that fort and the river is the reason for its name. It has been in its present position since 1899.
At Ben Thanh, you will find practically every staple household commodity imaginable. If consumerism offers intimate glimpses of how people live, wandering among the tiny, packed stalls here will give you some unique insights into modern Vietnamese life. Ben Thanh also has a large, inexpensive food court which caters to local specialties. And you will also find produce, flowers, postcards, balloons - you name it and you will probably find it - sold on the sidewalks surrounding the building. Leave a Comment Directions: This market is located in the center of the city
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Everyone knows about this one :o) We had heard so much about it that we had to hit the market to try our bartering skills. ....and got some great bargains!! I bought a lovely pair of carved shoes - originally $12US, but I got them for $9US. Also bought some lovely costume jewlery - two nice pieces for $7US - originally $10US. Kelli was ruthless!! ...buying Louis Vatton bags and helping Howie with bargaining for watches and shirts for a pittance. All in all, we had loads of fun :o) Leave a Comment
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