Cholon

Ho Chi Minh City

Cholon featuring a temple or place of worship
Cholon showing shopping, markets and food
Cholon featuring a garden and a fountain
Cholon featuring shopping and markets
Cholon showing a temple or place of worship

A hiding place for Chinese minorities during the 18th and 19th centuries, Ho Chi Minh City’s Chinatown is now a thriving hub of markets and pretty temples.

Hunt for bargains and purchase traditional Chinese food at the crowded covered markets of Cholon. Relax in hidden cafés and restaurants and explore the area’s colorful temples and stylish Chinese architecture.

Constructed in the late 1700s, Cholon was once a separate entity to the city of Saigon to the north. As Saigon grew, Cholon gradually became incorporated into its boundaries and is now Ho Chi Minh City’s largest Chinatown. Look for relics of the area’s illicit past. During the war, some American soldiers used Cholon as a black market to buy and sell military supplies.

Cholon literally translates as “big market.” Its main retail hub is undoubtedly An Dong Market. Look for this building near the intersection of Tran Phu and An Duong Vuong Streets. Spread across its four floors, vendors sell designer clothing and shoes as well as electronic goods and home appliances. If you are feeling hungry, start at the ground floor to find an extensive range of food outlets. Try banh bao, a type of Chinese dumpling, or banh cuon, a spongy spring roll that is usually served with bread and meat.

Once you have eaten, make your way to Binh Tay Market, which stretches between Thap Muoi and Phan Van Khoe Streets. Here local people come to get cooking ingredients such as rice, meat and vegetables. You will also find tables packed with handmade clothes and jewelry.

Leave the crowds behind and immerse yourself in local culture at Cholon’s colorful temples. Thien Hau and Quan Am Temple are both a short stroll from the markets and feature exquisite flowing roofs, hanging lanterns and golden Buddha statues. Red decorations show the Chinese influence on these structures.

Cholon makes up the District Five area of the city on the banks of the Saigon River. Use public buses which run here from the city center. It is also possible to visit as part of a guided tour.


Popular places to visit

Things to do


Cholon Hotel Deals

Hotel Nikko Saigon

Hotel Nikko Saigon

5 out of 5
235 Nguyen Van Cu Street, District 1, Cau Ong Lanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
The price is ¥17,648 per night from Sep 12 to Sep 13
¥17,648
¥20,385 total
Sep 12 - Sep 13
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful ...
Hotel Nikko Saigon
Hotel Majestic Saigon

Hotel Majestic Saigon

5 out of 5
01 Dong Khoi Street District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The price is ¥12,676 per night from Sep 22 to Sep 23
¥12,676
¥14,773 total
Sep 22 - Sep 23
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the property ...
Hotel Majestic Saigon
GRAND HOTEL du LAC Boutique Saigon

GRAND HOTEL du LAC Boutique Saigon

5 out of 5
40 - 42 Phan Boi Chau, Ben Thanh ward,D1, Ho Chi Minh City
The price is ¥12,916 per night from Sep 14 to Sep 15
¥12,916
¥14,647 total
Sep 14 - Sep 15
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and 2 restaurants. Popular attractions Ben Thanh Market and Bui Vien ...
GRAND HOTEL du LAC Boutique Saigon
Liberty Central Saigon Citypoint

Liberty Central Saigon Citypoint

4 out of 5
59 - 61 Pasteur Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The price is ¥12,381 per night from Sep 13 to Sep 14
¥12,381
¥14,056 total
Sep 13 - Sep 14
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a rooftop terrace. Our guests praise the breakfast and the ...
Liberty Central Saigon Citypoint
The Reverie Saigon

The Reverie Saigon

5 out of 5
22 - 36 Nguyen Hue Boulevard, 57 - 69F Dong Khoi Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The price is ¥31,737 per night from Sep 23 to Sep 24
¥31,737
¥36,682 total
Sep 23 - Sep 24
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the property ...
The Reverie Saigon
Au Lac Charner Hotel

Au Lac Charner Hotel

4 out of 5
87-89-91 Ho Tung Mau Street, Ben Nghe Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
The price is ¥10,317 per night from Sep 11 to Sep 12
¥10,317
¥12,024 total
Sep 11 - Sep 12
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. Enjoy a full-service spa, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the breakfast and the ...
Au Lac Charner Hotel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighborhoods around Cholon

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District 5

Discover the vibrant Chinese community in District 5, where you can explore Cholon (Chinatown) and the historic Hải Thượng Lãn Ông quarter, known for its Chinese and Vietnamese herbs. Shop at Kim Biên and An Đông markets for unique finds.

District 5
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District 10

District 10 is noteworthy for its restaurants, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Saigon South and Thong Nhat Stadium.

District 10
War Remnants Museum showing interior views

District 3

Bustling heart of Ho Chi Minh City, District 3 boasts French-style villas, Xá Lợi Pagoda, and Vĩnh Nghiêm Pagoda. Easily accessible via Saigon railway station, the largest railway hub in the country.

District 3
Bui Thi Xuan which includes street scenes and a city

Ben Thanh

If you're spending some time in Ben Thanh, Ben Thanh Market and Benthanh Street Food Market are top sights worth seeing.

Ben Thanh
Museum of Fine Arts which includes interior views and art

Nguyen Thai Binh

4/5(17 area reviews)

While visiting Nguyen Thai Binh, you might make a stop by sights like Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts and Pham Ngu Lao Street.

Nguyen Thai Binh
Ben Thanh Market featuring street scenes, markets and shopping

Downtown Ho Chi Minh City

4/5(706 area reviews)

The fantastic nightlife and popular shops are just a few highlights of Downtown Ho Chi Minh City. Make a stop by Ben Thanh Market or Bui Vien Walking Street while you're exploring the area.

Downtown Ho Chi Minh City

Cholon