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Bin Tai Market, Cholon, Vietnam

The district of Cholon in Ho Chi Minh is Saigon’s China town, evident by the fact that the shops, market stalls and restaurants are red, a colour that signifies good luck in the Chinese tradition. Cholon is well known for the Bin Tai market - the city’s most colourful, vibrant and lively daily market.

Here you can experience a more hectic and varied shopping experience than you’d find back home. Through the crowds, shrimp and fish can be smelt and bought in abundance, as can local fruit, vegetables, rice, noodles and any other food that you can name in Vietnamese cooking. Different materials like silk are also on offer and cheap hair accessories if you’re desperate and running low.

For a western traveller the market has unbeatable value. There are many vendors serving freshly prepared food at any time of day. Anywhere in Cholon a rhythmic clicking sound is a live advertisement for breakfast. Summon one of the boys making the noise and he’ll bring you the Vietnamese breakfast - “Pho”. This is a delicious noodle soup with greens and either beef, chicken or pork. It’s certainly different from corn flakes, healthier than a greasy spoon and only costs around $0.15. Reason alone to visit the Bin Tai market.