Ho Chi Minh City
Used to be Saigon, now it's shopping!
We were twice in Ho Chi Minh City - once when we flew in from the north
and again just before we flew in. With a week between our two
visits, we could have items tailored and allow a week before returning
to have another fitting. We would have liked to have done the
same in Hoi An but the weather this time of year is generally bad (and
was when we were there.
Binh
Tay Market
Binh Tay was our first city market. Unlike most
other markets I've
been to, this market is dominated by non food items like cloth, hats,
shoes and kitchen stuff. The food was found in the back and
spilling out the sides. While we did see the odd tourist there,
this markets is by the locals for the locals.
One of the sales modes I really like is bike or mobile
carts. In India,
mobile stands
were common, but not so common here - perhaps a different area or
market would have them.
I found the indoor part of the goods market quite difficult to
move in - the aisles are just so thin. Outside I could get enough
space to take photos.
Ben
Thanh Market
Ben Thanh is much more tourist oriented. Just on
the edge of the tourist center of town, you will see tourists all
over this market. There is more space in much of the market, and
more goods sold are tourist oriented.
One find for us was a vendor selling Durian. Durian
in Canada is almost always sold frozen or previously frozen which
doesn't help the flavor or texture. Durian isn't really in
season right now, but somehow this vendor had it. Helen purchased
a good sized piece and we tried it! It wasn't nearly as bad as I
thought it would be and Helen was obviously enjoying herself. My
favorite part was the vendors around who came by trying to sell us
drinks - I guess they were "concerned" how we would take the taste.
In the back was quite a nice wet market with lots of seafood. I
was quite impressed with the soft shelled crabs and the way some food
is presented.
Tags: Vietnam(11), market(6), street food(3), durian(2), seafood(2), game(1)
People: Helen(1)
From: John Harvey Photo > Trips out of the Country > Vietnam > Ho Chi Minh City
Last Modified Saturday, January 21st, 2023 at 23:45:55 Edit
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