The two-story Binh Tay Market is an impossible-to-miss Chinatown landmark on the edge of Ho Chi Minh City’s District Six; it boasts a distinctive Chinese-inspired clock tower, yet it was a French patron who financed the construction of the market in the 1880s. It isn’t geared toward foreigners like the more popular (among travelers, that is) Ben Thanh Market, so there are fewer souvenirs for sale—on the upside, that means prices are already low. The focus here is more on fresh food, though items like bags, clothing, and handicrafts are also sold; even if you don’t plan on purchasing anything, it’s a fascinating place to visit.
Binh Tay Market in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Andre Lebrun/age fotostock
More Recommendations
Binh Tay Market, Ho Chi Minh City
Located in HCMC’s Chinatown, this is a superb place to go and take pictures. Curiosities are copious and most of the time foreigners will have no clue what they’re looking at. The food stalls are frequented mostly by Vietnamese but this shouldn’t deter you from joining in. Rubbing elbows and sharing some laughs with locals will certainly make your trip all the more memorable. Also, if you’re looking for wholesale fabrics such as silk and velvet, the prices at Cho Binh Tay aren’t marked up as much as in the Benh Thanh market, so do your shopping here.
