Ben Thanh Market with a prime location located in the center of District 1, the four doors of "all four sides are beautiful" is always the most visited market by tourists among the famous old markets of this southern city.
According to many documents, the market was built around 1912 and officially opened and put into operation on March 28, 1914. The large clock symbol is mounted at the South door. The Eastern, Western, Southern, and North doors are all equipped with fired ceramic reliefs. Each relief symbolizes items and goods that small traders trade in the market such as fish, buffaloes, bananas, etc. These 12 special reliefs were made by artisan Le Van Mau, lecturer at Bien Hoa School of Fine Arts in 1952, after the first restoration of the market in 1950. Thanks to these unique symbols, Ben Thanh market has become a place chosen by many people as a backdrop to take souvenir photos when coming to Saigon.
A special thing, before being built in the current location like the market we see today, Ben Thanh market was once built on the Ben Nghe river, near Gia Dinh citadel. This wharf is used to welcome visitors and soldiers into the city, so it is called Ben Thanh. Therefore, the market is also called Ben Thanh market. But if you are a Saigon picker, of course you will not call it Ben Thanh market like... bookish! It is truly the "Saigon market" of Saigon people, as the most popular name for a hundred years.
Ben Thanh Market in the memory of Saigon people is a central market with busy wholesale, trade and traffic activities. The market was once considered the capital, a travel hub for a large and crowded residential area, with people from all over flocking to the pillar to do business and live at that time.
After the latest restoration and renovation in January 2023, Ben Thanh market became brighter when it was put on a new coat. The business items in the market revolve around dry food, clothes, fabrics... along with food stalls and souvenirs that are very popular with tourists to visit to explore.
Photo: Shutter stock
According to Ho Chi Minh City Tourism