Easy to find in the heart of District 1 where Le Loi, Tran Hung Dao and Le Lai converge at the central roundabout. Often crowded and bustling but makes for a great atmosphere. Be prepared to haggle hard for what you want – it’s part of the experience! As is the freshly prepared local food.
Let the spirit of Ho Chi Minh City lift you up and carry you through this network of colorful bustling activity. Cho Ben Thanh, or Ben Thanh Market, comes alive every evening with a thrum of tireless energy that never ceases to enthrall.
This is the most celebrated and regularly visited of the markets. It is also the most central, located in one of the liveliest parts of the city where the streets and alleyways surrounding the market place fill with food stalls.
At Ben Thanh Market you can expect to find almost everything that the locals might need in their day to day lives: from fresh meats and vegetables to clothes, domestic items, pots, woven baskets and bamboo ladders. This is a feast for the senses.Take in the sounds: the excited chatter of shoppers and the pitch of vendors’ voices rising into the steaming night.
Breathe in the sweet spiced air – chili, tamarind, ginger – and witness the bright array of colors from exotic fruits to beautiful silks. Try the food stalls for authentic dishes at local prices. This is a rich experience at the beating heart of the city, equally exciting for shoppers and spectators.
