Ben Thanh Market Guide for First Timers in Ho Chi Minh

Traveloka MY
4 min read

sWhere to go on your next holiday trip? We’d recommend flying to Vietnam, where the street foods are delicious, the coffee is strong, the landscape is breathtaking, the culture is rich, and the cities are both vibrant and bustling. 

The dynamic city of Ho Chi Minh, also known as Saigon, can be your first stop in the beautiful Vietnam. Offering a mix of old historic buildings and the colorful crowds filling the streets, truly a sight to enjoy. 

Visiting Ho Chi Minh, won’t be complete without stopping by the iconic Ben Thanh Market. An exciting place for every visitor of all ages, read Traveloka’s guide to one of Vietnam's best markets to date!

The Complete Guide to Ben Thanh Market, Ho Chi Minh

Ben Thanh Market is a living proof of the past century’s history of Saigon. It has been more than 100 years since the market was built and running in its current location, Ben Thanh Market still holds an important role of displaying the rich cultural and culinary aspects in Ho Chi Minh. 

Exploring the market will give you a glimpse of Saigon's local cuisine and insight into the daily life of Vietnamese people. The market is a melting pot for the local residents and the tourists, a place where modern trade with traditional market surroundings.

Vietnam

Muong Thanh Luxury Saigon Hotel

8.5/10

Ward 10

RM 363

RM 223

Day and Night Ben Thanh Market

Do you know that Ben Thanh Market opens its door for a day market as well as a night market? 

The Day Market is your regular Asian traditional market, with vendors selling fresh produce, dry goods, seafood/meat/chicken, spices, local delicacies as well as textiles, souvenirs, handicrafts and local specialties.

At night, Ben Thanh Market transforms into a street food market, where you can find food stalls selling local snacks, delicacies, and drinks. You can also find some souvenirs at the night market.

If you love shopping and dining at the market, you can try visiting at both the daytime and at night to experience the different vibes and enjoy shopping for varying goods. 

Opening hours: 

Day market: 6:00am – 6:00pm
Night market: 6:00pm – 10:00pm

How to Get to Ben Thanh Market

Located at the city center, visitors can easily choose one of these options of transportations:

By bus: Buses number 03, 04, 152, 19, 20, 39, 53, 93, or 96, all have a stop near the market, continuing by walking a short distance. You can ask the driver before riding the bus. 
By taxi or ride-hailing service: The most convenient way to explore Ben Thanh Market is by taking a taxi or ordering e-hailing services.
By metro: Ride the Metro Line 1 (Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien) to a stop at Ben Thanh Market. It’s a perfect option for visitors who are staying a bit further from the city. 
By Foot: While being around Notre Dame Cathedral, you can walk to Ben Thanh Market by following directions from Google maps, for about 10 minutes.
By personal vehicle: There are parking areas near the market with parking fees ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 VND, but do note that the traffic in Vietnam could be challenging and slightly chaotic, so driving around with a car/motorbike is not a practical choice for tourists.

Exploring All The Main Entrances and Sections in Ben Thanh Market

The Ben Thanh Market has 4 main entrances located on major streets, you can enter and exit from different gates, to explore different sections and shops inside the market:

South Gate (Le Loi Street): the most popular gate due to its iconic clock tower, this entrance leads to vibrant textile, clothing stalls, and dried goods.
East Gate (Phan Boi Chau Street): Enter from this gate to purchase packaged goods, including coffee, tea, fish sauce, dried foods/fruits as well as many cosmetic stalls.
North Gate (Le Thanh Ton Street): Popular amongst locals, this gate is the entrance for fresh produce, seafood, meat, fresh flowers, and processed foods.
West Gate (Phan Chau Trinh Street): entrance for souvenirs section. The goods sold here are shoes, ceramics, handicrafts, and art.

Vietnam

Sun World Ba Den Mountain

9.2/10

Thanh Tan

RM 23

RM 23

Must-try Street Food At Ben Thanh Market

When in the market, don’t forget to taste these local delicacies:

1.
Bánh bèo: steamed rice cake (pancake) topped with minced shrimp, crispy pork rinds, scallion oil, and a drizzle of sweet-savory fish sauce.
2.
Bún Riêu: crab paste vermicelli noodle soup from the famous stall called Bún Riêu Gánh is a must try dish. Bún Riêu Gánh was selling at the side road near the entrance of Ben Thanh Market, but now opens a new humble restaurant nearby.
3.
Bún Thịt Nướng: A warm bowl of rice vermicelli noodles topped with grilled pork, fresh herbs, peanuts, and pickled vegetables, drenched in a sweet and savory fish sauce.
4.
Chè: traditional Vietnamese sweet desserts, from refreshing shaved ice with toppings like coconut milk, grass jelly, fruits, tropical fruits, and red bean and other sweet soups/porridge.

Other Tourist Attractions Near Ben Thanh Market

Ben Thanh Market is strategically located in District 1, along with many other tourist attractions and historic landmarks nearby. Some of the places you can venture are:

City Opera House: A stunning building with its French colonial architecture, dating back to 1897, and a venue for popular performances like the A O Show.
Independence Palace: The historic site of the Fall of Saigon in 1975. Famous for its unique 1960s modernist Vietnamese architecture, and its preserved underground war command bunkers
Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon: A stunning cathedral with its iconic red brick in the French colonial architecture, and the statue of Virgin Mary stands in the front square welcoming visitors.
Saigon Central Post Office: Situated right across the cathedral, another historic landmark to visit is the Saigon Central Post Office.
War Remnants Museum: War Remnants Museum housed an impressive collection to preserve and display evidence of crimes and consequences of the war of aggression against Vietnam.

Around the market, you can easily find arrays of shops, restaurants, and cafes, so try walking around the area after your stroll inside Ben Thanh Market.

Explore Ben Thanh Market and Ho Chi Minh with Traveloka

A testament to the old Saigon and a window to the modern Ho Chi Minh, visiting Ben Thanh Market will add a flavour to your day. Browse the bustling stalls for the morning rush at the market, or enjoy a laid-back dinner at the street food market of Ben Thanh Market.

Plan a trip to Ho Chi Minh with Traveloka, the #1 All-in-one Travel App in SEA, makes travel fun and effortless. Find flights, hotels, airport transfers, and attractions all in one place with the best price guarantee. 

Book all your travel needs with Traveloka and enjoy 24/7 Live Agent Support, flexible payment options, and free cancellation*. Create a seamless and fun holiday starting with Traveloka!

*T&C Apply.

Discover flight with Traveloka

Mon, 24 Aug 2026

AirAsia Berhad (Malaysia)

Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN)

Start from RM 361.35

Sun, 23 Aug 2026

AirAsia Berhad (Malaysia)

Johor Bahru (JHB) to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN)

Start from RM 329.71

Sun, 23 Aug 2026

AirAsia Berhad (Malaysia)

Penang (PEN) to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN)

Start from RM 332.69

In This Article

• The Complete Guide to Ben Thanh Market, Ho Chi Minh
• Day and Night Ben Thanh Market
• How to Get to Ben Thanh Market
• Exploring All The Main Entrances and Sections in Ben Thanh Market
• Must-try Street Food At Ben Thanh Market
• Other Tourist Attractions Near Ben Thanh Market
• Explore Ben Thanh Market and Ho Chi Minh with Traveloka
Hotels
Flights
Things to Do
Always Know the Latest Info
Subscribe to our newsletter for more travel & lifestyle recommendations and exciting promos.
Subscribe

Traveloka Sdn Bhd (Registration No. 201501003122), Level 14 Tower 2, Menara Kembar Bank Rakyat, 33 Jalan Rakyat Brickfields, 50470 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Copyright © 2026 Traveloka. All rights reserved