7 facts you should know about Ben Thanh market

The name:

The name of the market carries a very simple meaning. “Bến” in Vietnamese means a wharf, and “Thành” in Vietnamese language means fortress. By the name itself, we can imagine the origin of the market when it all began. It used to be called an open air marketplace located right next to a river or a port, where people came to visit Gia Dinh Citadel back then and do all the trading in the area. 

Not only being known as one of the oldest traditional markets in Ho Chi Minh City, Ben Thanh market also serves as a central and iconic place for retail, trading, shopping, sightseeing and many cultural activities. 

The history:

Ben Thanh market was established sometime back in the 17th century and had gone through several major recolations and developments. It witnesses the changes of the city too. 

Back to its very early stage, Ben​ Thanh market located along important waterways and right outside of Gia Dinh Citadel, which made it quickly became a very busy trading hub for traders from Mekong Delta who sailed to Gia Dinh Citadel, and the traders in town, as well as local retailers.

Later on in middle of 19th century, during the French colonial era, Saigon city has gone through the vast urban development, and for the first time ever, Ben Thanh market was officially established under the roof and named Les Halles Centrales (Central Market) and located where today’s Bitexco is. 

In 1912, the market was removed to where it is right now and renamed Ben Thanh market. For centuries, the market still kept its own charm and tradition of trading place for a wide variety of goods, including fresh vegetables and fruits, meats, seafoods, textiles, handicrafts, and sourvenirs.

The clock tower:

The market’s square and massive clock tower can be observed from afar. Mesmerising with the market’s architecture, the clock tower has carried the similar design method of the French-Indochinese architectural style since very early times. According to the city historians and well known architects, the lines and decorative motifs on the clock tower’s outside followed the Renaissance style, whereas the top of the tower, surrounding the lightning rod, is Vietnamese style of the liquor bottle, symbolising abundance in Vietnamese architectural concepts. 

Ben Thanh market underwent a massive upgrade in 1952, in which 4 main gates are all renovated - East, West, South and North gates. On top of each gate, the popular agricultural products made of Bien Hoa ceramic had been installed. The word “CHỢ BẾN THÀNH) that lay on top of the South gate and right under the clock tower has been added in 1985.

Things to buy in Ben Thanh market:

Some of the highlighted products can be found in Ben Thanh market include:

- Fabrics and sewing materials: Visitors can find various fabrics and materials for designing unique clothing items.

- Souvenirs: With the wide traffic of tourists come to Ben Thanh market everyday, the retailers in here offer a variety of local handcrafted products made from wood, bamboo, papers like conical hats (nón lá), bamboo paintings, bamboo bowls, woven baskets, local potteries, and tablewares. 

- Clothes and accessories: Áo dài (Vietnamese traditional dress for kids & adults),, áo bà ba (Mekong delta top for men & women), souvenir T-shirts in decent quality, earrings, bangles, necklaces, all can be found in the market.

- Additionally, Ben Thanh market is also a hub for a wide variety of cakes, preserves, dried seafood, and countless types of fruits and agricultural products from all regions of the country. You don't need to go far; simply visit Ben Thanh market to find the dish or item you love.

Food connoisseur haven:

Bến Thành Market is also a fantastic destination to indulge in Ho Chi Minh city's distinctive cuisine. Notable and popular dishes can easily be found in the market to savour. We dedicate a separate article for the list of must-try food in Ben Thanh market area for you to explore.

Shopping streets surrounding Ben Thanh market:

From the beginning, the shophouses were built surrounding Ben Thanh Market in a U-shape structure. All of these three-storey row houses brought a sense of harmony and symmetry to the market architecture, forming a neat market area. 

On the right side of the market, where the market’s East Gate (Cua Dong) is located, is Rue de Viénot (now Phan Boi Chau street), right opposite the gate is Rue de Sabouraine (now Luu Van Lang street). 

On the opposite (West Gate) is Rue de Schroeder (now Phan Chau Trinh street). There is a small street on the West Gate side named Amiral Courbet (now Nguyen An Ninh street), leading to Rue de Amiral Rose (now Truong Dinh street). 

The South Gate (Cua Nam) is the most highlighted one with the clock tower on top, adjacent to Bonard Avenue (Le Loi), which is also a busy bus station.

Along the North Gate (Cua Bac) is Rue de Espagne (now Le Thanh Ton street), and in the 1940s - 1950s onwards, there were a series of gold shops. 

These numerous shophouses enrich the rich variety of goods and services of Ben Thanh market. During the French colonial period, many of the houses were tea shops, wine shops, bakeries, jewellery shops, hotels and pharmacies. Rue de Amiral Courbet (now Nguyen An Ninh street), where our Silverland Ben Thanh Hotel is located, had many Indian fabric shops, tailor shops, and jewellery shops. Chinese, Vietnamese, and Indians do business together in Ben Thanh market and the surrounding streets.

Small tips to survive in the market & surrounding area:

When visiting Ben Thanh Market, visitors should note the following points:

- Negotiate the price before buying to avoid being overpriced.

- Keep your property and money safe.

- Take photos and videos only with the seller's permission.

- Do not dress too sexy or messy to avoid attracting unwanted attention.