by Our last day in Saigon came with the usual combination: wanting one more look around, needing to pack and wondering how we had used quite so many clean clothes. We chose a market visit for the morning and a quieter afternoon before the journey home.
I had picked Binh Tay as a contrast to Ben Thanh, which was close to our hotel. A Grab took us out towards Cholon. The difference was noticeable: at Ben Thanh we had browsed as holiday shoppers; here we were stepping into a place where people were busy getting on with their working day.
Binh Tay Market: The Beating Heart of Chinatown
There were teas, spices, dried foods, household goods, footwear and stacks of kitchenware. Boxes and bags filled the aisles, and wholesale trade was clearly a major part of the activity. It was a different way to spend a morning from browsing souvenir displays.
We were not being constantly encouraged to buy, which we appreciated. Instead, we sometimes felt we were in the way of people moving goods and dealing with customers. We took a few photographs and some video while trying not to obstruct the work. Watching a market is enjoyable; remembering it is somebody’s workplace matters too.
A Market Visit, Not a Shopping Mission
Binh Tay sits within the wider Cholon area. Vietnam Tourism’s Cholon guide gives more context for the district’s markets, food and places of worship. We had chosen one stop for this morning, rather than attempting to see the whole area.
We did not need to label one market “real Saigon” and the other a tourist imitation. Both were part of the city; they served different customers and gave us different experiences. On this last morning, the contrast was what made the outing worthwhile.
The Souvenirs We Can Eat
Afterwards we went to a supermarket for our own more predictable shopping: tea, coffee, local snacks and spices. We like bringing these home from a trip. A bag of coffee or something good to cook with stretches the holiday into ordinary days, although the snacks rarely make a very long-term contribution.
Packing and Resting the Knee
The afternoon was for packing and giving my knee a rest. Since Hang Mua it had influenced far more of the trip than I had expected, and the journey home would be demanding enough without another long outing first.
That was our last day in Vietnam: a market, a familiar souvenir ritual and time to get ready to leave. We had enjoyed a great deal, changed plans repeatedly and collected enough memories without needing one final dramatic adventure.
Do you bring home tea, coffee or ingredients from your travels too? Those little reminders can be as satisfying as anything displayed on a shelf.
Our trip reflection brings together the places that stayed with us most. The bags were packed; the knee was very much ready to go home.
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