Binh Tay Market, Cholon: Hours, Getting There & What to Buy

Featured image: Nick, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Is Binh Tay Market worth it?

Go if you want to watch Saigon trade at work. Vendors here sell mainly to traders, so finished gifts are thinner than at Ben Thanh. Allow 60–90 minutes for a quick pass. Plan 2–3 hours if you add Cholon food and a temple stop. Both are suggested estimates, not posted figures. For other options across the city, browse our Saigon market guide.

• Skip it if you have only one short first day in the city.
• Skip it if you want gift-ready souvenirs at fixed prices.
• Skip it if heat, crowds or strong smells wear you down.
• Choose air-conditioned malls in Saigon instead for fixed-price shopping.

Binh Tay Market highlights

Accounts describe two floors under a clock-topped central roof, built around a Chinese-style courtyard. Ground-floor aisles are reported to run to dried goods, spices and produce. Upstairs, expect textiles, fabric and kitchenware. Use the courtyard as your orientation point when aisles blur together. A shrine or statue honoring founder Quách Đàm is reported near the courtyard, though accounts differ on its exact spot. Vietnam's national tourism site offers wider trip-planning context for the country.

Opening hours, address and entry

Address: 57A Tháp Mười, District 6, between Tháp Mười and Phạm Văn Khoẻ streets. Entry is free. Hours checked November 2026 vary by source, from 6:00 AM or 7:00 AM to about 6:00 PM. Individual stalls vary, and many close earlier, so treat late afternoon as unreliable. Trading is reported busiest from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM, which is also the cooler window. Ward names have changed in recent administrative reforms, so rely on the street address in your map app. The city tourism portal is the place to look for current visitor information.

How to get to Binh Tay Market from District 1

Reported ride time is about 15 minutes by motorbike from central District 1. Cars and buses take longer in traffic. No fare or bus route is quoted here, because both change. Check current bus routes and fares with the city's official transport sources. Book your return ride with slack, since pickup near the entrance can be slow.

What to buy at Binh Tay Market, and what to skip

Dried goods, spices, tea, fabric and kitchenware are the strongest buys. Dried seafood and Chinese sausages also sell here. Many stalls prefer bulk orders, so ask politely whether single items are available. Retail requests are reported to work at many stalls. Check your home country's customs and biosecurity rules before packing any food. Skip wildlife products and fake-brand goods. Souvenir shoppers will find more choice at Ben Thanh's souvenir stalls.

• Buy: dried goods, spices, tea, textiles, kitchenware.
• Ask first: dried seafood and sausages, because of customs limits.
• Skip: wildlife products and counterfeit labels.

Bargaining and paying at a wholesale market

Carry cash in small notes. Card acceptance varies, and traditional stalls mostly prefer cash. English is not widely spoken, so a translation app helps. Retail buyers are usually expected to negotiate politely. Walking away calmly is normal if a price feels off. Ask before photographing people or their goods, and keep aisles clear for working traders.

Food in and around the market

Reports describe a food court inside the market. Look for bánh bao (steamed buns), hủ tiếu (noodle soup) and chè (sweet dessert soup). Streets around the market add Chinese-Vietnamese street food, including wonton noodle soup. Cholon has deeper restaurant options if you want a sit-down lunch. Pick busy stalls, and eat before the midday heat peaks.

A short history of Binh Tay

Binh Tay dates to the 1920s, when Chinese merchant Quách Đàm funded its creation. Sources disagree on an exact year, so no single date is stated here. Its architecture mixes Chinese and French influences, which suits Cholon's mixed Chinese-Vietnamese community. The market grew into the area's main wholesale hub, drawing traders as well as shoppers.

Binh Tay vs Ben Thanh vs Tan Dinh

Choose Ben Thanh for convenience and souvenirs near the District 1 hotel zone. Choose Binh Tay for a working wholesale atmosphere with less sales pressure. See the Tan Dinh option as a third market for comparison.

Suggested route: a half-day in Cholon

Arrive near 7:00 AM, before heat and crowds build. Spend 60–90 minutes inside, starting with the ground floor. Walk the courtyard, then climb to the upper level. Finish with a Cholon lunch and, if energy remains, Thien Hau Temple, which accounts place nearby. Confirm its exact location in your map app before walking.

• 7:00 AM: arrive, take the ground floor first.
• 8:30 AM: upper level, then the courtyard.
• 9:30 AM: Cholon street food or a sit-down lunch.
• Optional: Thien Hau Temple before heading back.

Tips, mistakes to avoid and safety

Midday visits are the most common mistake, because heat inside is draining. Others include expecting finished souvenirs, carrying only large notes, and skipping a plan for the second floor. Keep bags zipped and in front of you in narrow aisles. Watch for motorbikes at the entrance. Wear light clothing and sturdy shoes. Then continue to other stops in our Saigon market guide.