The Chaos of Ben Thanh Market

This is one of the most famous markets in Ho Chi Minh city and for good reason.  The majority of the market was in a huge covered building, which I wasn’t expecting.  We ended up stopping by after an early supper, so many of the stalls were either about to close or were already closed.  Unbeknownst to us at the time, the market actually closes around 6:00pm every day.

September 29, 2012 - Ben Thanh Market (2)

September 29, 2012 - Ben Thanh Market (3)

I’ve been to many markets all over Asia but this was definitely one of the crazier ones.  There was merchandise piled up so high that you would need a ladder to reach, and there was hardly any space to walk around. Food stalls were mixed in with clothing stalls which were mixed in with other merchandise stalls.  None of the pictures I took could do any justice to how hectic and chaotic this place actually was.

September 29, 2012 - Ben Thanh Market (6)

September 29, 2012 - Ben Thanh Market (4)

September 29, 2012 - Ben Thanh Market (7)

September 29, 2012 - Ben Thanh Market (10)

We found out later in the week that although Ben Thanh Market closes around 6:00pm, the streets around the indoor market start opening around 6:00pm, so the area doesn’t just become completely dead after the indoor portion closes, like we first thought.

September 28, 2012 - Ben Thanh Market (1)

September 28, 2012 - Ben Thanh Market (3)

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