Entering the Ben Thanh Market; Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

The Bến Thành Market (Chợ Bến Thành) is a marketplace in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam. Built originally as the Les Halles Centrales in 1870 by the French, it was moved to the new location in 1912 and renamed to Ben Thanh. Its roots extend back to the early 17^th century as an informal collection of street vendors, and today is the oldest surviving market in Ho Chi Minh City. It remains a popular destination for textiles, handicrafts, and local foods.