Ben Thanh Market is an ancient symbol of Saigon from past to present. This is a market with a long history and quite ancient, built in 1870, with a neoclassical design, the market is designed into a clock located in the front position. Let’s explore with SaiGonLocalTour the place known as the “first generation” entertainment paradise of the city named after the President of this country!
Ben Thanh Market – Symbol of Saigon Culture
Where is Ben Thanh Market Located?
Address: Le Loi Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Ben Thanh Market is located in the center of District 1, the most crowded and magnificent area in Saigon. Located near many famous Saigon tourist attractions such as the Independence Palace, City Post Office, City Theater… and many high-end 5-star hotels, Ben Thanh Market attracts many tourists.
The Unique Origin of the Name “Ben Thanh”
This unique name comes from the old market, which was then located on the banks of the Ben Nghe River and next to a river wharf near Gia Dinh citadel. This area is used for passengers and military personnel to enter and exit the citadel, hence the name Ben Thanh, which means docking before entering the citadel. And since then, this special ancient market is also known by the familiar name Ben Thanh Market.
Over hundreds of years of history, Ben Thanh Market is considered a typical symbol of Saigon that everyone hopes to explore once when arriving in the city named after President Ho Chi Minh.
Why Ben Thanh Market Became the Most Famous Market in Saigon
Ben Thanh Market was formed in the mid-19th century. Through the ups and downs of history, this market has long become a symbol of the vibrant trading culture of Saigon in particular and Vietnam in general. Along with the economic and tourism development of Ho Chi Minh City, this market is also increasingly famous and especially attracts a large number of foreign tourists to visit.
Vietnamese people are no strangers to crowded, bustling markets. But for foreigners, this is a very unique cultural feature. Therefore, foreign tourists love to go to the market to shop for souvenirs and try Vietnamese specialties. Gradually, Ben Thanh became a prominent symbol of Saigon, making everyone who comes to this city want to visit once.
History of the Formation of Ben Thanh Market
Ben Thanh Market was originally built in the 17th century near the Ben Nghe River to welcome tourists and soldiers into Gia Dinh Citadel. That is also the reason why the market was named Ben Thanh (river wharf + citadel). The market is made of brick, wood and thatched roof. Ben Thanh market in the past was very crowded and bustling, with boats and boats busy day and night.
After a long period of use, the market gradually deteriorates and is at risk of collapsing at any time. Therefore, the French rebuilt it and expanded it to a larger scale after filling in a muddy pond named Bo Ret. Since 1912, it took another 2 years for the French construction contractor Brossard et Maupin to complete this project. The old architecture has since been preserved to this day even though Ben Thanh market underwent a major renovation and repair in 1985.
How Many Gates Does Ben Thanh Market Have?
Ben Thanh Market has 4 main gates and 12 side gates. Each main gate is located on a different street and displays many popular items for visitors to shop:
– South Gate of Ben Thanh Market: South Gate is located on Le Loi Street, opposite Quach Thi Trang Park, this is the main gate of the market. The highlight of this market gate is the famous 3-sided clock tower. The entrance attracts many visitors with stalls selling all kinds of goods, mainly fabrics and dry foods.
– East Gate of Ben Thanh Market: East Gate is located on Phan Boi Chau Street, a paradise for cosmetics enthusiasts. The stalls here sell a variety of body, skin and hair care products.
– West Gate of Ben Thanh Market: West Gate is located on Phan Chu Trinh Street, this gate has many stalls selling shoes, crafts and souvenirs.
– North Gate of Ben Thanh Market: North Gate is located on Le Thanh Tong Street, this gate sells many types of fresh flowers and tropical fruits.
Operating Hours of Ben Thanh Market
Ben Thanh Market is open to visitors divided into two hours: day and night. The market operates every day of the week, including Tet holidays.
– Daily market: From 6:00 – 18:00
– Night market: From 18:00 – 22:00
During the day, Ben Thanh Market bustles with stalls offering a variety of goods, including textiles, souvenirs, handicrafts, fresh produce, seafood, spices… Atmosphere This place has the true nature of a typical Asian market, bustling and rustic.
Ben Thanh Market at night is still crowded but somewhat more peaceful. The stalls mainly sell food with local snacks and drinks. There are also some shops selling clothes, accessories and souvenirs. Bright torches and the sweet aroma of countless Vietnamese specialties are what attract tourists.
Transportation to Ben Thanh Market
Travel to Saigon
To get to the magnificent city of Saigon, you have many means of transportation such as plane, train, bus, etc. Among them are foreign tourists and tourists from the Northern and Southern provinces. China will often choose a plane to make the trip more convenient, faster and safer.
You can easily choose cheap flights to travel to Tan Son Nhat International Airport. You will fully enjoy the great services of classy and reputable airlines such as Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airways, Vietjet,… Let flights shorten travel time for sightseeing journeys. and your discovery becomes more complete.
How to get to Ben Thanh Market
Ben Thanh Market is located right in the center of District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City, so it is not difficult for you to get to this location.
Bus:
This is quite commonly used public transportation, with only 6,000 VND you can choose bus routes 01, 02, 03, 04, 18, 19, 28, 36, 45, 52, 53, 56, 65, 93, 109, 152… to get to Ben Thanh quickly and economically.
Motorcycle or car:
If you are interested in experiencing driving in the city, just open Google Map, there will be specific instructions for you. Near the market there will be many parking lots until night, so you don’t need to worry about parking.
Motorbike taxi technology Grab, Gojek, Bee,.
Or more simply, you just need to download the application to your phone and order transportation services anytime.
Exciting Experiences When Visiting Ben Thanh Market
Explore the Iconic Architecture of Ben Thanh Market
Ben Thanh Market was built with a unique architectural style by a mixture of Indochina and French influences. The market is a rectangular building with a clock tower as a focal point on the front, a wooden vaulted ceiling and open sides. Although it has undergone many renovations, the market’s exterior and clock tower are still intact. So when you come here, don’t forget to check-in and take photos with the background of the oldest and most famous market in Saigon.
Indulge in Delicious Cuisine at Ben Thanh Market
For tourists who love Vietnamese cuisine, the spacious dining area in Ben Thanh is a place not to be missed. You will enjoy specialties from all regions of Vietnam, some outstanding dishes include banh xeo, avocado ice cream, grilled meat vermicelli, grilled spring rolls, snail vermicelli, grilled meat skewers, broken rice, and salad. rolls, fried dough, mixed rice paper…
The food stalls here feature Vietnamese street food, rustic and very familiar. The space in the dining area is very clean, most restaurants have a menu with many dishes for you to choose from. Besides, most shop owners in Ben Thanh market can speak English, so they welcome foreign guests very enthusiastically and friendly.
However, according to Saigonlocaltour’s experience, food prices in Ben Thanh market are always higher than outside, sometimes without a clearly posted price. Therefore, to avoid being ripped off, you need to be careful to only eat at places with price menus or ask carefully before ordering, avoid restaurants that are not transparent.
Purchase Souvenirs at Ben Thanh Market
In addition to cuisine, Bien Thanh market is also a paradise for souvenir hunters. A lot of items are sold here from hats, silk scarves, traditional Vietnamese clothes to wooden handicrafts, lacquer, ceramics, coffee, tea, dried seafood… Especially must Ao dai and conical hats are two cultural symbols of Vietnam, loved by many foreign tourists.
So coming to Ben Thanh Market, you will be free to choose your favorite items as gifts for relatives and friends. However, prices at Ben Thanh market are quite high, so don’t hesitate to bargain down.
Important Notes to Remember When Visiting Ben Thanh Market
To have a complete and economical trip to Ben Thanh Market, you should keep the following tips in mind.
- The market’s operating hours start at 7:30 am and end at 6:00 pm, so if you want to visit the market, you can come at this time. After 7:00 p.m., the night market outside will begin operating.
- With a fairly large market area and many stalls, it will take you at least 1 to 2 hours to visit, so you should arrange your time in advance.
- The market mainly serves a large number of foreign tourists, so the price will be slightly higher than the normal price. If you want to shop at the market, you should bargain to avoid being “cut off”.
- The situation of robbery and pickpocketing has not been completely controlled, so you need to keep your belongings carefully.
- When checking in at the market gate, you should ensure traffic safety, because the market front is a major traffic area.
- If you do not want to buy, you can freely visit the market area, but absolutely do not touch the goods and put them down without buying, the seller will be very upset.
Tourist Attractions Near Ben Thanh Market
In front of Ben Thanh market, a large-scale Metro station is under construction. Modern space, large outdoor walking area promises to be a new symbol of Ho Chi Minh City. At the end of August 2023, the Metro train on the Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien route began its first test runs. The space outside the station is in the process of being completed. In the near future, it will definitely be a destination that you cannot miss when coming to Saigon.
Besides, near Ben Thanh market there are many tourist attractions that you can easily visit on foot:
– Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts is about 0.5km from Ben Thanh market.
– Independence Palace is about 1.3km from Ben Thanh market, is the most famous cultural and historical symbol of Ho Chi Minh City.
– Notre Dame Cathedral is about 1.5km from Ben Thanh market.
– War Remnants Museum is about 1.4km from Ben Thanh market.
– Ho Chi Minh City Theater is about 1.4km from Ben Thanh market.
– Saigon Central Post Office is about 1.7km from Ben Thanh market.
Hotels Near Ben Thanh Market
If you want to stay near Ben Thanh market, below is a list of some outstanding hotels for you to choose from.
Luxury hotels near Ben Thanh Market
Sheraton Saigon Hotel:
+ Address: No. 88 Dong Khoi Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Sheraton Saigon Hotel is extremely luxurious
Majestic Saigon Hotel:
+ Address: No. 1 Dong Khoi Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Liberty Central Saigon Center:
+ Address: No. 179 Le Thanh Ton Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Cheap hotels near Ben Thanh Market
Lucky Star Hotel:
+ Address: No. 146 Nguyen Trai Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Nhat Ha 2 Hotel:
+ Address: No. 149 Ly Tu Trong Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
GK Central Hotel:
+ Address: No. 92 – 94 Ly Tu Trong Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Above is information about Ben Thanh Market for your reference before visiting. Saigonlocaltour travel guide wishes you a memorable experience when coming to Ben Thanh market and visiting more interesting destinations of Ho Chi Minh City.
