The clock tower
Over the central courtyard.
Bgabel — CC BY-SA 3.0 · senngokujidai4434 — CC BY 2.0 · Nick — CC BY 2.0 · Nick — CC BY 2.0
The largest market in Cholon, Saigon's historic Chinese district, about 5 km west of the centre. It was built in 1928 with money from Quach Dam, a merchant from Chaozhou in southern China who began by collecting scrap and rose to become one of the richest traders in the city. Its yellow halls wrap around a central courtyard beneath a clock tower, with Chinese-style tiled roofs. Binh Tay is above all a wholesale market supplying shops across southern Vietnam: sacks of dried fish and shrimp, spices and sweets, kitchenware, fabrics and plastic goods, sold by the dozen rather than the piece. Come in the morning, when trading is busiest, and combine it with a walk through the streets of Cholon. It feels far less touristy than Ben Thanh.
Over the central courtyard.
Fish, shrimp and spices by the sack.
Saigon's old Chinese district.
Thap Muoi Street, Cholon, about 5 km west of central Saigon
Ben Thanh is in the centre and caters to visitors with souvenirs and food; Binh Tay, in Cholon, is a local wholesale market, far less touristy and busiest in the morning.