Binh Tay Market

Loved the time I spent here at this market, can't find any fault with this venue holding 1200 vendors. Few tourists spotted and mostly a local vibe with heavy wholesale influence. Retail is available and the atmosphere is pleasant even though it's cramped quarters in a lot of areas. You can shop here for most everything you see at other markets at lower prices. Prepared foods as well as produce, dried mushrooms and candy are widely available. Nice central plaza with fountain and plenty of photo opps.

It's just like any public market. Reminds me of Divisoria within China Town in Binondo Manila Philippines. Lots of different kind of nuts and candies selling at the front of the entrance. They sell fabrics and interesting pcs of finished products made of fabrics.

Binh Tay Market is full of energy — busy markets, old temples, and great street food. It’s a bit chaotic but very authentic. A perfect place to explore local culture and take photos. Worth a visit!

Binh Tay Market, located in Ho Chi Minh City’s Chinatown (Chợ Lớn), is a bustling local market that caters mainly to everyday needs and wholesale trading. The market is well known for its wide range of affordable, non-branded goods, including lingerie, bags, footwear, clothing, household items, and dried food products. Many local retailers source their stock from here due to its competitive wholesale prices. Compared to Ben Thanh Market, which focuses more on branded items, souvenirs, and tourist-oriented shopping, Binh Tay Market offers a more authentic local experience. Branded products are rare here, and the emphasis is on practicality, bulk purchasing, and value for money rather than labels. Beyond shopping, Binh Tay Market is also a great place to explore local food. You’ll find stalls selling Vietnamese snacks, fresh produce, spices, and ready-to-eat dishes that reflect the daily lifestyle of the locals. Don’t forget to pick up a traditional Vietnamese coffee filter (phin), it’s widely available here at bargain prices and makes a perfect, functional souvenir. If you’re looking to experience local trading culture, hunt for good deals, or shop like a local rather than a tourist, Binh Tay Market is definitely worth a visit.

Bình Tây Market, also known as "Chợ Lớn" (Big Market), is very big like the name suggests, with a total of around 1200 kiosks. The surrounding area is historically known as Chợ Lớn City or Ville-de-Cholon during French colonization, which thrived on the arrival of Chinese merchants via Tàu Hủ and Hàng Bàng Canals, and the Sài Gòn River. It really highlights how major of this place is. The market has strong Indochinese architecture. Its builder, Quách Đàm, had Chinese heritage, like many of the residents here. The market was built the Western way but in the Chinese style. The Chợ Lớn area is basically Saigon's Chinatown. As a local, I highly prefer Bình Tây Market over the touristy Bến Thành Market. Bình Tây is way bigger, has spacious balconies, and is an actual market for people. This means reasonable prices for actual goods, like a normal market. It also has a garden in the middle - how unorthodox for a legit market - where people pay respects for Quách Đàm. If Bến Thành Market is already on your list, Bình Tây is a must-go - with better prices, more spaciousness, an equally great historical architectural value, and not as touristy as Bến Thành (there are still tourists there, but many more locals). You won't regret visiting it.

Located in Chinatown, Ho Chi Minh... There're lots of vendors in and outside the market, selling pots, spices, flowers, clothing, fish and etc... There's a shrine of the founder of this market as well

Binh Tay Market, located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City’s Cholon (Chinatown) district, is one of the city’s most authentic and atmospheric markets. Originally built in the 1920s by a wealthy Chinese merchant, the market is a striking example of French colonial architecture blended with Chinese design elements. Its yellow-painted façade, tiled roofs, and central clock tower give it a distinctive presence, while the interior bustles with life from dawn until dusk. For photographers, Binh Tay Market offers a rich tapestry of scenes. Inside, narrow aisles overflow with goods — spices, dried fruits, teas, textiles, and household items — creating a vibrant maze of colors and textures. Natural light filtering through the roof openings creates dramatic contrasts of shadow and glow, ideal for candid shots. Outside, street vendors line the surrounding area with fresh produce, steaming food stalls, and lively crowds, making it a perfect place for capturing street photography. Early morning is the best time to experience the energy at its peak, while avoiding the heaviest crowds later in the day. The market also has a historical and cultural dimension: it reflects the deep Chinese influence on the city’s identity, and its central courtyard, with a small temple dedicated to a Chinese deity, adds a spiritual layer to the otherwise bustling atmosphere. Overall, Binh Tay Market is not just a place to shop, but a sensory and visual journey through Ho Chi Minh City’s multicultural heritage. For travelers and photographers, it’s an unmissable opportunity to capture the vibrant pulse of everyday life in Cholon.

The most worth-visiting place in the city if you feel Ben Thanh market is too touristy. The market still retains its traditional architecture, sellers are quite friendly. Recommend to try Crab noodles at food court, only 50K VND for it