Visiting Ben Thanh Market Ho Chi Minh
Ben Thanh Market (Chợ Bến Thành) is a covered market hall in the centre of Ho Chi Minh City, in the old District 1 area. The market's rules set an opening frame of 07:00 to 22:00, with the fresh food and eating area open from 04:00. Individual stalls keep their own hours, so not every stand is open for the whole frame. On public holidays and at Tết the market announces separate hours.
Entry is free. Visitors and buyers pay no entrance fee, and you pay only for what you buy. Many stalls close earlier than the 22:00 frame, so plan your visit for the daytime and check the posted times at the gate.
Shopping in Ho Chi Minh: how the market works
What to expect inside the hall.
Stalls and goods
The main hall holds stalls on both sides of the aisles, with food, clothing, souvenirs and household goods. Walk one full loop first, then decide where to buy.
Prices and bargaining
There is no fixed discount and no set price to aim for. Ask the price, compare with the next stall and agree on the amount before the goods are bagged. Stay polite and walk on if the price does not suit you.
Eating at the market
The eating area is part of the hall. If you want a guided tasting instead, see our page on a Ho Chi Minh City food tour.
Your belongings
Petty theft and bag snatching happen regularly in busy tourist areas. Carry your phone and wallet in a front pocket or a zipped bag, and keep bags on the side away from the street.
Our pick: half day with Ben Thanh Market
The car option takes in Ben Thanh Market along with the other central sights.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Tours that include Ben Thanh Market
City tours, food tours and walking routes through the centre, with live prices and availability.
Saigon Square and other places to shop
Saigon Square is a separate shopping place. It is not the same as Ben Thanh Market, and it is not a street market. Check its hours locally, because they are not the same as the market's.
The market is also not the Binh Tay Market. Binh Tay is a wholesale market in Cholon, the Chinese quarter, and it was renovated from 2016 to 2018. Most stalls there open from about 06:00 until 18:00 or 19:00, and entry is free. Read more on our Cholon page.
Evening visits
What to plan for after dark.
After 19:00
Do not build your evening around a night market: its days and hours are not fixed. Plan your visit for the daytime and ask at your hotel about the evening.
Holidays and Tết
On public holidays and around Tết the market announces its own hours, and individual stalls may close. Check the posted notice at the gate.
Getting there
The market sits in District 1, within walking distance of the main sights. Our District 1 page shows a route that links them.
Plan the rest of your trip
Where the market fits.
Ben Thanh Market: frequently asked questions
What are the opening hours of Ben Thanh Market?
The market's frame is 07:00 to 22:00, with the fresh food area open from 04:00. Many stalls close earlier, so go in the daytime.
Do I pay to enter Ben Thanh Market?
No. Visitors and buyers pay no entrance fee. You pay only for the goods and services you buy.
Can I haggle at Ben Thanh Market?
Prices are open to discussion, but there is no standard discount. Compare two or three stalls, agree on the price before you take the goods and stay polite.
Is the market the same as Saigon Square?
No. Saigon Square is a separate shopping place. It has its own hours, which you should check locally.
Where is the Binh Tay Market?
In Cholon, the Chinese quarter. It is a wholesale market with most stalls open from about 06:00 until 18:00 or 19:00 and free entry.