Chợ Lớn – Lớn Market
Chợ Lớn is located on
Tran Hung Dao Street, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City.
In 1788, a group of Chinese from Pho and My Tho
Islands came to Ben Nghe River Dike and founded a market which developed into
the existent Cholon Market, offering a wide array of products. This is
Vietnam’s Chinatown market. It is an attractive site for visitors to observe
that lively atmosphere.
It remains home to more than 500,000 people, many of
whom are of Chinese origin. The area and its side-streets and markets provide
an interesting glimpse of Sino-Vietnamese life, as the Vietnamese Chinese
strive to retain their cultural traditions and language. In addition to
temples, traditional apothecaries, fortune tellers and the like, some excellent
Chinese food is available in Cho Lon.
A visit to Ho Chi Minh City's Cho Lon Market reveals
the city at its most vibrant, colourful and fun.
This mighty market seems to go on for miles, crammed
with every possible kind of fruit, vegetable, nut, fish, meat, cigarette, beer
and so on. There are cloth shops with every type of silk in every colour and
numerous types of cotton, wool and even tweed!
Fabric shopping in Ho Chi Minh City is an amazing
treat. Give yourself at least an afternoon, if not an entire day, so you can
take your time, stop for cold drinks and snacks regularly and avoid becoming
hot and bothered!
The variety of goods here is positively astounding
and will give you uncanny glimpses into modern Vietnamese life. Friendly
bargaining should save you 20% to 40%, but don't take it too seriously -
Vietnamese people very rarely get angry in public and they feel extremely
embarrassed if you do.
