Binh Tay Market

The construction of Binh Tay Market in the 1880s was largely thanks to Quach Dam, a Chinese philanthropist and the market's patron. The market had once housed a statue erected in honor of its patron Quach Dam. The bust has been shifted to the Fine Arts museum since then, with a smaller glass altar taking its place at the market. The market sports a courtyard at its center surrounded by beautiful gardens today.

Binh Tay Market is definitely the most inexpensive market in Ho Chi Minh City. It is known predominantly as a wholesale market where many of the retail shop owners come looking to buy bulk products that can be sold to their own clients for a small profit. It is a crowded place that has more than 2000 shops occupying the space. It is divided into distinct sections, akin to a treasure trove with lacquered goods, electronic equipments, plastic toys, kitchen basics, cosmetics, ethnic clothing, head gear, flipflops and sandals as well as leather goods being available in plenty. People looking for wholesale goods at throwaway prices can definitely find it advantageous to shop here.

The other sections resembles a wet market offering fresh vegetables along with fish, meat and poultry along with dried fish and a variety of pastes needed for Vietnamese and Chinese cuisines. The vendors seem to be in no hurry and there is no hustle and bustle within the main section of this centrally located market.

People intent on doing their daily shopping are found satiating their appetites here as well. Known as one of the top breakfast spots across the country, the market is highly popular for serving Pho soup, a broken rice dish known as com tam as well as goi cuon rolls. Tiny banh bao buns with a number of fillings make a brisk sell as well. The tiny food court within the market also attracts thousands of tourists who are eager to taste authentic Vietnamese dishes.

This is the go to place for breakfast especially when one is not looking for fancy seating arrangements. Piping hot food prepared and served instantly makes the market a foodie's paradise. People are seen sharing bowls of fried rice and beef (mi goi xao bo) while sitting on plastic stools. The Hu tieu ca or fish noodle soup cooked with Chinese spices is a must have here. However, one can sample just about every kind of noodle soup including the hot chili paste laced dish at the market food court too. Teochew porridge is kept simmering in the pot right from the opening hour. The working class people flock to satiate their hunger effectively by grabbing a bowl from the stalls just outside the wet section of the market. Vendors are found wandering through the market and selling Jiaozi or the boiled dumplings to the shoppers along with a variety of sticky, rice encrusted sweetmeats.

Binh Tay Market is located at 57A Thap Moui in the heart of the Chinatown, Binh Tay Market is easily accessible from District 1 of Ho Chi Minh city with the eager shoppers taking Bus No. 1 from Tran Hung Dao Street to The Cho Lon bus station. The market is a short walk away from the station. Tourists, unfamiliar with the route, usually make use of a metered taxi to reach the market. A trip from the Ben Thanh Market to this one is likely to cost about VND 110,000. Solitary individuals find it most convenient to hop on a Xe-Om (motorcycle taxi) to reach the destination in 15 minutes from downtown Saigon.

• It is best to visit Binh Tay Market early in the morning
• It is not necessary to shop. Many tourists simply visit the market for its delicious food.
• Picking up a smattering of Vietnamese or Chinese would help in bargaining

A visit to Binh Tay Market can prove to be most enlightening, if one has the tenacity to survive the chaos and crowds. However, for the ones intent on sampling the best of Vietnamese cuisine, this is the place to go. Buying souvenirs at a heavily discounted price is possible here as well. Many tourists choose to visit the market before going to see the churches and temples of Chinatown in Ho Chi Minh City.