The Market

Ben Thanh Market is the seat of all trade in Ho Chi Minh City!! One may find smelly, dried fish/seafood, live seafood, sparkly shoes, hair clips and my favorite... kapri clad German tourists!!

I find the shops around the market to be very exciting. There are many pearl and gem shops and salons for getting my nails done. It is also across the road from the bus station if I can ever figure out which one to take.

It's super crazy inside though. The walkways wind around like a labyrinth through the overstuffed booths. The only way to really know how to get back is to remember the stuff that you went by to get there. Ex) Pass 5 hair clips shops, turn left at the sandal isle pass 10 booths selling the exact same sandals, go through the smelly, dried fish, turn right at the buckets of live fish and squid and then you'll be outside!

It is truly an Asian experience and the advantage is that you will be taller than all of them so everyone will know where you are!