Ben Thanh Market is an
indispensable part in a Saigon City tour. The clock tower over the main
entrance to what was formerly known as Les Halles Centrale is the symbol of
Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City nowadays), and the market might as well be, too. Ben
Thanh market has long been one of Saigon’s famous landmarks. Opened first in
1914, the market is very crowded, a boon for pickpockets with its narrow,
one-way aisles, and loaded with people clamoring to sell you cheap goods and
postcards. There are so many people calling out to you that you will feel like
the belle of the ball or a wallet with legs. Watch for pickpockets.
Out front, near the main
entrance, find lots of knockoff brand-name clothes, and farther in is a number
of small souvenir stands. Toward the back are a few small cafes. This food
section of the market is far more interesting. The section offers a wide range
of products including pickled vegetables, ducks, crab, scorpion wine, Calvin
Klein knockoffs, rice, flip-flops, coffee and tea. The wet market at the far
back, with its
Even if you are not in a mood
to shop, getting around the market is also a great experience. The market has
cleaned itself up for the tourists over the years, which is a shame because the
added hygiene comes at the cost of the market's old charm and raw authenticity.
In open-air stalls surrounding the market are some nice little eateries that
open just as the market itself starts closing down, and this is, in fact, one
of the best places to try authentic local cuisine. The adventurous can sample
good local specialties like rice dishes, noodle soup, bun dishes of vermicelli
noodles, or ice cream and dessert for next to nothing.
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