Ben Thanh market has long been one of Saigon’s most famous landmarks. The market has been in existence since the French occupation, developed from informal markets created by early 17th century street vendors gathering together near the Saigon River.

The market was formally established by the French colonial powers after taking over the Gia Dinh citadel in 1859, but was destroyed by fire in 1870 and rebuilt to become Saigon’s (Ho Chi Minh City) largest market.

The market and surrounding streets make up one of the city’s liveliest areas.

Everything that’s commonly eaten, worn or used by the Saigonese is available here: vegetables, meats, spices, sweets, tobacco, clothing, hardware and so forth. There’s also a healthy selection of souvenir items