Ben Thanh Market
The belly of Saigon: spices, fakes, soup eaten standing, and a night market that takes over.
Duration
1 hr – 2 hrs
Best time
Early morning, or after 7pm
Open
Every day
Entry price
Free
The covered market dates from 1914 and its clock tower is the landmark of central Saigon. Inside, the aisles are sorted: fabric and tailoring on one side, souvenirs and fakes near the main entrance, fresh produce and food stalls at the back — the back is the part worth the walk.
When it closes around six, the streets around the building fill with stalls and tables: the night market takes over until late, with better cooking than inside.
Getting there
Quach Thi Trang roundabout, District 1. Ben Thanh metro station, terminus of line 1.
Hours
6am – 6pm, then a night market from 6pm to 11pm
What to bring
- Headlamp
Rules on site
Souvenir prices start at three or four times what is actually paid: haggle, and walk away if it does not come down. The aisles are tight and the bag goes in front.
Checked on 28 August 2026 at Vietnam Discovery — Ben Thanh Market
Other places in Ho Chi Minh City
War Remnants MuseumThe Vietnam War told by those who lived through it. Hard, documented, essential to understanding the country.
Reunification PalaceThe South Vietnamese presidential palace, frozen at 30 April 1975, when a tank drove through its gates.
- Notre-Dame Cathedral of SaigonTwo red brick spires shipped from Toulouse, planted in the middle of the colonial quarter.
- Cu Chi TunnelsThe underground network of the Vietnam War, partly walkable. Claustrophobia: stay out, the tunnels are tight.