Ben Thanh Market
Ben Thanh Market
3.5
9:00 AM - 1:00 AM
Monday
9:00 AM - 1:00 AM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 1:00 AM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 1:00 AM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 1:00 AM
Friday
9:00 AM - 1:00 AM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 1:00 AM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 1:00 AM
About
This central market is the symbol and soul of Saigon, with over 1,500 booths trading wholesale and retail items ranging from food and apparel to fabric and cosmetics. There are four main gates and 12 entrances—with the main entrance located near the big clock tower. Here, you can spot interesting souvenir picks like embroidered wallets, lacquerware and silk scarves. If you’re a coffee lover, locals would recommend homegrown brands like Trung Nguyen, Metrang, Wakeup and Mr. Viet Coffee. When hungry, treat yourself to a comforting bowl of pho, a dragon fruit smoothie and Hue cake for dessert. – Tripadvisor
Duration: 1-2 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Top ways to experience Ben Thanh Market
See what travelers are saying
  • Christine Roberson
    Sydney, Australia4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Exhilarating experience!!!
    Visiting the Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City was an exhilarating experience that captured the essence of Vietnamese culture. The market offered a vast array of stalls selling everything from fresh produce and exotic spices to souvenirs and clothing.The market was bustling with locals and tourists alike, giving it a truly authentic feel. I particularly enjoyed trying the street food that was available at the market. There were stalls selling traditional Pho noodle soup, Banh Mi sandwiches and delicious tropical fruits like dragon fruit and rambutan. The food was not only delicious but also affordable.
    Visited March 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written April 6, 2023
  • Tedistravelling
    Gladstone, Australia104 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Good shopping experience in this crazy market.
    Big market selling endless fake bags, scarfs, jewellery, shirts....you name it, this place probably has it. Prices are a bit higher than what you'll find in other parts of Vietnam (Hanoi for example) but there is definitely the best range. The place is busy and may be confronting for those that have never been to such a market. Most vendors are reasonable with their haggle prices.
    Visited February 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 8, 2023
  • Leanne K
    Brisbane, Australia293 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Some nasty stall holders
    This market is hot. Vendors pushy and some can be extremely rude when you don,t buy from them. Make sure you make a note of stall you are purchasing from as they all look the same. I brought a bag and when i wasn't looking they have switched it out with inferior quality bag. Didn,t notice until i got back to hotel. So be ware. Average prices
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 9, 2023
  • Celestina B
    New York City, New York5 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Bargaining is a must!
    Ben Thanh Market is one of the most well-known and popular markets in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The market boasts an array of stalls selling a wide range of goods, including clothing, souvenirs, local delicacies, and fresh produce. The market is quite hectic and crowded, but it's definitely worth a visit for any tourists looking to experience the local culture and pick up some souvenirs. Bargaining is a must, as vendors tend to inflate their prices for tourists.
    Visited March 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written April 10, 2023
  • Darren M
    105 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Be careful, bargain hard
    Busy, crowded but good market. Don’t ask a price unless you are serious. The vendors are aggressive and pushy. My son was dragged into stalls and felt intimidated. Items selling for 850,000 VND could be bought for 200,000 VND
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written April 18, 2023
  • Lorraine T
    Hartbeespoort, South Africa6 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    A shopping experience of note!!!
    Many great products! Shop owners do accost you and want you to buy goods. Negotiate hard! Prices start really high! Generally friendly and fairly good natured
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written April 26, 2023
  • jayyu
    Seoul, South Korea225 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Interesting Market
    It's an interesting market, full of souvenirs. Be prepared to bargain a lot, the vendors are pretty pushy. The food area has a lot of variety that is more expensive than local restaurants, with very pushy vendors as well. It's worth walking around for the experience but there are not really any bargains to be found.
    Visited April 2023
    Written April 26, 2023
  • Harry P
    Delray Beach, Florida6 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very pushy, crowded , redundant market place
    Ben Thanh market was not a pleasant place to shop. Constantly hounded by merchants in a stuffy, smothering market is not my idea of fun ( my buying wife enjoyed it more). Go only if you are a masochist for negotiating.
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 10, 2023
  • Frank C
    Brisbane, Australia2 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Ho Chi Minh tourist market
    Amazing selection of clothing, bags, watches, jewellery and souvenires . Be prepared to negotiate a better price. Everyone one polite and well mannered. I purchased numerous quality products and only wished I had more time
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written May 13, 2023
  • Alexandra K
    London, United Kingdom316 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    How much?
    The market is indoors and hot. There are fans scattered around and stall holders always offer you a chair but it is hard work. We were also warned in advance that the whole area is risky for tourists so were on high alert. Bargaining is essential and I wish I had known in advance that the US dollar is the preferred currency. Be prepared to bargain and bargain hard. The quoted price can start off higher than you’d pay in London. My son was brutal but got every price reduced by at least 60% which I would never have managed. There is everything under the sun and also great street food. An exhilerating day out and some brilliant purchaes.
    Visited May 2023
    Written May 18, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

3.5
3.5 of 5 bubbles13,259 reviews
Excellent
2,407
Very good
4,275
Average
4,193
Poor
1,463
Terrible
920

Arianne R
London, UK34 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020 • Couples
Went to this market for souvenirs and it was the most awful part of the holiday to Vietnam. Never expected or experienced anything so bad in my life. Left after just 5 minutes. Firstly, it was so hot i couldnt breathe. The stench of rotting food and meat was in the air, made me feel sick. The vendors are something all together. So rude, obnoxious and pushy. Every stallholder will pester and show you things you do not want or need, then pressure you to buy. Not just one, but the entire family will set on you like a pack of hyenas. They then become rude and aggressive if you show no interest in their goods, then show you something else they think you may be interested in. Every time you pass a stall, 4 or 5 people will shout and scream as you go past. It was horrendous. I am used to vendors trying to make a sale but this experience was the worst ever. Also, get used to male and female vendors touching you, pulling your arms and blocking your path when you try to leave. I warn anyone not to go there. Best fork out a little more for souvenirs in other areas where you dint get pestered, touched or followed about.
Written March 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

KRaut
United Kingdom14 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
Went there a couple of time and every time the place surprised me.... It a very crowded place with almost thousands of stalls where you can get food to T-shirts to souvenir ,coffee beans anything and everything under one roof. Definitely not for the faint hearted. You will be grabbed ,harassed, pulled ......as soon as you enter the market. You can easily spend hours of your time and money if you are a shopaholic. Best time to visit early morning when the market opens or late evening, you will guaranteed get good deals. Do not accept their first offer, keep bargaining .....try to walk away, they will definitely accept your offer,always worked for me.
You will find the good fake (first copy) Gucci , Lacoste , the north face and Adidas. If you are into quality fake products , its a place to visit if not you are not missing anything.
Written January 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

welltravelledteacher
Perth, Australia82 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
It is well worth a visit to this market. It is very large. If you don’t want to barter for prices there is a series of fixed price stores. They have signs hanging from the roof stating this and the women working there currently wear a light blue shirt. You’ll notice it is a bit quieter in these sections and that there are price tags on the garments and products. There is also fresh produce such as seafood on display which is quite interesting to look at. There is also food stalls. At night, this market expands onto the street and becomes bigger.
Written January 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SS
Hyderabad, India47 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2020 • Couples
From spice to clothes, from faux designers bags to fresh off the boat seafood. This place has everything! Ohhh the vibrant colours of different rows.

Shop owners will call you out from far, follow you around till the the end of the rue if you touch something. Just trying to pursue you to buy it, nothing wrong with it, they are very polite and courteous.
The best things probably about this place was the people. We went here twice, once in the morning the the next day in the evening. The vibe was brighter in the evening but the level of enthusiasm in sellers was still the same as morning.
I was fairly impressed with the quality of fabric available here, had I known in advance I would have packed lighter. We walked around a bit then came back from a snack, went around a little more and then had some fresh juice. Just walking around this place was so much fun. If you like shopping no better place than this for cheap clothes, lengths of fabric choices, leather and faux leather goods, decorative items etc. You name it they have it.
A lot like Thailand's famous Chatuchak market but somehow with much nicer people.
Written October 31, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Amanda_The_Pixie
Pretoria, South Africa371 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
The first market we visited while in Vietnam. Such a great place!
The people inside are wonderful, the hustle bustle. Everyone is friendly and ready to bargain (except for vendors that state that they have fixed prices). The clothes, the shoes, the souvenirs, the food! It's all here.
It's not just a market for tourists, locals come here as well to buy materials and food as well. It's a really great way to submerge yourself into the atmosphere and culture of Vietnam.
Great place to visit when in Ho Chi Minh.
Written February 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dodo1985
7 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
Second time at the market and visited each time I visited Ho Chi Minh City but the second time I went after going to Saigon Square first which was nearby. The ifference was noticeable. The market was stressful to say the least in comparison. High pressure sales people. They harass you to buy. They are mostly all rude. They beg you, some will follow you after you walk away. The quality of the shirts are low grade, all the items everyone was selling was pretty much the same. Some woman told me that if I don't want to buy her merchandise that I shouldn't touch any items she had for sale. Another woman told me to leave when I tried to negotiate some outrageously high price she had quoted me. Angry at the fact my counter was a quarter of her offer. If you want to get ripped off and harassed, sure visit this dump. The sales people are desensitized to scamming visitors thinking your a walking bag of money and if you don't do business with them your trash. There is the same garbage souvenirs at cheaper prices and friendlier salespeople elsewhere in hcmc and obviously the same stuff in every Vietnamese city.
Written February 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

fernisi100
Nottingham, UK65 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
This place is a must as a visit but don’t shop alone and watch the contents of your bag. An utter rabbit warren of stalls selling every thing under the sun, thin corridors which can be quite disorientating when trying to find a stall again manned by hard selling women and more reasonable men.

There are a few things to remember when shopping here the most important being buyer beware and barter hard and be especially careful dealing with the woman shall holders as they are pretty ruthless.

We’ve shopped for clothes and bags etc in various markets throughout Vietnam and think this is a great market shopping experience but be absolutely clear on what you are looking for, don’t go to just browse and know how much you want to pay before you go shopping.

Stalls all operate in $ and dong and can quote you prices in any equivalent currency but whatever it is you shop for the first price you hear is over 50% to 60% over what you should end up at. Always be prepared to walk away, never be pressured into buying anything.

The women stall holders are the worst! They will go as far as trying to block you onto their stall to get you to buy as well as holding onto your wrist. If this happens firmly tell them to “take your hands off me” and walk away as whatever it is they are selling isn’t worth it and never loose your temper.

We found dealing with male stall holders to be far less aggressive and they gave a fairer price to start off with.

If unsure have a dry run to establish price range for whatever it is and always shop in pairs with one playing very hard to get. Never try and shop for two people at the same time you will find they give a price for all items where they price all items the same for clothes and you find they are adding lower quality items to improve the average price for the stall holder. Watch the price that appears on the calculator produced and passed to you and watch out for the phrase “how much do you want to pay” thinking very carefully before you answer.

Watch your bags and purses and always walk away ignoring the screams of madam sir madam sir madam sir as they pursue you through the market to get a sale if you are unhappy with the price or the product and enjoy the experience.
Written February 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jason B
Brisbane, Australia50 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
Possibly has become a little too tourist dependant now. There will be frequent local buses heading there from whichever district you are staying in this market is a Hub for buses. It's a good place to spend a few hours have a look around, if you smile and say no thank you there is no pressure. If you take an interest in something, the bargaining gloves are off and away you go. Great place to have a snack or a drink and watch the locals go to work with other tourists. The produce area is interesting. So if you are not spending much time in Vietnam, this might be your best chance to see how locals do their shopping.
Written March 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mmarymomm
Pleasanton, CA1,738 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2019 • Couples
I do not care for this type of shopping. The foods area was interesting due to the great variety and difference in items from the ones we have at home. Beyond that it is crowded noisy and intimidating. I do not care to be hassled to buy something and despise trying to bargain. It is as if the seller does not want you to pay a reasonable price. This market was included in three of our excursions. Once was more than enough.
Written January 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Pete W
Wolverhampton, UK8 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
To be honest we found this a bit overwhelming, if you like look at 6,-7 types of stalls repeated throughout then it's for you. The stalls and sellers in the middle of the area are so close to you every single one asks(some tap you on shoulder) to see if you will look and buy. Which is fine but after 50th time it's annoying difficult to ignore and in effect they loose trade just because its not comfortable just to look and browse on please so you end up mot buying anything. If you do we were told by a guide to go upto 70% off the price they originally start with. I have to say thus is probably true if the couple of things we did buy this is about the discount we got.
Written February 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 9,507
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

Ben Thanh Market - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Frequently Asked Questions about Ben Thanh Market