BÌNH TÂY MARKET - THE LARGEST ANCIENT MARKET IN SAIGON

Is Binh Tay Market Cho Lon?

Binh Tay Wholesale Market is located in the Cho Lon area, so it is also unofficially called Cho Lon (China Town). This is one of the oldest markets in Saigon and has a history of nearly 100 years.
1. History and the location of Binh Tay market in District 6

This Market is located on an area of 25,000 m2 between 4 routes: Thap Muoi - Le Tan Ke - Phan Van Khoe - Tran Binh (District 6), with 12 gates, eight trigram-shaped architecture, built in 1928 by a Chinese businessman and completed in 1930. In 2015, the market was recognized as an architectural and artistic relic in Ho Chi Minh City. The market has been renovated many times and given new clothes.

Bình Tây market - The largest ancient market in Saigon​

According to documents of the Binh Tay Market Management Board: "Compared to Tan Kieng market of Vietnamese people, Saigon market (Cho Lon Post Office area today) is larger, so it is called Cho Lon. However, due to Living more and more prosperously, residents everywhere came to make a living and start a business, so the market gradually became narrow. The Cho Lon provincial government at that time planned to build a market in a new place but could not find land.
Upon hearing this news, businessman Quach Dam spent money to buy a 25,000 square meter piece of swampy land in Binh Tay village, leveled it, completed a new market with reinforced concrete, and donated it to the government. It can be said that this was the most massive and modern market in the South at that time. To remember Quach Dam's contributions, after his death, his statue was erected in 1930 on a high pedestal, with a unicorn and a dragon spraying water at the foot of the statue right in the central area of Binh Tay market.

Quach Dam's statue​

2. Architecture of Binh Tay market

Binh Tay Big Market has an eight-gua shape, designed with airy and spacious space. The market's architecture has a Chinese style but was built according to French techniques. Although the architectural style of the market is boldly Chinese, Binh Tay market was built according to French techniques. The tiled roof is designed in a cascading style, contributing to creating a cool space for the interior area. The walls are also decorated with eye-catching patterns with small details carved extremely delicately. In addition, the ceramic mosaic relief of "two dragons flanking pearls" on the front of the tower and the dragon embossed on the top of the tower also show a unique Asian style.

Architecture of Binh Tay market​

When we come here, we will see a tall tower standing out in the middle of the market and its 4 surrounding sides are fitted with a clock with a synchronized design. The market includes 12 side gates and 1 large gate opposite Cho Lon bus station, with an area of up to 25,000 m2, the number of stalls in the market has a total of 2,300 stalls, selling over 30 different items, and being divided into 5 distinct zones.
Ground floor area: Including the front of Thap Muoi Street Market. This place has stalls of Binh Tay market dishes, Binh Tay market conical hats and crockery, spices, incense, zinc nails, pictures, bags, shoes, jewelry, phones, ...
• Floor area: Includes key products such as confectionery, groceries, ready-made clothes,...;
• Tran Binh area: Including groups of general spices, high-end seafood, tea, coffee, fresh flowers, fruits,...;
• Le Tan Ke area: Mainly dry stalls at Binh Tay market (shrimp, dried fish), oils, betel nuts, Da Lat vegetables, pickles, spices, flour, sugar,...;
• Phan Van Khoe area: Includes food items such as beef, pork, shrimp, crab, frog, sea fish, field fish, roasted duck, tofu, eggs,...

Inside area of the market​

In the middle of the market, there is a large yard, which is also where the statue of Mr. Quach Dam - the man who built today's Lon Moi market (China Town area) is located. Around the campus, there is a lotus pond with fish and many stone benches for you to rest. You can take advantage of taking check-in photos at the unicorn statue or the dragon statue spraying water.
3. Experience shopping at the market

The abundant source of goods: As a large wholesale market in Saigon, this place has a huge amount of goods sold at stalls close together. When you come here, you can find all the items you want or buy gifts to give to relatives and friends.
Affordable prices: When you come to Binh Tay market, you can buy goods at quite reasonable prices, even the original price if you buy in large quantities. You can freely negotiate with the seller to buy goods at the best discount.

Items traded in Binh Tay market​

Convenient transportation of goods: With a large area, you can comfortably use vehicles to transport goods in the market without worrying about jostling. In addition, you can use the home delivery service if you do not want to carry bulky items. At the same time, the market is not far from Cho Lon bus station, so it is very convenient for transporting goods to the provinces.
4. Explore the unique dishes of Binh Tay market

Binh Tay Market also attracts tourists with diverse and attractive food stalls such as duck stewed with traditional medicine – Mì vịt tiềm thuốc bắc, porridge – các món cháo, duck bamboo shoot vermicelli – bún măng vịt, broken rice – cơm tấm, fish sauce vermicelli – bún mắm, sweet soup – chè ... at affordable prices. The food area is concentrated in the Phan Van Khoe Street area.

Unique dishes of Bình Tây market - China town​

- Pha Lau dish at Binh Tay market, District 6
Binh Tay Market is also famous for its long-standing Pha Lau stall that has existed for 30 years. Pha lau at this restaurant has a very different stew with a light, sweet taste and quite fragrant flavor without being overwhelmed by the scent of cashew oil like many other places.
The price of a portion of Pha Lau dish is only from 25,000 VND to 500,000 VND depending on the portion size. The only limitation is that because this is a sidewalk restaurant, there is no address. If you want to try this famous dish, go to the market gate and ask the people nearby.
- Bun rieu dish at Binh Tay market
The famous noodle shop in Binh Tay market has existed for more than 30 years, attracting tourists with its attractive pot of broth. The special feature of the restaurant is the strange "noodle soup" dish based on the restaurant's family recipe. However, the restaurant's vermicelli noodle dish is still more popular with diners.
The price of a bowl is only 30,000 VND
The restaurant is located opposite 58 - 62 Thap Muoi, District 6, Ho Chi Minh City.

Bún Riêu dish​

6. Take notes when visiting the market

Tourists should pocket the following experiences to have the most memorable and attractive trip.
First, this is a market that mainly sells wholesale, so if tourists buy retail, sometimes it will not be suitable. However, understanding the requirements of customers, some stalls provide products suitable for retail customers!
You should walk around afterwards to see what the general price of an item is so that we can buy the goods at the right price.
It can be seen that the Binh Tay market is a prominent attraction that you can visit when visiting Saigon. Don't forget to visit Vietcruisetours and book tours with extremely attractive incentives for your trip.
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