What to explore Binh Tay Market?

Big Market, also known as Binh Tay Market, is the famous market in Saigon which extends from District 5 to District 6. This is a place with the cultural and historical characteristics that any visitor coming to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam tours also has to visit. Let's explore the unique features of this famous market!

The formation of Binh Tay Market

In the 1776s, the land of Saigon that is now Big Market area was the residence of the Chinese in Cu Lao Pho (today's Bien Hoa) after leaving by the war between Nguyen Anh and Tay Son army. Compared with Cu Lao Pho, Saigon has many advantages by convenient transportation.

According to the custom, the Chinese often set up markets when they arrive in the new settlements in order to have a place to exchange goods. In comparison with the Tan Kieng market of the Vietnamese, Saigon market (Big Market Post Office area today) is larger, so people here called Big Market. Big Market developed well which attracted many people from other places to do business. However, the market became narrow that cannot grow anymore.

 

Welcome to Binh Tay Market

Later, Cho Lon was rebuilt by the businessman Quach Dam at his own expense. Immediately after the liberation day, the revolutionary government took over the management and arranged for the people to continue buying and selling goods for the whole country and Laos, Cambodia, China. Big Market was renamed Binh Tay market until today.

In 1992, to further promote the strength of the market, the People's Committee of District 6 continued to repair and upgrade the cage market. As a result, Binh Tay market became one of the biggest markets of the city with 2,358 stalls. Chinese people still focus on the Binh Tay market to do business and purchase, most of whom live in Districts 5, District 6, and District 11. Small Chinese traders account for 25% of the household business in Binh Tay Market.

What is interesting in Binh Tay Market?

Over 80 years of the establishment and development, Binh Tay Market today still retains the position of a wholesale market of the city as well as District 6 despite the severe competition of supermarket systems, modern trade centers in recent years. However, with the ancient architecture of China and the long history of the formation, Binh Tay market becomes a potential shopping attraction for domestic and foreign visitors.

The unique characteristic of Binh Tay Market is an airy outdoor space in the middle of the market. There is a large rock cited the deserts of Quach Dam who built the market. Around the rock, there are four lions and four dragons, all of which were made from bronze. On both sides, there is a lake full of lotus and fish. In this space, some benches are set for shoppers to stop and rest. Going deep into the market, the path is cool and spacious. Binh Tay market has 12 small ports in four directions and the main gate overlooking Thap Muoi road.

Binh Tay Market is one of the top wholesale markets of Ho Chi Minh City and the whole country. Goods from this market are distributed to the other provinces and exported to a number of countries in the region such as Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia. Some goods that foreign visitors enjoy are plastic, ready-made garments, spices, etc.

The architecture of the roof of Binh Tay market

What to buy in Binh Tay Market?

There are more than 2,300 stalls in Binh Tay Market with over 30 groups of products. The key industries include spices (abalone, finfish, mushrooms, etc for cooking), jams, cakes, ready-made garments, shoes, leather handbags, household goods, precious jewelry, etc. They are divided into 5 main areas.

The ground floor of Binh Tay Market includes Thap Muoi's market square. The major industries are porcelains, incenses, spices, nylon raincoats, shoes, bags, pictures, hats, cutleries, plastic bags, nylon bags, canned goods, fruit jams, mobile phones. The floor area of Binh Tay Market provides the main items such as ready-made garments, department stores, confectionery. The Tran Binh area of Binh Tay Market is the new-built area with groups of commodities such as synthetic spices, high-quality spices, high-quality seafood, tea and coffee, fresh fruits and flowers.

Go shopping in Binh Tay market

Every year, there are over 120,000 foreign tourists visiting and shopping at the Binh Tay market by travel companies of the country, of which the most is the Saigon Tourist Company. Coming to Binh Tay Market, visitors both admire the ancient architecture, learn about the history of the market and go shopping at the reasonable prices.

If you have a chance to come to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, do not forget to visit Binh Tay Market and buy the products as a gift for your friends and relatives. To know more information about places to visit in Ho Chi Minh, via our website. Have a nice trip!