7 Best Ho Chi Minh City Markets by Traveler Type

Featured image: Mstyslav Chernov, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Ho Chi Minh City Markets at a Glance

Start with Ben Thanh if you have one hour and want souvenirs. Choose Binh Tay for wholesale goods and Cholon context, or Tan Dinh for daily neighborhood shopping. Ben Thanh posts hours of 6 AM to 6 PM, and 45 to 90 minutes covers it. Prices and hours checked November 2026. Stall hours inside each market can differ from the posted ones.

How to Choose Between Markets

Decide by purpose first. Souvenirs point to Ben Thanh. Wholesale and Chinatown point to Binh Tay in Cholon. Fabric points to An Dong in District 5, and food after dark points to Ho Thi Ky in District 10. Mobility matters too, since aisles are narrow and the old apartment-style shops at 14 Ton That Dam have no elevator. Use this ladder if time is short.

• 1 hour: Ben Thanh Market only, using the 45 to 90 minute range.
• Half day: Binh Tay Market in Cholon, with An Dong in District 5 as a second stop.
• Full day: Ben Thanh in the morning, Cholon at midday, then Ho Thi Ky in the evening.
• Mistake to avoid: wandering without a section plan.
• Mistake to avoid: shopping at midday in peak heat.
• Mistake to avoid: accepting the first quoted price.
• Mistake to avoid: assuming a big crowd means good food.

7 Ho Chi Minh City Markets Worth the Trip

Each entry gives the area, what to buy, how long to plan and who should pass. Addresses and hours come from published market listings.

1. Ben Thanh Market

Ben Thanh Market sits in District 1 and works as the orientation stop on a first visit. Four gates open onto Le Loi Street (south), Le Thanh Ton Street (north), Phan Boi Chau Street (east) and Phan Chu Trinh Street (west). Posted hours are 6 AM to 6 PM, and 45 to 90 minutes covers the central hall plus the outer stalls.

Buy lacquerware, coffee beans, dried fruit, spices and sealed snacks, and compare 2 to 3 stalls before paying. Avoid midday heat, and pass on it entirely if you want quiet browsing. Our full Ben Thanh guide maps each section.

2. Binh Tay Market

Binh Tay Market anchors Cholon, Saigon's Chinatown, at 57A Thap Muoi Street in District 6. A colonial-era building with yellow walls, green tiles and a central clock tower houses the stalls. Inside, vendors sell clothing at wholesale prices, kitchenware, candy, spices and dried goods.

Stall hours differ, so go in the morning before the heat builds. Travelers wanting a compact souvenir run should pass, since Ben Thanh is easier for that. Our Binh Tay wholesale guide covers the Cholon context.

3. Tan Dinh Market

Tan Dinh Market is where local shoppers buy groceries and household items. One long-time food-tour guide names it, alongside Ben Thanh, as a traditional market rather than a purpose-built food stop. Walk the produce and grocery aisles to watch daily shopping in Ho Chi Minh City.

Choose busy stalls with visible preparation for any snack. Gift hunters are better off at Ben Thanh, which is built for souvenirs. Our Tan Dinh neighborhood guide adds the detail.

4. Ba Chieu Market

Ba Chieu Market is in Binh Thanh District at 40 Dien Hong Street, Ward 1. Listed hours are 8 AM to 5 PM, so it closes an hour earlier than Ben Thanh. Stalls sell basic clothes, inexpensive jewellery, hair clips, bags and home goods.

Food vendors serve sugarcane juice, bánh canh cua (thick crab noodle soup) and bánh tiêu, a puffy sesame donut. Little signage and no tour groups make for a low-key visit. Souvenir shoppers should pass, since stock leans toward daily wear.

5. An Dong Market

An Dong Market is at 34-36 An Duong Vuong Street, Ward 9, District 5. Listed hours are 6 AM to 6 PM. Levels of fabric stalls offer linen, tropical prints, lace, silk and velvet.

Local designers and tailors source materials here, and families pick cloth for graduation ao dai. Food stalls in the corners serve sticky rice and Vietnamese iced coffee. Anyone not sewing or commissioning tailoring can skip the fabric floors.

6. Russian Market

Russian Market stands at 328 Vo Van Kiet Street, Co Giang Ward, District 1. Hours are listed as 9 AM to 6 PM, and about 100 stalls fill the interior. Stock includes padded jackets, woollen scarves, matryoshka dolls, ceramic dishes and packaged foods.

Food stalls serve Russian dishes such as smoked carp, caviar, buckwheat and rye bread. Heat-bound travelers rarely need padded jackets, so go only for Russian groceries or gifts.

7. Ho Thi Ky Market and Food Alley

Ho Thi Ky in District 10 pairs a flower market with a food alley beside it. Over 90 small shops sell flowers all day and night. The adjacent alley holds over 100 vendors working from carts and house fronts, with diners on tiny stools.

One food guide calls the food average and says the draw is the young local crowd. Come in the evening, and bring a stomach used to street food. Travelers with sensitive digestion should choose Tan Dinh or a pho shop instead.

Food Markets and Street-Food Alleys

Two food-only options exist. Ben Thanh Street Food Market sits directly behind Ben Thanh Market and was created for tourists. One long-time food guide reports higher prices there and an average pork rib. Ho Thi Ky aims at local diners, and the same guide prefers it. Avoid judging food by crowd size, because stalls can be popular simply for their location. A busy pho stall with visible preparation is a safer bet than either.

Markets vs Malls vs Apartment Boutiques

Malls win when you want fixed prices, air conditioning and clean restrooms. Compare air-conditioned mall options if midday heat is a concern. Two apartment buildings offer a third format. 42 Nguyen Hue in Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, holds indie cafes and local fashion. 14 Ton That Dam in District 1 sits next to Ton That Dam market and is reached by stairs. Both are shops and cafes rather than traditional stalls.

Sample Market Itineraries

Use these routes as templates and adjust for the hours above.

• Two-hour District 1 orientation: Ben Thanh for 45 to 90 minutes, then the street food market behind it.
• Half-day Cholon: Binh Tay Market in the morning, then An Dong Market in District 5 by Grab.
• Evening food pairing: Ho Thi Ky in District 10 for flower stalls and alley food, ideally after dark.

Bargaining, Cash and Etiquette

Carry cash in small notes, since traditional markets prefer or only accept it. Ask the price first. Offer about half, then settle in the middle if the item feels worth it. Clear price tags mean the price is fixed, and food stalls with menu prices should not be haggled. Buying several small items from one stall often earns a better rate. Many Vietnamese vendors treat the first sale of the day as lucky, so early visits can bring better deals. Keep valuables secure in crowded aisles, where pickpocketing can happen.

Costs, Hours and Getting There

Stall prices are your only cost, and relative levels matter more than figures. Ba Chieu and Tan Dinh run cheaper than Ben Thanh and its street food market, based on the guides above. For district details and transit, see the Ho Chi Minh City tourism portal. National travel advice sits on the Vietnam tourism authority site. In central District 1, walk or use a ride-hailing app. For Cholon, Ba Chieu and Ho Thi Ky, book a Grab, since each lies outside the center.