An Dong Market is another popular market after Ben Thanh Market and Cho Lon in Ho Chi Minh City. This market is located in the Chinatown area and has served many shop owners of boutiques and local customers in the city since it was built. This is also a special local landmark where tourists rarely know about to explore and visit. Our local guide aims give you a complete introduction to this exciting market.
Address: 34 An Duong Vuong Street, Ward 9, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours: 7 AM – 6 PM
Every day, from early in the morning, the local shop owners come to the market to pack their goods and distribute them elsewhere in the city. However, from 9 AM to 3 PM, it is the best time that we recommend you come to explore because all kiosks in the market frequently open and are ready to welcome visitors at these hours.
Recommended visit duration: 1 hour
How to Get to An Dong Market
From the center of the city, there are a few options to get to this market. The distance is 4 kilometers from Ben Thanh.
By Bus
Bus numbers 11, 56, 38, and 45 run from the bus station near Ben Thanh Market to An Dong Market every day. With a price of VND 6,000, it would take you about 30 minutes to get to the market by public bus.
By Motorbike
If you travel on the back of a motorbike, it would take you about 15 minutes to get here from the city center.
By Taxi
The average price for a trip is about from VND 50,000 to 70,000. If you travel by motorbike or taxi, you could get there faster than using the bus. Read more on how to avoid taxi scams in Ho Chi Minh.
A Brief History of An Dong Market
Local commercial activities outside the market
The market was built at the end of 1951, but it was officially established and invested in 1954 after more and more people immigrated from the North of Vietnam to settle in the city. With the help of the former government, there were more market stalls for the locals to do business. At that time, An Dong Market was the busiest fashion market in Saigon (the former name of Ho Chi Minh City), especially in Chinatown. Until now, this is one of the local markets in Ho Chi Minh City you should not miss.
What You Can Purchase at An Dong Market
An Dong is not as popular as Ben Thanh Market or Cho Lon, but it is always busy with the commercial activities of the locals. It is famous for items such as dried goods (cashews, shrimp, squid, fish, fruits), fabric, clothes, and shoes. On the other hand, if you are a foodie, you will love to check in the street food area of the market. Moreover, there are over 2,000 market stalls inside so you are surely excited about wandering around to visit.
Read more about Ben Thanh Market and Cho Lon.
There are three floors and one basement in the market, so the total area of this market is larger than Ben Thanh Market, but it is not as crowded as the market in District 1. Moreover, on each floor, some special products are sectioned off and sold so that customers can look and search for their favorite items conveniently.
In the basement, most products on this floor are home accessories, jewelry, and dried foods. There are also many food stalls selling local foods such as broken rice with grilled pork chops, noodle soup, sweet dessert soup (locally known as Che), and refreshing drinks like sugarcane, seasonal fruit smoothies, and pennyworth. The items are reasonably priced. Ask for the menu to see the prices before ordering.
There are more than 50 food stalls selling local cuisines
People also come here to buy valuable jewelry such as necklaces, earrings, rings, and bracelet
On the ground floor, the shops are most suitable for shopping lovers looking for shoes, handbags, wallets, and hats.
Shoe stores in An Dong Market
Most of the kiosks on the first floor sell clothes such as jackets, jeans, shirts, and dresses. A lot of shop owners in Ho Chi Minh City often visit here to update and purchase the latest modern fashion for their boutique shops.
There is a variety of fashionable clothes that the local customers, especially women, love to see and buy on this floor
Products of fabric and crafts are sold on the top floor of An Dong. The local tailors are regular customers of these kiosks because they always look for beautiful and special fabric samples to use to make for their customers’ clothes such as vests (suits) and Ao dai. You can buy the fabrics in meter lengths. Prices vary between VND 80,000 – 250,000 a meter.
Most of the second floor is occupied by the stalls of fabric and crafts
According to most of the small traders at An Dong Market, besides Binh Tay (Cho Lon) this place is one of the best wholesale markets, providing a variety of trendy fashionable items, even for traders in suburban provinces. Because this place is a wholesale market, the prices are not too expensive.
Some old tube houses, apartments, and local vendors selling beverages, fruits, and sticky rice around the market
Summary of An Dong Market in Ho Chi Minh City
Besides Ben Thanh Market and Binh Tay Market, An Dong Market in Ho Chi Minh City is one of the local places where you should not miss out on your visit. If you are looking for dried foods as souvenirs or clothes, we recommend you give this market a visit.
If you are interested in local experiences in Ho Chi Minh City, you can read more from our other travel guides about the city such as attractions, food, and cultures. Hope you will have a nice time exploring the city with our local guide.