Ben Thanh Market

A market has traded near this spot since the early nineteenth century; the present hall with its clock tower was built by the French administration and opened in 1914, and the tower has been the symbol of the city ever since. Inside it is dense: fabric, lacquer, coffee, dried fruit, souvenirs and a food section of small counters selling noodle dishes and che. The honest description of the modern market is that it has become primarily a tourist bazaar - prices are set high and bargaining is expected, sometimes aggressively - while the night market that sets up in the surrounding streets after the hall closes is where much of the eating now happens.

What you actually see

• A hall of 1914 - with the clock tower that symbolises the city.
• Fabric, lacquer, coffee and souvenirs - the bulk of the trade now.
• A food counter section - noodles and che inside the hall.
• A night market outside - after the hall closes.

When to go

Year round; evenings for the street market. Two hours.

Honest expectations

Opening prices are several times what things are worth and haggling is required. Pressure from vendors can be persistent and unpleasant. Pickpocketing is a known problem. Locals largely shop elsewhere.

Nearby

The opera house and cathedral are north-east; the metro runs from here.