By day, the enclosed part of Ben Thanh market is open and is packed full of textiles, bags, shoes, clothes, foodstuffs, handicraft items and more. It is worth a look but I do not recommend buying anything unless you really MUST have that item as I feel the stuff sold here is expensive, by my standards. Unless you have superb bargaining skills, don't even touch anything or you'll be hounded by persistent stall-holders.
By night, there is the open-air night market, which I feel, has better bargains (like clothes, bags and shoes) and many interesting food stalls. My friends did not get any stomach upset from eating the food there but I suggest you get yourself fully vaccinated against food-related diseases (like typhoid) first before trying some of the food here, just to be on the safe side.
Day and night, along Le Loi street and surrounds, you can walk around to find lots and lots of shops selling souvenior items, clothes, bottled water & drinks, bags.
While walking we also chanced upon ITC shopping centre, near the surroundings of ben thanh market (don't know the exact street name). We got a FAR better price for the handicraft items that my friend wanted at ben thanh market during the day, I got 3 good-quality clothing items, all for under USD15 at this place.
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Address: At road intersection, at one end of Le Loi street.
Directions: We walked along Le Loi street away from the Opera house til we saw the distinctive Ben Thanh market building. Took us about 20 mins of brisk-walking to get there from the Opera house- passed by many small shops along the way.
Ho Chi Minh City
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on Apr 23, 2006
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