Chop, sizzle, toss, green, pink, orange, sweet, sour, hot…umm..umm that looks good. This is your brain going berserk in Saigon’s Ben Thanh market. Our penchant for untamed markets and thirst for authentic Asian flavors led us to Ho Chi Minh city’s Vivacious soul – Ben Thanh market !

The exotic sight of tropical fruits mixes with the sounds of fishmongers sharpening their knives. The robust scent of exquisite coffee dissolves in the impatient honks of traffic outside. The steam rising from a voluptuous bowl of Pho blends with the fluttering silk of hanging lamps.

Welcome to Vietnam !

As beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, these markets can be resplendent or revolting. For us it’s always the former. If your appetite for authentic local flavors matches ours, then you will have the time of your lives in Ho Chi Minh City’s bustling centerpiece.

You already know that we enjoy frenzied rhythm of unique destinations across the world. So when we went to Vietnam we knew exactly what to expect.

Best Way to reach Ben Thanh Market

Depending on where you stay in Ho Chi Minh City, there are a dozen ways to get here. This place is a crucial landmark so its very easy to reach. We walked from our hotel to this symbol of Saigon, taking in the various sights of the city and photographing along the way.

If you want a quick and easy option then take a pre-decided cab from the hotel. We used a combination of Uber, Vinasun and Mai Lin Taxis during our stay in Ho Chi Minh city (formerly called: Saigon).

Or be adventurous and try a cycle-rickshaw for a truly Vietnamese ride. But don’t just hop into these cyclos without fixing a price because you will be asked to pay 3 Million Vietnamese Dong for that ride :)!  

What to expect inside Bến Thành market

It’s hot, busy, crowded, colorful, noisy, enchanting, humid, cheap, expensive and an assault on your senses. It’s a photographer’s dream and a claustrophobic’s nightmare.

We went as soon as the market opened. The air was cooler, there were hardly any people and the vendors looked happy after slurping their bowls of Pho for breakfast.  

Let’s face it, Ben Thanh market is for tourists. And yet it is uniquely unpretentious. Eiffel Tower is touristy too but would you skip it on a trip to Paris?

Ben Thanh market is divided into fragments selling particulars. Silk and woven Fabrics, Home Decor items, Fresh fruits and flowers, Fish, vegetables, Authentic souvenirs, cheap tacky T-shirts, Local handicrafts, Aromatic Civet Coffee and so on.

Wander in the many alleys and watch the locals in their true element. Buy Coffee and traditional handicrafts. I bought some earrings after exhausting rounds of bargaining (hate to admit , I hardly got any discount. I should have walked away..)

Ben Thanh market is a wet market and it’s best you know what to expect before going. To be able to appreciate it, you first need to stomach it. Watch your step in the Butcher’s section or you just might slip on some ears!

A Burst of Colors and sights

The market is very well organized and the chaos is disciplined. You can easily avoid the sections that you are not interested in. There are 3000 stalls selling everything from jackfruits to jewelry. Just like the earrings in Portugal, I now own these!

The ones that are on the outermost periphery don’t entertain bargains at all and show you the Fixed Price board.

As you go deeper, the plot thickens. Ben Thanh market gets more interesting at the nucleus and bargains are entertained. It is a colorful cocktail of locals and tourists.

Conical hats called Non La and elegant silk tunics of the local Vietnamese women called Ao Dai vye for your attention.

Follow your nose and head to  Ben Thanh market’s food section. Durian, Mango, Litchi and a dozen exotic fruits are on display. Ben Thanh market is recognized internationally for the best street food in world.

Tips to Remember in Ben Thanh Market

1. Remember to keep you valuables close to you, and watch out for pickpockets in peak hours.
2. Don’t buy at the asking price. Rule of thumb is to ask for half or one-third the price. The vendors expect it. The prices are ridiculously inflated.
3. Steer clear of the mass produced cheap knock-offs in the market. Look for authentic local produce like wood carved handicrafts, woven silk garments, lacquered paintings and Weasel coffee that are uniquely Vietnamese.
4. Ben Thanh market is situated in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1. There are 4 entrances in the market so have a map in hand.
5. Be aware of the exact exchange rates or the vendors will easily confuse you with their ambiguity. They will punch in their values in Vietnamese Dong (VND) on their calculators and try to fool you with their sweet beguiling smiles. As of 2019, 1 USD = 23,000 VND (approx).

We had a fabulous time exploring Vietnam and her bustling pockets of culture. When you do visit Ho Chi Minh city, don’t miss Ben Thanh market’s sights and sounds!

Hope you enjoyed this slice of Orient! See you in another part of the world next time !