Khám phá chợ Bình Tây, đắm chìm trong vô vàn hàng hóa

Chợ Bình Tây is a large market nearly a century old, located in District 6, Ho Chi Minh City. Currently, the market has about 2300 stalls, trading in over 30 different items, mainly spices, cakes, preserves, clothing, shoes, household items... organized into 5 distinct areas.

Chợ Bình Tây, a destination in Saigon (Photo: ST).

Bình Tây Wholesale Market in Saigon

Financed by a wealthy Chinese merchant named Quach Dam living in Vietnam. The market was constructed over 2 years and completed in 1930.

An overview of the market area from above (Photo: ST).

Previously, Saigon had the Big Market which was the main trading hub for merchants, but with more people coming, the market became increasingly crowded and inadequate. The government planned to build a new market to provide space for business, but they couldn't find a suitable piece of land until Quach Dam helped. He voluntarily invested money from buying the land to completing the market and only asked the government to build a few rows of houses around the market and a statue of himself after his death.

What does Binh Tay Market sell?

This is a trading hub with a variety of goods... (Photo: ST)

Image of Binh Tay Market selling clothes

Food...

Dried goods...

Plastic items at Binh Tay Market in Saigon

Even snacks like grilled bananas (Photo: ST).

Regarding the architecture of Binh Tay Market

Built with modern French techniques but featuring Chinese-style architecture with layered tiled roofs. The gently curving roof corners - an architectural feature commonly seen in East Asian temples. The main tower of the market is tall with a 4-sided clock so people from all directions can check the time. The market has 12 side gates and 1 main gate facing Cho Lon bus station, extremely convenient for transporting goods.

The 4-sided clock installed at the main tower of the market (Photo: ST).

The most unique feature of this market is the spacious courtyard in the center surrounded by rows of houses. This is also where the statue of Mr. Quach Dam - the builder of the market - is placed. There is a lotus pond for fish and a few stone benches for shoppers to rest.

Every year, Binh Tay Market welcomes around 120,000 visitors for shopping and sightseeing, including those recommended by travel companies. With its advantage in transportation, Binh Tay Market quickly became a bustling trading hub throughout the southern region.