Ben Thanh Market: Opening Hours, Food and Shopping

You can visit Ben Thanh Market for a bowl of noodles, a few gifts to take home or simply a closer look at a landmark woven into Saigon’s trading history. Its central location makes it easy to include in a day out, but the visit feels less hurried when you choose one or two things you particularly want to do.

The market’s published general opening hours are 7am to 10pm, and entry is free. Individual stalls may keep shorter hours, so a daytime visit is the practical choice for browsing. Start with the clock-tower entrance, leave time for something to eat, and use the surrounding streets to decide where to continue afterwards.

Where is Ben Thanh Market, and how do you get there?

The market occupies a central block bordered by Le Thanh Ton, Phan Boi Chau and Phan Chu Trinh, with its familiar clock-tower frontage facing the Le Loi side. It is in Ben Thanh Ward, in the downtown area still widely referred to by visitors as District 1.

The four main sides help you orient yourself more easily than a single map pin. Before entering, note which gate you use and the street outside it. This is useful when you return to collect a purchase, meet a friend or arrange a car.

Arriving by metro or car

Ben Thanh station serves Metro Line 1, which began operating in December 2024. It gives visitors travelling along the line a useful way into the market area. Follow the station’s exit signs and your map for the final walk; do not assume that every exit brings you to the same side of the building.

For taxis and app-booked cars, use a specific entrance or nearby address. The clock tower is easy to recognise, but your driver still needs a place where stopping is permitted. If you are arriving directly from Tan Son Nhat, our airport-to-District-1 guide explains the transport options before you reach the city centre.

Opening hours and the best time to visit

The market’s published rules list general hours of 7am to 10pm, with fresh-food and food-service sections permitted to open from 4am. Holiday arrangements may be announced separately. These are the market’s operating hours, rather than a promise that every stall will trade throughout the entire period.

For a first visit, plan for the morning or early afternoon. That leaves you time to compare shops, sit down for a meal and continue sightseeing without depending on late opening at a particular stall. An allowance of around one to two hours works well for a relaxed first look; extend it if shopping is your main reason for coming.

An evening visit can still fit around dinner and a look at the clock tower. If you want the full shopping experience, give it its own daytime slot. Do not base the plan on a fixed nightly street-market schedule without checking what is operating during your stay.

A short history behind the clock tower

The present market opened in 1914. Its name and trading heritage reach further back, but it is useful to distinguish that earlier history from the building you visit today. The market management’s historical account records construction beginning in 1913 and the opening in March 1914.

The clock tower is its best-known feature, yet the building is also worth viewing from its other sides. Walking around the perimeter gives you a better sense of how the market connects with the streets around it. Inside, its role as a place of exchange continues through food counters, fabric sellers and shops serving both local customers and travellers.

You do not need a long history lesson before entering. Knowing that this is a working market with more than a century at its present site adds context to the details you notice as you browse.

What to eat inside the market

Food is a good reason to slow down during your visit. Look through the available menus before sitting down, then choose a meal that leaves room for a drink or something sweet if you would like to try more than one counter.

For a first Vietnamese market meal, you might look for noodle dishes, fresh rolls or a rice dish, depending on what the stalls are serving. Che, the broad family of Vietnamese sweet desserts, is another option to look out for. Our guide to food at Ben Thanh Market introduces the food side of a visit in more detail.

A useful approach is to choose one main dish before ordering several extras. Check the displayed price and clarify the portion you want, particularly when ordering for a group. If you have dietary requirements, discuss the ingredients directly with the vendor. The same dish name can cover different broths, toppings and sauces.

Food counters are part of a shared market environment. Choose somewhere with seating that works for your group, and avoid making a large shopping load part of the meal. Returning to your hotel with purchases before going out again can make the rest of the day more comfortable.

What to buy, and how to choose well

Coffee, tea, packaged foods, fabric, clothing and small souvenirs give you several directions to explore. It helps to decide whether you are shopping for something to use, something to eat or a keepsake. That decision makes comparing stalls much easier.

For coffee and tea, look at the product information, pack size and packaging rather than choosing by appearance alone. For clothes and fabric, examine the material and stitching and clarify the size. If you want several of the same gift, check that the agreed price covers the quantity you intend to buy.

Some stalls use fixed prices; elsewhere you may be able to discuss the price. Ask first and keep the conversation friendly. There is no reliable rule that every item should cost a set percentage below the opening price. Compare like for like and agree on the total before paying.

Carry a payment method that the seller accepts, with some Vietnamese dong for small purchases. If you may return later, note the stall number. It is much more useful than remembering that the shop was “near the clothes” or “beside a coffee seller”.

Make the market part of a comfortable city day

A morning visit can lead naturally into lunch, followed by a hotel break or a walk along Le Loi towards the Opera House and Dong Khoi. You can keep shopping and dining separate if that gives everyone in your group more time to enjoy each part.

At Silverland Ben Thanh, our address at 14-16 Le Lai places you close to the market. It is a useful base if you would like to return with your purchases before going out again, rather than carrying them through the rest of the day’s sightseeing.

We also welcome guests at Silverland Yen, at 73-75 Thu Khoa Huan. It sits about 230 m from the market on a quieter street near Tao Dan Park, for guests who want the market close and the nights calm. Choose according to the hotel experience you want as well as the address. If you are still deciding which part of District 1 to book, our guide to the best area to stay in Ho Chi Minh City compares the neighbourhoods side by side.

For a different evening, the restaurants around Japan Town Saigon offer another dining area to include during your stay. You can enjoy the market at its own pace and save Little Japan for a separate dinner.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee?

No. General entry to the market is free. You pay for the goods, meals and services you choose to buy.

What time does Ben Thanh Market open?

Published general hours are 7am to 10pm. Fresh-food and food-service sections may open earlier, and individual stall hours can vary.

Can I get there by metro?

Yes. Travel to Ben Thanh station on Metro Line 1, then follow the exit signs for the walk to the market.

How much time should I allow?

Around one to two hours is a useful starting point for browsing and a meal. Allow longer if you plan to compare several purchases.

Can I bargain at the market?

It depends on the stall. Respect fixed prices, ask politely where discussion is welcome and agree on the final amount before paying.

The most enjoyable visit leaves room for a small discovery, whether that is a dish you decide to try or a gift worth returning for. For a stay close to the market, view our rooms at Silverland Ben Thanh and build the day around a convenient place to return to.