Independence Palace
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Ben Thanh Market, Ho Chi Minh City
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Photo: MrTMan from Jyväskylä, Finland, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- Free
- Hours
- Roughly 6:00–18:00 daily; guides give opening at 6 or 7 and closing at 18:00 or 19:00
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 1 h
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Evenings
- Some stalls inside plus food stalls on Phan Bội Châu and Phan Chu Trinh until about 22:00
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Tet
- The market stays open, but many stalls close for the first days of the Lunar New Year
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Paying
- Cash in VND at almost every stall; cards only at a few larger shops
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Haggling
- Expected for clothes and souvenirs; food stall prices are usually fixed
- Metro
- Ben Thanh station on Line 1, under the square in front of the south gate
- Address
- Lê Lợi, Bến Thành ward (still called District 1), between Lê Thánh Tôn, Phan Bội Châu and Phan Chu Trinh
Key facts
Freeentry; you only pay for what you buy and eat
2 sourcesi
nashaplaneta.netvietnamtourism.com≈ 6:00–18:00main trading hours every day; some stalls carry on into the evening
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localvietnam.comvietnamtourism.commia.vn — unofficial1914year the current market building opened
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English and Vietnamese Wikipedia13,056 m²floor area of the covered market
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English and Vietnamese Wikipedia4 + 12four main gates facing each compass point and twelve side entrances
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vinwonders.com (Vietnamese edition)mia.vn3 faceson the clock tower over the south gate, the market’s emblem
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vinwonders.com (Vietnamese edition)mia.vnLine 1the city’s first metro line starts at the market: 14 stations over 19.7 km
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English Wikipedia (Ho Chi Minh City Metro Line 1)7,000–20,000 VNDmetro fare in cash depending on distance; 1,000 less by card
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English WikipediaBáo Bắc Ninh≈ 6–7 kmto Binh Tay Market in Cholon, the more local wholesale market
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vietnamtourism.comnashaplaneta.netBến Thànhthe ward the market now sits in; most people still say District 1
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Vietnamese Wikipediavinwonders.comWhat is Ben Thanh Market?
Ben Thanh Market (Chợ Bến Thành) is Saigon’s most famous market and one of the landmarks of downtown Ho Chi Minh City. It’s a huge covered hall with a cream clock tower above the south gate. The current building opened in 1914 and has been refreshed several times since — most recently the façade, the clock and the forecourt were given a new look ahead of Tet.
Around 13,000 square metres of aisles sit under one roof: fabric and clothing, bags, shoes, souvenirs, coffee, tea, spices, dried and fresh fruit, flowers and a lot of cooked food. The narrow lanes, the noise and the smell of coffee and broth are the real reason to come.
The market faces a big roundabout square on Lê Lợi boulevard, right at the edge of the old downtown. Under Vietnam’s new local government map the area is Bến Thành ward, but taxi drivers, hotels and most maps still call it District 1.
Ben Thanh Market opening hours
The market opens every day of the week and entry is free. Most stalls trade roughly 6:00–18:00; guides variously give opening at 6 or 7 am and closing at 6 or 7 pm. The market management doesn’t publish visitor hours, so treat these times as a guide rather than a timetable.
Fresh produce and food stalls start first, around dawn. After dark the building doesn’t go fully quiet: some stalls inside, plus food stalls on the side streets Phan Bội Châu and Phan Chu Trinh, keep going until about 22:00. How big the evening trade is varies, so don’t plan a whole night around it.
During Tet, the Lunar New Year, the market doesn’t close as such, but many vendors go home to their families for the first days and their stalls stay shuttered. In the run-up to Tet trading runs later than usual.
What to buy at Ben Thanh Market
- Vietnamese coffee — robusta and arabica beans or ground, plus the small metal phin filters to brew it. The classic buy, though supermarkets are often cheaper for the same brands.
- Dried fruit and snacks — dried mango and jackfruit, banana chips, cashews, candied ginger. Ask to taste before you buy.
- Silk and fabric — scarves, lengths of cloth and tailors on the north side who sew to order.
- Souvenirs — nón lá conical hats, lacquer boxes, ceramics, lanterns, embroidery and Vietnam-themed T-shirts.
- Spices and sauces — pepper, star anise, fish sauce and tea; buy factory-sealed packs if they’re going in your luggage.
- Fresh fruit — by the north gate: dragon fruit, rambutan, mangosteen. It’s pricier than street carts, so buy a couple to try rather than a bag.
Where to eat inside the market
Whole aisles inside are given over to small kitchens with shared tables and plastic stools. Look for phở, cơm tấm broken rice with grilled pork, bánh xèo crispy pancakes, noodle bowls with grilled meat, fresh rolls, sweet chè desserts and fresh juices.
Unofficially, a main dish runs about 50,000–80,000 VND and a dessert or juice 20,000–35,000 — more than the street cafés a block away, but it’s all in one place and you can graze. Pick stalls with prices on the board so the bill holds no surprises. In the evening, grills, seafood and beer move onto the streets around the hall.
Can you pay by card, and how to haggle
Bring cash in Vietnamese dong, in small notes. Almost every stall is cash-only; a few larger souvenir shops take foreign Visa or Mastercard, sometimes with a surcharge. There are ATMs on the surrounding streets, and Grab takes either cash or a foreign card linked in the app.
Haggling over clothes and souvenirs is part of the deal. Browse a few stalls first, then offer around half and meet somewhere in the middle; buying several things from one seller gets a better price. Mornings are easiest, when vendors want their first sale of the day. Keep your phone and wallet in front of you, as in any crowded market.
How to get to Ben Thanh Market
Tap a route to highlight it on the map.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
On foot
- Independence Palace is about 12 min away on foot.
- Saigon Opera House is about 9 min away on foot.
- Bitexco Financial Tower is about 12 min away on foot.
More tips
- Walk from Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office — about 15 minutes: down Đồng Khởi to Lê Lợi boulevard, then west along it to the square in front of the market. From most District 1 hotels it’s walkable.
- Metro Line 1 — the line starts at the market: Ben Thanh station is under the square by the south gate. From Opera House (Nhà hát Thành phố) station it’s one stop. Trains run 5:00–22:00, until 23:00 at weekends and on holidays; fares are 7,000–20,000 VND in cash at the machines, or tap a foreign contactless Visa or Mastercard at the gates.
- Airport bus 109 from Tan Son Nhat — runs into the centre with stops by the market, about 45–60 minutes. Unofficially 15,000–20,000 VND, cash to the conductor. The slower, cheaper city bus 152 also comes here, daytime only.
- Grab or taxi from the airport — 25–40 minutes; unofficially 150,000–250,000 VND. Grab takes cash or a foreign card linked in the app.
- Grab across town — set the pick-up at the Lê Lợi gate or the metro entrance; the side streets with the evening stalls are awkward for cars.
Is Ben Thanh Market worth it?
Yes, on a first visit to Saigon: it’s the city’s most recognisable market and an easy place to pick up coffee and souvenirs and have lunch in one go. But be clear-eyed — Ben Thanh has long been geared to tourists, prices are higher than at other markets and the vendors by the gates are pushy. If you want a market where locals actually stock up, add Binh Tay.
Go before 10 am, when it’s cooler and quieter and sellers are keen to make a deal; by midday the hall is hot and packed. Around 17:00–18:00 you can catch both sides — the day market still trading and tables going up outside. A quick walk-through takes half an hour; shopping plus lunch takes 1.5–2 hours.
Ben Thanh or Binh Tay Market?
| Ben Thanhyou are here | Downtown, by Ben Thanh metro station | Opened 1914, clock tower | Mostly tourists | Higher, haggling expected | Coffee, souvenirs, fabric, lunch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Binh Tay | Cholon (Chợ Lớn), about 6–7 km west | Opened 1930, inner courtyard | Local traders, a lot of wholesale | Lower, many goods sold by the box | Coffee, dried fruit, spices, atmosphere |
Opening years are from Wikipedia; Binh Tay’s distance and wholesale trade from vietnamtourism.com and nashaplaneta.net. Grab is the easiest way to Binh Tay.
Before you go
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You are ready for the visit
Downtown Saigon in a day: palace, cathedral, post office and market
Independence Palace in the morning, then Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office across the square, and in the late afternoon down Lê Lợi past the Opera House to Ben Thanh Market. Add it to your route and YesGo sets the timings and walks.
- Independence Palace1 h 15 min · 40,000–80,000 VND
- 9 min walk from the previous stopNotre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon20 min · Free; inside only during Mass
- 3 min walk from the previous stopSaigon Central Post Office30 min · Free
- 9 min walk from the previous stopSaigon Opera House30 min · Free outside; inside with a show ticket
- 12 min walk from the previous stopBen Thanh Marketyou are here1 h · Free entry
5 places · about 4 h 8 min with walks · 33 min on foot in total
Nearby and on your route
Saigon Opera House
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Bitexco Financial Tower
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
How to do it right
- Come at opening time: it’s cooler and vendors give the first customer of the day a better price.
- Check a few stalls selling the same thing before you buy — prices vary a lot.
- Don’t want to haggle? Use the price-tagged shops around the outer ring.
- Compare coffee prices with a nearby supermarket before stocking up here.
- For lunch, sit where the prices are on the board.
- The Opera House is a stroll up Lê Lợi or one metro stop away.
Questions
What are Ben Thanh Market’s opening hours?
Most stalls trade roughly 6:00–18:00 every day, and some food stalls carry on until about 22:00. There’s no official visitor timetable, so treat these as a guide.
Is there an entrance fee?
No, entry is free. You pay only for what you buy and eat.
Is there still a Ben Thanh night market?
In the evening some stalls inside stay open and food stalls set up on Phan Bội Châu and Phan Chu Trinh until about 22:00. How busy it is varies.
What should I buy at Ben Thanh Market?
Vietnamese coffee and phin filters, dried fruit, spices, silk scarves, conical hats, lacquerware and ceramics. Compare prices and haggle.
Do you have to bargain at Ben Thanh Market?
Yes, for clothes and souvenirs — start at about half the first price. Food stalls and price-tagged shops are fixed.
Can I pay by card inside the market?
Hardly anywhere — bring cash in dong. A few larger souvenir shops take foreign Visa or Mastercard, sometimes with a surcharge.
How do I get to Ben Thanh Market from Tan Son Nhat Airport?
Bus 109 takes about 45–60 minutes, unofficially 15,000–20,000 VND in cash. A Grab or taxi takes 25–40 minutes.
Is Ben Thanh Market open during Tet?
The market stays open, but many stalls close for the first days of the Lunar New Year. Before Tet it trades later than usual.
How long should I spend at Ben Thanh?
Half an hour for a quick look, 1.5–2 hours for shopping and lunch.
Is Ben Thanh Market safe?
Yes, as busy markets go. The main risks are overpaying and pickpockets in the crowd, so keep valuables in front of you.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- English and Vietnamese Wikipedia: Bến Thành Market / Chợ Bến Thành — building, opening year, area, gates; Wikidata Q3232879
- vinwonders.com (Vietnamese edition) and mia.vn: gates, clock tower, sections, hours, Bến Thành ward
- localvietnam.com, vietnamtourism.com, nashaplaneta.net: hours, evening trading, haggling, food prices, Binh Tay Market
- Tuổi Trẻ News: evening trading at the market; metro operating hours
- English Wikipedia (Ho Chi Minh City Metro Line 1) and Báo Bắc Ninh: stations and fares; Visa press release: contactless payment at the gates
- vietnamtourism.com, nashaplaneta.net and Dân Trí International: airport buses 109 and 152, airport taxis
- Dân Trí International: refreshed façade, clock and forecourt
- Pháp Luật (plo.vn): longer trading hours before Tet
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