Bến Thành Market

Ben Thanh Market (from Vietnamese "Ben" meaning "wharf", and "Quy Thanh" meaning "turtle citadel") is a big marketplace in the downtown area of Ho Chi Minh City, in District 1. The market is one of the earliest surviving structures in Saigon and today is considered one of symbols of Ho Chi Minh City, popular with tourists seeking local handicrafts, textiles, áo dài, and souvenirs, as well as local cuisine.

History

The market developed from informal markets created by early 17th century street vendors gathering together near the Saigon River. The market was formally established by the French colonial powers after taking over the Gia Dinh citadel in 1859 (see Citadel of Saigon). This market was destroyed by fire in 1870 and rebuilt to become Saigon's largest market. In 1912 the market was moved to a new building and called the New Ben Thanh Market to distinguish over its predecessor. The building was renovated in 1985. [ [http://www.saigontoday.net/HTML/Streets_of_Saigon/ben_thanh_market.htm Article from "Saigon Today"] ]

Ben Thanh Market will be the District 1 Terminus of the future Ho Chi Minh City Metro Line 1.cite news | title=Ho Chi Minh City breaks ground | url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news_view/article/2008/02/8207/ho_chi_minh_city_breaks_ground.html | work =Railway Gazette International | date = 2008-02-28]

Images of Ben Thanh Market

* [http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=7e78e6f88aca9073a5eda987f048984a image Ben Thanh Mmarket 3D]
* [http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/download?mid=7e78e6f88aca9073a5eda987f048984a&rtyp=k2&fn=cho+ben+thanh&ctyp=other view in Google Earth]
* [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8572635873791785969 video 3D Ben Thanh Market]

References

External links

* [http://art-hanoi.com/collection/wiki/index.php?title=Ben_Thanh_Market Ben Thanh Market on Vietnamese money]