The Contrasting Scenes in Saigon’s Shopping ‘Paradise’: A Tale of Two Extremes

The National Day holiday witnessed contrasting scenes in Ho Chi Minh City's commercial areas and supermarkets: while some spots were bustling with shoppers, diners, and revelers, others remained eerily quiet despite offering eye-catching products at attractive prices.

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The weather in Ho Chi Minh City was pleasant on September 2nd. Locals and tourists donned patriotic attire and visited iconic locations such as Ben Thanh Market and the Independence Palace to capture memorable photos. Everyone was filled with joy and excitement during the National Day celebrations.

Young people enthusiastically prepared Vietnamese flags and patriotic clothing to capture beautiful moments during the Independence Day celebrations. Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City bustled with activity from the early morning until late at night over the past few days.

After taking photos, visitors explored the vibrant Ben Thanh Market, adorned with vibrant Vietnamese flags. Despite some vendors and customers choosing to return to their hometowns for the holiday, the market remained lively. Vendors like Ms. Minh, a fashion retailer, displayed their best products and clearly labeled prices to create a pleasant shopping experience for their customers.

Numerous foreign tourists visited Ben Thanh Market during this festive period. They enthusiastically purchased local snacks and souvenirs as gifts to commemorate their trip to Ho Chi Minh City.

Most stalls selling snacks, clothing, and footwear in Ben Thanh Market were bustling with customers. The market management also deployed additional staff and security personnel to ensure a safe and orderly environment during the holiday rush.

Foreign visitors eagerly donned the red and yellow flag shirts or purchased patriotic attire from the market, priced at around 200,000 VND each, to join in the National Day festivities.


The food court was packed with diners, offering delicious local specialties such as bun bo (beef noodle soup), bun mam (fermented fish noodle soup), banh canh (thick noodle soup), and more at affordable prices. A bowl of noodles cost only 50,000 VND, and a glass of che thai (Thai-style dessert) or sinh to (fruit smoothie) was around 30,000 VND. “The prices are the same as usual, and the bowl of noodles is full of toppings. It’s delicious and affordable, so we decided to explore the culinary delights the market has to offer,” shared a delighted Ms. Minh Ha, a visitor from Khanh Hoa.


In contrast to the bustling atmosphere at Ben Thanh Market, several shopping and dining destinations in Ho Chi Minh City experienced a lull in activity. Central Market, an underground shopping center, saw vendors idly browsing their phones as they waited for customers.


Stalls were filled with a variety of goods, with prices starting from just a few hundred thousand dong per item, yet customers were scarce.


“It’s quieter than a regular day,” lamented one of the vendors, expressing disappointment at the lack of customers during the holiday season.

The underground food court also witnessed a sparse crowd, with only a handful of tables occupied by diners.

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