Tip from Karla Saints
Pick up freshly pressed sugarcane juice and choose fresh seasonal fruit from the roadside produce stalls.
Chợ Cũ
Tôn Thất Đạm, Phường Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
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Overview
Chợ Cũ is a historic open-air street market on Tôn Thất Đạm in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The market occupies several blocks between Hàm Nghi Boulevard and Huỳnh Thúc Kháng Street. Traders set up roadside counters directly along the sidewalks and narrow asphalt roadway. Low-rise residential tenements and modern office towers surround the street-level trading corridor.
Roadside produce stalls display seasonal tropical fruits such as dragon fruit, mangoes, and pomelos. Drink vendors crush fresh sugarcane stalks through mechanical rollers to extract sweet sugarcane juice. Fishmongers and butchers supply daily catches of river fish, prawns, poultry, and cuts of pork. Dry-goods merchants stock foreign sauces, coffee beans, imported snacks, and household essentials.
The marketplace traces its history back to the nineteenth century near the old Chợ Vải canal. The city established the new Bến Thành Market nearby in 1914. Merchants remained on Tôn Thất Đạm, giving rise to the local name Chợ Cũ, meaning Old Market. Residents once called it the rich market because shops stocked luxury imported foodstuffs and foreign spirits.
Informal cookstalls prepare traditional noodle soups like hủ tiếu on small stainless steel tables. Pedestrians and motorbikes share the central roadway during peak morning and afternoon shopping hours. The Bitexco Financial Tower stands within walking distance of the market stalls. The market offers daily provisions to downtown neighborhood residents and nearby office workers.
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What reviewers say
Google reviews
4.1
757 reviews
Reviewers describe Chợ Cũ as a short, bustling street market in District 1 that retains an authentic, historic feel alongside emerging bars and notable restaurants. Visitors often praise the convenient central location and the wide selection of street food, fresh groceries, and photo opportunities. However, some note that the aging stalls look untidy and contrast sharply with the surrounding modern city center.
Chợ Cũ is rated 4.1 out of 5 on Google from 757 reviews. Summary written by PinGuide from Google reviews, figures as of 3 Oct 2026. Read on Google ↗
1 insider tip
Where it is
Tôn Thất Đạm, Phường Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
Questions & Answers
Where is Chợ Cũ located?
Chợ Cũ is located along Tôn Thất Đạm Street in the Bến Nghé ward of District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The street market occupies the corridor between Hàm Nghi Boulevard and Huỳnh Thúc Kháng Street.
What does the name Chợ Cũ mean?
Chợ Cũ translates directly to Old Market in Vietnamese. The name arose after merchants stayed on Tôn Thất Đạm when the city opened the new Bến Thành Market nearby in 1914.
What is Chợ Cũ known for?
Chợ Cũ is known as a historic open-air street market operating directly along the sidewalks of central District 1. It is recognized for its stalls of fresh local produce, seafood, meats, and imported grocery goods set against a backdrop of modern office towers.
What kind of food and produce can you buy at Chợ Cũ?
Shoppers can buy seasonal fruits such as dragon fruit, mangoes, and pomelos, alongside river fish, prawns, poultry, and pork cuts. Dry-goods stalls at Chợ Cũ also stock foreign sauces, imported snacks, and coffee beans.
Can you eat prepared street food at Chợ Cũ?
Yes, Chợ Cũ features informal cookstalls and drink vendors along the road. Visitors can order fresh sugarcane juice pressed on site or traditional noodle soups like hủ tiếu served at small stainless steel tables.
Why was Chợ Cũ once called the rich market?
Chợ Cũ earned the nickname of the rich market because historical merchants catered to affluent residents by stocking luxury foreign foodstuffs and imported spirits. Some dry-goods merchants continue to sell imported condiments and pantry items today.
What are the peak hours to visit Chợ Cũ?
The peak times to see Chợ Cũ in full operation are during the morning and late afternoon grocery runs. During these hours, local pedestrians and motorbikes actively share the central street between stalls.
Is Chợ Cũ near any major landmarks in District 1?
Yes, Chợ Cũ is located within easy walking distance of the Bitexco Financial Tower and Hàm Nghi Boulevard. It sits directly in the downtown commercial core surrounded by residential tenements and high-rise office buildings.
How is Chợ Cũ laid out?
Chợ Cũ is arranged as a linear open-air street market with trading counters set up directly on the sidewalks and along the roadway. Shoppers walk the narrow asphalt corridor alongside local motorbike traffic.
Who uses Chợ Cũ today?
Chợ Cũ primarily serves residents of the downtown neighborhood shopping for daily household provisions. It also attracts nearby office workers looking for meals, quick drinks, and pantry supplies.