Ben Thanh Market

Saigon's emblematic market with its hundred-year-old architecture

Ben Thanh Market is one of the oldest and most recognisable urban symbols of Saigon and Ho Chi Minh City, bound up with the making of the city centre from the end of the 19th century. The present market was begun in 1912 and completed in 1914, replacing the old market near the bank of the Ben Nghe river. The new building rose on the site of what had been the Bo Ret marsh, using reinforced concrete that was modern for its day. Its most striking feature is the clock tower on the southern gate, with a facade in French architectural style and a set of large doors opening onto the central streets. Over more than a century, the image of the clock tower has moved beyond the function of a commercial building to become a visual symbol of Saigon. The value of Ben Thanh Market lies not only in its architecture but also in its commercial life and urban culture. The stalls bring together local produce, handicrafts, fabrics, souvenirs and above all southern Vietnamese food, reflecting the meeting of the many communities that shaped the face of Saigon. The market is also a space where the city's rhythm of trading, of conversation and of food culture shows itself clearly.

English text: machine translation from the Localis platform — proper names kept in Vietnamese.