Cholon & Binh Tay Market 2026: Saigon Chinatown Guide

Cholon (Chợ Lớn, “big market”) is Ho Chi Minh City’s historic Chinatown, about 5–6 km west of the centre, and Binh Tay Market (Chợ Bình Tây), built in 1928–1930, is its busiest wholesale market. Together with 18th- and 19th-century Chinese temples such as Thien Hau, Cholon offers the city’s most atmospheric half day. Entry to the market and temples is free.

Status (checked October 2026): Binh Tay Market and the main Cholon temples are open daily as normal and free to enter. Wholesale trading starts before dawn; most stalls are open to visitors from about 6:00 to 18:00. After the July 2025 reorganisation, Binh Tay Market is in Bình Tây Ward and Thien Hau Temple in Chợ Lớn Ward (the former Districts 6 and 5). Around Lunar New Year and the Lantern Festival the temples are very crowded and many market stalls close for several days.

Why Cholon and Binh Tay Market are worth seeing:

The largest Chinatown by area: a centuries-old Hoa (ethnic Chinese) quarter with assembly halls, herbal shops and noodle kitchens.
Binh Tay Market: a 1930 Chinese-style market hall with a central courtyard and nearly 1,500 stalls of wholesale goods.
Beautiful temples: Thien Hau Temple, the Quan Am (Ôn Lăng) Pagoda and the Nghĩa An Assembly Hall, with giant incense coils and ceramic roof figures.
Real local life: far fewer tourists than Ben Thanh Market and genuine wholesale trade.
Food: hủ tiếu, dim sum, roast duck and Chinese-Vietnamese desserts.

Cholon and Binh Tay Market at a Glance

Vietnamese name	Chợ Lớn; Chợ Bình Tây (also called Chợ Lớn Mới)
Location	Binh Tay Market: 57A Tháp Mười Street, Bình Tây Ward; Thien Hau Temple: 710 Nguyễn Trãi Street, Chợ Lớn Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
Distance	About 5–6 km west of Ben Thanh Market; 20–30 minutes by car
Known for	Chinese heritage, wholesale market, temples and assembly halls, Hoa food
Recognition	Binh Tay Market listed among the city’s architectural heritage sites (2015)
Opening hours	Market: from before dawn, most stalls about 6:00–18:00; temples: daily, roughly early morning to late afternoon
Entrance fee	Free (market and temples)
Time needed	Half a day (3–4 hours)
Best time	Morning (7:00–10:00), when trading is busiest and the weather cooler
Nearby	Thien Hau Temple, Quan Am Pagoda, Cha Tam Church, Hải Thượng Lãn Ông herbal street
Find it	Google Maps · Tripadvisor · Wikipedia (Cholon) · Wikipedia (Binh Tay Market)

Is Cholon Worth Visiting?

Yes, especially on a second or third day in the city. Cholon shows a side of Ho Chi Minh City that most visitors miss: incense-filled temples built by Chinese merchant guilds, lanes of herbal medicine and lantern shops, and a market where goods leave in sacks rather than shopping bags. It is less polished than the centre, which is exactly its charm.

Best for: culture and architecture lovers, photographers, food travellers, repeat visitors to Vietnam.
Skip if: you only have one day in the city; prioritise the historic centre first.
Short on time: take a Grab to Thien Hau Temple, walk to Binh Tay Market and eat lunch nearby; about 2 hours.

History of Cholon

A Chinese trading town

Chinese migrants settled along the canals west of Saigon from the late 17th century, joined by refugees from Cù lao Phố near Biên Hòa after Tây Sơn attacks in the 1770s–1780s. Their community, organised in congregations by dialect (Cantonese, Teochew, Fujianese, Hakka and Hainanese), grew into a busy rice-trading town. Its name, Chợ Lớn, means “big market”, after the larger of two markets in the area.

From the French city of Cholon to today

The French established the City of Cholon by decree on 6 June 1865. On 27 April 1931 it merged with Saigon into the Saigon–Cholon region, and in 1956 the name Cholon was dropped from the official city name, although locals still use it. Cholon is often described as one of the largest Chinatowns in the world by area. Since June 2025 a new, much smaller Chợ Lớn Ward covers part of the old quarter, while the wider area spans several wards of the former Districts 5 and 6.

Binh Tay Market

Binh Tay Market was built between 1928 and 1930 with funding linked to the Teochew merchant Quách Đàm (Guo Tan), who had made his fortune in the rice and hide trade, and it replaced an older market. Its Chinese-influenced design, with a clock tower, tiled roofs and a central courtyard garden, made it Cholon’s landmark. It was renovated in 1992 and again in 2016–2018, at a cost of about 104 billion VND, and has been recognised as one of the city’s architectural heritage sites since 2015.

What to See in Cholon and Binh Tay Market

1. Binh Tay Market

The two-storey market hall covers about 2.5 ha with nearly 1,500 stalls, selling ceramics, incense, hats, dried goods, spices, sweets, textiles and household items, mostly wholesale. The central courtyard has a small shrine and garden, and the area around the market handles fresh produce and dried seafood.

2. Thien Hau Temple

At 710 Nguyễn Trãi Street, the Cantonese congregation’s temple to Thiên Hậu, the goddess of the sea and protector of sailors, is the most famous in Cholon. It dates from the 18th century (traditionally 1760) and is known for huge hanging incense coils, ornate ceramic figurines on the roof and carved wooden altars.

3. Quan Am Pagoda (Ôn Lăng Assembly Hall)

At 12 Lão Tử Street, this Fujianese assembly hall is dedicated to Quan Âm (Guanyin), the goddess of mercy. Its roof is crowded with colourful ceramic scenes from Chinese legends, and incense smoke fills the inner courtyard.

Ornate roof and decorations of Quan Am Pagoda in Cholon, Ho Chi Minh City — Cholon’s Chinese temples, such as Quan Am Pagoda, are rich in ceramic and wood decoration. Photo: Franzfoto, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

4. Nghĩa An Assembly Hall

At 676 Nguyễn Trãi Street, near Thien Hau Temple, the Teochew community’s hall honours Quan Công (Guan Yu), the general admired for loyalty, with a life-size horse statue at the entrance and fine gilded woodcarving.

5. Cha Tam Church

The Church of Saint Francis Xavier, known as Cha Tam Church, blends Chinese and European styles. President Ngô Đình Diệm and his brother Nhu took refuge here on 2 November 1963, shortly before they were killed during the coup.

6. Herbal medicine street and lantern shops

Hải Thượng Lãn Ông Street is lined with traditional Chinese medicine shops selling dried roots, herbs and mushrooms, and before the Mid-Autumn Festival the lanes nearby glow with paper lanterns.

7. Cholon food

Try hủ tiếu (Chinese-style noodle soup), dim sum, roast duck and pork, and sweet soups (chè). Many family eateries around the market and Nguyễn Trãi Street have operated for decades.

Cholon Opening Hours and Prices

Place	Hours	Fee
Binh Tay Market	Wholesale from before dawn; most stalls about 6:00–18:00	Free
Thien Hau Temple	Daily, roughly early morning to late afternoon	Free (donations welcome)
Quan Am Pagoda	Daily, roughly early morning to late afternoon	Free
Nghĩa An Assembly Hall	Daily, roughly early morning to late afternoon	Free
Street food	Morning to late evening	Dishes typically about 30,000–80,000 VND

Temples are active places of worship and set their own hours, which can change on festival days.

How to Explore Cholon Step by Step

Take a Grab or taxi to Thien Hau Temple on Nguyễn Trãi Street early in the morning.
Walk to the Nghĩa An Assembly Hall a few doors away, then to the Quan Am Pagoda on Lão Tử Street.
Continue west to Binh Tay Market; explore the ground floor, courtyard and upper floor.
Have lunch at a noodle or dim sum shop near the market.
Finish at Cha Tam Church or the herbal medicine street before returning to the centre.

Etiquette in temples and the market

Dress modestly in temples and do not point your feet at altars.
Ask before photographing worshippers or traders.
Many traders sell only in bulk; buy small items at retail stalls on the edges.
Watch out for motorbikes and handcarts in the lanes around the market.

How to Get to Cholon and Binh Tay Market

From	How	Time
Ben Thanh Market	Grab or taxi via Trần Hưng Đạo or Nguyễn Trãi Street	20–30 minutes
Ben Thanh bus station	City buses towards Chợ Lớn bus station	30–45 minutes
Bui Vien / Pham Ngu Lao	Grab or taxi	20–25 minutes
Cyclo or motorbike tour	Guided tour from the centre	Half day
Tan Son Nhat Airport	Grab or taxi	30–45 minutes

See our Saigon transportation guide for buses and Grab tips.

Best Time to Visit Cholon

When	What to expect
7:00–10:00	Busiest trading, coolest temperatures, morning light in the temples.
Midday	Hot; good time for lunch and indoor market browsing.
Lunar New Year (January–February)	Temples packed and festive; many market stalls closed for several days.
Lantern Festival and Thiên Hậu’s birthday (lunar 1st and 3rd months)	Colourful ceremonies and big crowds at the temples.
Mid-Autumn Festival (lunar 8th month)	Lantern streets light up in the evening.

Local Expert Tips for Cholon

These tips come from years of arranging Saigon tours for international travellers.

Go in the morning: by mid-afternoon the market winds down.
Hire a guide or join a food tour; signs are often in Chinese or Vietnamese only.
Bring small notes for incense donations and snacks.
Compare Binh Tay with Ben Thanh Market; Binh Tay is better for local life, Ben Thanh for souvenirs.
Our Saigon food guide lists Chinese-Vietnamese dishes to try.

Binh Tay Market vs Ben Thanh Market

	Binh Tay Market	Ben Thanh Market
Location	Cholon, 5–6 km west of the centre	City centre, next to the metro
Built	1928–1930	1912–1914
Atmosphere	Wholesale, local, few tourists	Retail, touristy, food court
Prices	Wholesale, often in bulk	Higher; bargaining expected
Combine with	Chinese temples, herbal street	Independence Palace, Notre Dame

Our view: Binh Tay and Cholon are the more authentic experience; Ben Thanh is more convenient. If you have a free morning, Cholon is the better use of it.

Nearby Attractions

Ben Thanh Market: the central market, 20–30 minutes away by car.
Independence Palace: history in the city centre.
War Remnants Museum: the city’s leading museum.
Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office: colonial landmarks.
Landmark 81 SkyView: sunset views after a day in Chinatown.
Cu Chi Tunnels: the classic day trip north-west of the city.

Sightseeing in Ho Chi Minh City for First-Time Visitors: Where Cholon Fits

Most first-time visitors spend day one in the historic centre, day two at the Cu Chi Tunnels and day three on a Mekong Delta day trip. Cholon fits perfectly into a fourth morning, or the morning after you return from the delta; it also pairs well with an afternoon at Ben Thanh Market. Use our Saigon travel tips and where to stay in Saigon guides to plan your days.

Plan your trip with our Ho Chi Minh City travel guide and Saigon tours. Contact Vietnam Tour Expert Team for a free custom itinerary.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cholon and Binh Tay Market

1. What does Cholon mean?

Cholon (Chợ Lớn) means “big market” in Vietnamese, named after the larger of two markets in the old Chinese quarter of Saigon.

2. Where is Binh Tay Market?

Binh Tay Market is at 57A Tháp Mười Street, Bình Tây Ward (the former District 6), in Cholon, about 5–6 km west of central Ho Chi Minh City.

3. What are Binh Tay Market opening hours?

Binh Tay Market’s wholesale trade starts before dawn, and most stalls are open to visitors from about 6:00 to 18:00 daily.

4. Is there an entrance fee for Binh Tay Market or the Cholon temples?

No. Binh Tay Market and the main Cholon temples are free to enter; donations at temples are welcome.

5. When was Binh Tay Market built?

Binh Tay Market was built between 1928 and 1930 and was renovated in 1992 and 2016–2018.

6. Is Cholon the Chinatown of Saigon?

Yes. Cholon is Ho Chi Minh City’s Chinatown, home to the Hoa community for centuries and one of the largest Chinatowns in the world by area.

7. What is the most famous temple in Cholon?

Thien Hau Temple at 710 Nguyễn Trãi Street is the most famous temple in Cholon, dedicated to the goddess of the sea.

8. Can you buy souvenirs at Binh Tay Market?

Yes, but Binh Tay Market is mainly wholesale; ceramics, hats, sweets and dried goods are available, often in bulk. For small souvenirs Ben Thanh Market is easier.

9. How long should I spend in Cholon?

Allow about half a day in Cholon to see Binh Tay Market and two or three temples and to have lunch.

10. How do I get to Cholon from District 1?

Take a Grab or taxi from the city centre to Cholon; it takes 20–30 minutes. City buses also run to Chợ Lớn bus station near Binh Tay Market.

11. What should I eat in Cholon?

In Cholon, try hủ tiếu noodle soup, dim sum, roast duck and pork, and Chinese-Vietnamese sweet soups.

12. Is Cholon safe for tourists?

Cholon is generally safe; watch your belongings in crowded market lanes and take care with motorbike traffic.

13. What is the best time to visit Binh Tay Market?

Visit Binh Tay Market in the morning, between about 7:00 and 10:00, when trading is busiest and it is cooler.

14. Is Binh Tay Market open during Tết?

Many Binh Tay Market stalls close for several days over Lunar New Year, while Cholon’s temples are at their busiest.

15. Which ward is Cholon in now?

Since 2025 the old Cholon quarter spans several wards; Thien Hau Temple is in Chợ Lớn Ward and Binh Tay Market in Bình Tây Ward, Ho Chi Minh City.

16. Is Binh Tay Market better than Ben Thanh Market?

Binh Tay Market is more local and wholesale, while Ben Thanh Market is central and touristy; choose Binh Tay for atmosphere and Ben Thanh for convenience.