One of my favorite place in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is the Ben Thanh Market. The market developed from informal markets created by early 17th Century street vendors gathering together near the Saigon River and it where it got its name Ben Thanh. "Ben" meaning pier or port and "Thanh" meaning fort. It is 10 minutes away from our first hotel and very close from the last one. It is where we usually buy some fruits. We also tried to eat some local cuisine inside the market. The market is one of the earliest surviving structures in Saigon and popular with tourists seeking local handicrafts, and souvenirs.

Ben Thanh market is the Saigon's largest market and one of Saigon's most famous landmark. In 1859, when the French invaded Saigon and overtook fort Gia Dinh, Ben Thanh Market was destroyed. In 1912 the market was moved to a new building and called the New Ben Thanh Market to distinguish over its predecessor. The building was renovated in 1985.


Ben Thanh Market is located in the center of the city. Under the French government, the area around Ben Thanh Market was called Cu Nhac circle (Rond point Cuniac), named after Mr. Cuniac, the person who proposed filling the swamp to create this area.

There's also a huge park just across the street.

Labels: Vietnam