Ben Thanh market, in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, has been selected by
the USA Today as one of the best food markets around the world, which
offers a peek into the cultural and culinary lives of the people in
the southern hub.
The market, a destination for many
tourists, is one of the oldest surviving buildings in the area. Located
in a lively area of the city, visitors can stop by the market to enjoy
textiles, souvenirs, handicrafts and, of course, local cuisine. Many of
the vendors are cooking up fresh food that’s made to order, writes the
American newspaper.
Visitors stop here for a “real
Vietnamese meal”, like entire fish that are deep-fried. Many stalls also
sell Vietnamese prepared beverages, like smoothies and iced coffee. In
the evening, you can visit the market and sit at a number of sidewalk
temporary restaurants serving local dishes like pho (Vietnamese noodle
soup) and banh canh cua (crab noodle soup), it says.
Ben Thanh market possesses the most ancient architecture, which is
praised as one of the most attractive tourist sites in the megacity.
Constructed by the Brossard et Maupin Construction Company in 1912, it
was earlier called New market or Saigon market to distinguish it from
Old market. After 1957, it was renamed Ben Thanh market.
The famous market has four entrances and four sections, a roof clock
tower, and overlooks four main streets of District 1. At present, the
market has more than 3,000 stalls that sell wholesale and retail items
from food to luxury goods. Beside souvenir, fashion and footwear stores,
visitors will see the zone for food with hundreds of cuisines sourced
from every corner of the country.
From Hanoi’s pho
to Hue’s banh beo (rice cake), Vietnamese’s hu tieu (noodle), spring
rolls, and more, culture in Ben Thanh market is a wonderful mixture of
cuisines of different regions to form a diversified and unique feature
for the market, which are both familiar and new.
Ben Thanh market is ranked 15th in the USA Today’s list of the “Best
food markets around the world”, a list of culinary destinations that
invite guests to explore all of their senses and indulge in authentic
and traditional foods. Whether you are looking for souvenirs to take
home, a quick snack or a full traditional meal, these markets offer a
delicious taste of culture.
The USA Today ranked the
45 best markets around the world based on their critical acclaim, how
reflective they are of the local region, and the importance of food and
drink at the market. The list includes many areas in the world, but
mainly in Europe and Asia which boast long-standing cultures. The top
three selected markets are La Boqueria market (Barcelona, Spain),
Borough market (London, UK) and Noryangjin fish market (Seoul, Republic
of Korea).
Food markets around the world invite
visitors to indulge all of their senses, from taking in the colorful
sights of fresh produce to smelling the wafting scents of fresh seafood
or traditional dishes. Markets have been part of city life for
centuries, and have now evolved to be popular tourist attractions, said
the USA Today.
Locals visit their city’s market to
pick up fresh produce, meats, seafood and spices to stock their home
kitchens, while tourists can visit local markets to learn about the
culture by sampling local and traditional fare, adds the newspaper.-VNA