Top 11 Markets in Ho Chi Minh City - BEST Places For A Culture Tour

Coming to Vietnam, tourists can realize that there are markets everywhere, in the northwestern mountains there are ethnic markets, in coastal cities there are seafood markets such as in Da Nang, Phu Quoc, and Hoi An, in the Mekong Delta region there is Cai Rang floating market in Can Tho, in central cities some markets act as centers for exchanging large quantities of goods such as the Dong Xuan market in Hanoi, Dong Ba Market in Hue and many other types of markets such as flower markets, hat markets, night markets, etc.

The economic center of Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh City is no exception, if not to say that this place has the oldest and largest markets in the country. Tourists coming to Vietnam who want to choose tours to explore Vietnamese culture and heritage should visit these 11 Ho Chi Minh City markets because it is also a place to preserve and develop an important part of the people's cultural life.

1. Ben Thanh Market - The Most Famous Market in Saigon

As one of the 4 biggest symbols of Saigon next to Notre Dame Cathedral, The Independence Palace, and the Saigon Central Post Office there is no doubt that Ben Thanh market is one of the largest markets in Ho Chi Minh City that everyone must visit once.

Built by the French with an area of ​​up to 13,000 m2, Ben Thanh Market is a place to sell all kinds of clothes, shoes, handicrafts, fruits, and fresh foods.

• Opening hours: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

2. Ba Chieu Market - Bustling Shopping Center in Saigon

Not only is it famous as a place for eating places with delicious Saigon specialties, but Ba Chieu market is also a cheap shopping destination in Saigon. This place is also known as "Silk Paradise" because the Ba Chieu market gathers many brands of clothes and shoes at very favorable prices.

• Opening hours: 5:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

3. Hanh Thong Tay Market - the Paradise of Clothing Shopping With Favorable Price

Those who have been in Saigon for a long time, all know Hanh Thong Tay market - the most famous cheap shopping paradise. Many people call the Hanh Thong Tay market the "student" market, because the goods here are extremely cheap and almost affordable, so even students can buy them comfortably.

In addition to the main goods being clothes, Hanh Thong Tay market also sells shoes, bags, cheap cosmetics, and hats. If you are looking for a source of wholesale goods, Hanh Thong Tay market is the number 1 suggestion.

• Opening hours: 5:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

4. Tan Dinh Market - the market of the rich in Saigon of the old times

The reason people call it “the market for the rich” is because many goods here are sold at a higher price than in other markets in Ho Chi Minh City.

Tan Dinh Market was built in 1926 and is a familiar shopping spot for Saigon people. The market sells many items, from clothes and fabrics to fresh and dried foods, jewelry, etc. The quality of goods is also quite diverse, with fine products and products of average quality.

• Opening hours: 5:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

5. Ba Hoa Market - the Quang People's Market in Saigon

If Lon Market is said to belong to the Chinese people, then Ba Hoa market is the market of the Quang people from Quang Nam.

This market is where mainly goods originating from Quang Nam are sold such as Quang Nam specialties, Hoi An specialties, etc.

• Opening hours: 5:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

6.  Lon Market (Binh Tay market) - Famous and Long-standing Market in Saigon

Saigon also has many traces of Chinese culture such as Chinatown Saigon, Jade Emperor Pagoda, and Lon Market. The market possesses Asian-style architecture, with a Bagua design and 12 gates. Local people consider Lon Market as the second center of Saigon because this place has a large number of residents and bustling trade. 

With an area of ​​up to 25,000 square meters, Binh Tay's large market has a history of up to 300 years and a total of 2,300 stalls with over 30 types of business, the indoor area alone has nearly 1,450 stalls. Here they sell mainly wholesale items, including fashion, candy, and household appliances. In the Binh Tay market area, there is also a separate restaurant area with Chinese food.

• Opening hours: 2:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

7. An Dong Market - one of the largest wholesale markets in Vietnam

An Dong Market is known as one of the three markets with the oldest history in Ho Chi Minh City (along with Lon Market and Ben Thanh Market). An Dong Market is also one of the largest fashion wholesale and retail hubs in Vietnam today.

To date, the market has up to 4,000 traders doing business in more than 2,700 stalls. Goods here are taken from many places, mainly Guangzhou, Japan, Thailand, and even domestic goods.

• Opening hours: 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

8. Ho Thi Ky Market - famous market in Saigon for wholesale and retail of fresh flowers

This is a flower market in Saigon, some locals also call it the Cambodian market or the Viet Kieu repatriation market. The market does not sell familiar goods like some other Saigon markets but only sells flowers.

Here, you can encounter flowers grown in Da Lat, Western Vietnam, and some rare and highly valuable flowers in the world.

• Opening hours: 5:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

9. Minh Phung Market (Cay Go Market) - favorite Saigon market in District 6

Minh Phung Market is one of Saigon's famous night markets. During the day, the market is bustling with agricultural products, food, and consumer goods, and at night it is bustling with stalls selling products of fashion, handbags, jewelry, etc.

The products here are mainly ordered specifically from factories.

• Opening hours: 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

10. Thu Duc Market - the largest agricultural wholesale market in Saigon

Thu Duc agricultural wholesale market is known as the largest market specializing in selling items such as fruits, vegetables, and berries in Saigon. Almost all small businesses from all districts come here to buy agricultural products at good prices.

On average, each night the market receives more than 3,500 tons of fruits and vegetables, most of which are from the western provinces of Vietnam, and a few of which are from Thailand, America, and Australia. Some days it can reach nearly 5,000 tons per day.

• Opening hours: 19:00 – 11:30

11. Kim Bien Market - a wholesale and retail hub for cosmetics and chemicals

At Kim Bien Market, you will find a wide range of chemical products for various purposes such as Fertilizers, Pesticides, Detergents cleaning agents, etc. In addition, it also has a market specializing in electronics, household appliances, and especially cosmetics.

• Opening hours: 6:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Markets are a very familiar image in the lives of Vietnamese people. In fact, markets have existed and been attached to people for a long time. Therefore, for Vietnamese people, the market is not only a place to exchange goods and buy and sell items but also a place to meet and bond with each other.

See more articles about Vietnam:

>> 6 Saigon Foods That Became The National Dishes of Vietnam

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>> Jade Emperor Pagoda - The Majestic Symbol Of Asian Culture

>> Saigon Central Post Office - A Place That Preserves More Than 130 Years of Saigon's History

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