Have you ever wandered into Ben Thanh Market, overwhelmed by the countless delicious food options, unsure of what to choose? Don’t worry, this article is your perfect “handbook,” sharing detailed eating experiences at Ben Thanh Market, helping you fully explore this unique culinary paradise. From traditional Vietnamese dishes with rich flavors to hấp dẫn street snacks, everything will be revealed right here!
Ben Thanh Market: A Food Paradise in the Heart of Saigon
Ben Thanh Market is not only a historical symbol of Saigon, but also a must-visit destination for food lovers. This place converges the culinary essence of Saigon street food, with countless delicious, unique dishes, imbued with the characteristic flavors of the South. Let’s explore the “must-try” dishes and pocket the “standard” eating experiences at this market!
Top “Must-Try” Dishes When Visiting Ben Thanh Market
Saigon Broken Rice (Com Tam): An Unforgettable Flavor
nhắc to Saigon cuisine, broken rice is a must-mention. At Ben Thanh Market, you can easily find delicious broken rice stalls, with tender grilled ribs, crispy bì (shredded pork skin), fatty egg meatloaf (chả trứng), served with đặc trưng sweet and sour fish sauce.
Reference Price: 85,000 VND/dish.
Fish Noodle Soup (Bun Mam): Rich Mekong Delta Flavors
If you love the đậm đà flavor of fermented fish sauce (mam), then Bun Mam is an excellent choice. A bowl of Bun Mam đầy ắp with toppings like snakehead fish, tiger prawns, squid, roasted pork, served with fresh raw vegetables, will surely make you “full to bursting”.
A bowl of Bun Mam (fermented fish noodle soup) at Ben Thanh Market in Saigon, Vietnam, showcasing its rich broth and various toppings like seafood and pork.
Reference Price: 65,000 VND/bowl.
Crab Noodle Soup (Bun Rieu): A Familiar Dish for Saigonese
Bun Rieu is a familiar breakfast or lunch dish for Saigonese people. Bun Rieu at Ben Thanh Market is famous for its crab paste (rieu cua) made into large, firm patties, with fresh shrimp and many other ingredients.
A bowl of Bun Rieu (crab noodle soup) at Ben Thanh Market in Saigon, Vietnam, featuring a rich tomato broth and crab meat patties.
Reference Price: 45,000 VND/bowl.
Vinh Long Thick Noodle Soup (Bun Suong): Mekong Delta Specialty, Better Than the Original?
Bun Suong originates from Vinh Long, but many Saigonese people đánh giá it as even tastier than in its hometown. The broth is seasoned to suit Saigonese tastes, less salty and sweeter.
A bowl of Bun Suong (Vinh Long thick noodle soup) at Ben Thanh Market in Saigon, Vietnam, highlighting its clear broth and shrimp-based toppings.
Reference Price: 30,000 – 35,000 VND/bowl.
Hanoi Style Vermicelli Soup with Pork Balls (Bun Moc): Hanoi Flavor in the Heart of Saigon
Bun Moc is a dish originating from Hanoi, but has become a ngon đặc sản at Ben Thanh Market. The broth is sweet from bones, the pork balls (moc) are crunchy and fragrant.
A bowl of Bun Moc (Hanoi style vermicelli soup with pork balls) at Ben Thanh Market in Saigon, Vietnam, showcasing clear broth and pork meatballs.
Reference Price: 50,000 – 60,000 VND/bowl.
Pork Rib and Sour Bamboo Shoot Noodle Soup (Bun Bung): A Dish With a Strange Name
Bun Bung is a dish that few people know about, but it is very popular at Ben Thanh Market. The broth is cooked from pork ribs, dọc mùng (elephant ear plant), fermented rice (mẻ) and other spices.
A bowl of Bun Bung (pork rib and sour bamboo shoot noodle soup) at Ben Thanh Market in Saigon, Vietnam, featuring a rich broth with pork ribs and vegetables.
Reference Price: 25,000 – 30,000 VND/bowl.
Hue Steamed Rice Cakes (Banh Beo Hue): The Taste of the Old Capital in the Heart of Saigon
Banh Beo Hue at Ben Thanh Market is loved by many for its đặc trưng flavor and dipping sauce prepared according to a secret recipe.
Plates of Banh Beo Hue (Hue steamed rice cakes) at Ben Thanh Market in Saigon, Vietnam, with savory toppings and dipping sauce.
Reference Price: 20,000 VND/serving.
Snails, Grilled Seafood: Relaxing in the Evening
After 7 PM, the area around Ben Thanh Market becomes bustling with fragrant snail and grilled seafood stalls. This is an ideal place for you to lai rai (hang out) with friends and admire Saigon at night.
Grilled snails with scallion oil (Oc nuong mo hanh) at Ben Thanh Market in Saigon, Vietnam, a popular evening snack.
Reference Price: 20,000 – 40,000 VND/plate.
7-Color Sticky Rice (Xoi 7 Mau): Both Delicious and Beautiful
The 7-color sticky rice stall right in front of Ben Thanh Market is an hấp dẫn destination with all kinds of hot, fragrant sticky rice.
Colorful 7-color sticky rice (Xoi 7 Mau) at Ben Thanh Market in Saigon, Vietnam, a visually appealing and tasty snack.
Reference Price: 20,000 – 30,000 VND/box.
Fresh Spring Rolls (Goi Cuon): An Unmissable Snack
Goi Cuon is a familiar snack of Saigonese people. The spring rolls are stacked on top of each other, served with black bean sauce (tương đen) or fermented fish sauce (mắm nêm) with chili.
Fresh spring rolls (Goi Cuon) at Ben Thanh Market in Saigon, Vietnam, neatly stacked and ready to be served.
Reference Price: 6,000 – 10,000 VND/roll.
Saigon Sweet Soups (Che): Cooling Down on a Summer Day
The food court at Ben Thanh Market has a small sweet soup (che) stall with over 40 years specializing in Southern-style sweet soups. This place hấp dẫn diners with colorful sweet soups, thơm ngon flavors.
Sweet soup with mung beans and pandan jelly (Che dau xanh banh lot) at Ben Thanh Market in Saigon, Vietnam, a refreshing dessert.
Reference Price: 15,000 – 25,000 VND/cup.
Fried Flour Cake (Bot Chien): Crispy, Delicious
The fried flour cake (bot chien) stall at the corner of Ben Thanh Market is a familiar place for many food connoisseurs.
Fried flour cake (Bot Chien) at Ben Thanh Market in Saigon, Vietnam, a popular street food snack.
Reference Price: 30,000 VND/dish.
Crab Thick Noodle Soup (Banh Canh Cua): A Delicious Dish for Foodies
If you are a fan of Banh Canh Cua, don’t miss stall number 1301 at Ben Thanh Market.
Crab thick noodle soup (Banh Canh Cua) at Ben Thanh Market in Saigon, Vietnam, a rich and flavorful soup with thick noodles and crab.
Reference Price: 40,000 – 60,000 VND/bowl.
Pandan Honeycomb Cake (Banh Bo La Dua): Irresistibly Delicious
Banh Bo La Dua is a thơm ngon, hấp dẫn cake with a đậm đà sweet coconut flavor and đặc trưng pandan aroma.
Pandan honeycomb cake (Banh Bo La Dua) at Ben Thanh Market in Saigon, Vietnam, a sweet and spongy cake with pandan flavor.
Reference Price: 25,000 VND / 10 pieces.
Mixed Rice Paper Salad (Banh Trang Tron): An “Addictive” Snack
Banh Trang Tron is a familiar snack for Saigon youth. Rice paper is mixed with green mango, rau răm (Vietnamese coriander), shrimp salt, tắc (kumquat) juice, fried scallion oil, peanuts, dried shrimp, quail eggs and dried beef.
Mixed rice paper salad (Banh Trang Tron) at Ben Thanh Market in Saigon, Vietnam, a popular and flavorful street snack.
Reference Price: 10,000 – 20,000 VND/serving.
Eating Experiences at Ben Thanh Market: Useful Tips to “Pocket”
- Ideal time: Early morning or late afternoon is when Ben Thanh Market is bustling and has the most delicious food.
- Refer to prices before eating: Ben Thanh Market is a tourist area, so prices may be higher than in other markets. Ask for prices before ordering to avoid being “overcharged”.
- Pay attention to food hygiene and safety: Choose eateries that look clean and đảm bảo hygiene to avoid stomach upset.
- Try to bargain: You can try to bargain when buying food, especially when buying in large quantities.
- Prepare cash: Most eateries at Ben Thanh Market only accept cash.
- Keep personal belongings safe: Ben Thanh Market is a crowded place, you should be careful to keep your personal belongings safe to avoid pickpockets.
Ben Thanh Market: Not Just About Food
Besides food, Ben Thanh Market is also an ideal shopping destination with many diverse items such as clothes, shoes, bags, handicrafts, souvenirs… You can combine enjoying food with shopping to have a complete experience at this market.
Conclusion
Ben Thanh Market is a must-visit destination for those who want to explore Saigon cuisine and culture. With the eating experiences at Ben Thanh Market shared in this article, hopefully you will have a truly fun and memorable trip. Don’t forget to share the delicious dishes you have discovered at Ben Thanh Market for everyone to know!