The distinctive cream-colored market building with its wide clock tower was built in 1870 by French colonizers. Everything from fresh fruit and meat to frying pans and mops are sold at the Ben Thanh Market. While travelers are welcome to browse, this is an authentic local market where Ho Chi Minh City’s residents do their daily shopping. Therefore, it’s an ideal place to immerse yourself in local life. The streets surrounding the market are also fun to check out, with lots of hawker stalls selling tasty Vietnamese cuisine.
Stop by the market to take a break from sightseeing and pick up lunch, or buy food to take away on a picnic. Many travelers visit independently, but the market is also a fixture on most guided sightseeing tours.