Vietnam’s markets are the center of local life. This is especially true in a big city like Ho Chi Minh. Visiting a Ho Chi Minh market while you’re traveling through southern Vietnam is a must. Where else can you try traditional food, people watch, pick up legitimately cool souvenirs, and take amazing photos all in one go?
Ho Chi Minh markets seem chaotic at first glance, but there’s method to the madness. Once you get your bearings you’ll be surprised how organized the market really is. Still, the unexpected can be found around any corner. The best part about visiting a Ho Chi Minh market is wandering the aisles and happening upon some kinds of treasure or unforgettable experience. And then, wandering the Ho Thi Ky Flower Market is one of the good ways to explore the sparkling beauty of the city.
A flower market in Saigon
The largest among all flower markets in Saigon is Ho Thi Ky. Located in a busy residential area on Le Hong Phong Street, Ho Thi Ky Flower Market is in harmony with surrounding rhythm of life, creating a one-of-a-kind charisma that belongs solely to this destination. There are hundreds kinds of flower here with the diversity in color, style and origin. This market opens all day from the aurora to the midnight.
The activities at the market are busiest in the early morning when vendors receive package of flowers transferred to the counters by truck. It’s time for porters do their hard work and other workers arrange the flowers, classify and group flowers. Especially, the market is more crowded and vibrant on Tet Holiday, the International Day of Women, Vietnamese Teacher’s Day…
Ho Thi Ky Flower Market at the midnight
Ho Thi Ky Flower Market is the place which supplies the fresh and beautiful flowers with quite low a price in Ho Chi Minh City such as chrysanthemum, marigold, gerbera, auspicious flower to orchid, rose, sunflower and so on. Flowers are from Dalat, Hanoi and other countries such as Japan, Italy, China… Not only blossoms, but also garment tools and materials are also sold there.
Under the cool weather in the midnight in Ho Chi Minh City and sparkling lights, tourists can have a chance to dip into peaceful and romantic atmosphere. What is more, you can choose to buy some flowers or bouquets as the presents for your family and friends.
And also a Cambodian market
You do not need to fly all the way to the country of temple, but you still can enjoy the Cambodian specialties in the middle of Ho Chi Minh City and admire the colorful hustle and bustle of daily life of Cambodia community living here. Visitors can easily recognize Cambodian cultural characteristics at this market through sideboards with Cambodian scripts and the special arrangement of stalls and goods.
Many kinds of Cambodian food are also available at the market. Most of the traders here are Cambodian Vietnamese who came to Vietnam in the 1970s to avoid political clashes in Cambodia.
In the market, various products originating from Tonle Sap lake area in Cambodia are well-stocked in wood shelves. They vary from different kinds of dried fish, dried frog and vegetables to traditional foods.
If you are a real foodie, you cannot miss the Num Bo Choc fish noodle of Tu Xe. The main ingredients of this dish are noddle, snake head fish, prahok paste from Cambodia and other typical spices.
It is also highly recommended to visit Co Co sweet soup to enjoy specific flavors of Cambodia-style sweet soup including pumpkin sweet soup, mixture sweet soup served with durian, egg sweet soup, and sticky rice made with durian and coconut (often called ‘xoi xiem’)
I surely say that paying a visit to the markets is so great an opportunity to mingle with the locals. Enjoy this article and have your own experience during your stay in Ho Chi Minh City!