Ben Thanh Market

Chơ Bên Thanh is one of downtown Saigon's most famous landmarks and earliest surviving structures. It developed from informal markets created by early 17th century street vendors and was formally established by the French colonial powers in 1859. This original market was destroyed by fire in 1870 and in 1912, the market was moved to its current location.

Ouch...my head hurts from the awesomeness of that paragraph - I haven't done that much research in a long time.

It is 118,400 SF of anything and everything you could possibly ever need to purchase.

From clothing to food to toiletries to luggage to souvenirs - it is a shopping labyrinth. And if you like to haggle, this is the place to do it. You can get a great deal on everything from hair bows to purses to men's underwear to fabric to candy. It is an overwhelming experience and truly attacks all of your six senses, all at once. It has taken me several visits to get comfortable just walking around the stalls, although, you truly only head there looking for specific items. There is no strolling because the vendors are quite aggressive. That said, it is an amazing place and a necessary stop if you are visiting our city.