Geography
Binh Tay Market or Cho Lon is on Thap Muoi Street, connecting Confucius Street to the North, and Hau Giang Street to the South, on the edge of District 6.
After more than 80 years of the development, Binh Tay Market is considered the biggest wholesale market in Saigon’s Chinatown, dealing a wide variety of products and goods from the Mekong Delta and other neighboring provinces.
After more than 80 years of the development, Binh Tay Market is considered the biggest wholesale market in Saigon’s Chinatown, dealing a wide variety of products and goods from the Mekong Delta and other neighboring provinces.
Architecture
Binh Tay is situated in a principally Chinese-style building with inner courtyard. A huge clock tower indicates the main entrance. The market is huge and has two floors. On the ground floor, there are booths selling fruits, foods and sweets, etc. On the first floor, clothes, cosmetics and other items can be found.
The centre of the market, there are a little courtyard and a shrine, dedicated to the Chinese businessman – Quach Dam, who built and invested in the construction of this market. Visitors can take a break from the shopping and relax in the peaceful garden. Especially, in the middle of the courtyard, there was a life-sized bronze statue of Quach Dam that was encircled by four bronze lions, and four bronze dragons. The statue then was replaced with a smaller glass altar and was removed to Ho Chi Minh’s Fine Art Museum, though the four bronze lions and dragons are still there.
The centre of the market, there are a little courtyard and a shrine, dedicated to the Chinese businessman – Quach Dam, who built and invested in the construction of this market. Visitors can take a break from the shopping and relax in the peaceful garden. Especially, in the middle of the courtyard, there was a life-sized bronze statue of Quach Dam that was encircled by four bronze lions, and four bronze dragons. The statue then was replaced with a smaller glass altar and was removed to Ho Chi Minh’s Fine Art Museum, though the four bronze lions and dragons are still there.
Interesting experiences
Binh Tay is one of the nicest places to take a walk in Ho Chi Minh city. The market is sectional, so visitors can find household items or make-up and beauty products, food, etc in its corner. Binh Tay market also is an ideal place for people who are looking for something in abundance or taking colorful photos. Every possible kinds of fruit, vegetable, nut, fish, meat, cigarette, beer, or cloth shops with every type of silk in every colour and numerous types of cotton, wool or even tweed, all reveals Saigon’s most vibrant, colourful and fun.
With the prices at wholesales and friendly bargaining can save you 20% to 40%. There are many more authentic market experiences on the streets surrounding the place. Moving on to the back of the market, you can’t miss some little food stores with cheap and delicious midday meals.
Food
Chinese cuisine is loved all over the world, for a good reason. It’s rumoured that “Happiness is eating Chinese food, marrying a Japanese woman and living in a Western house.” Travelling to Binh Tan Market, you will have chance to enjoy not only the usual Vietnamese street food dishes, but also try some Chinese food like Steamed Dumplings (Ha Cao in Vietnamese), Pork Bun (Banh Bao) or some Vietnamese food inspired by the Chinese like Peking Duck and so on.