When the sun goes down, a rush to bunch up Saigon night market

By Quynh Tran   December 26, 2016 | 07:53 pm PT
There’s a lot of pushing and running and yelling. And some colliding.
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The Ben Thanh night market opened in 2002 on Phan Boi Chau and Phan Chu Trinh Streets, attracting shoppers every night from 7 p.m. Vendors have around 15 minutes to set up their booths after the indoor market is closed. Hence the rush to get ready before the first wave of visitors pours in. 

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A man pulls a cart to the market. Most of these carts, full of merchandise, are on nearby streets and alleys.

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Canopy tents are also needed for the unpredictable weather of Saigon.

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Most of these men are hired by shop owners to do the hard work for them.

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But some vendors choose to set up their own booths.

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This man says he earns VND4 million ($176) a month for setting up the booths.

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Some drivers are caught in the flows of running carts.

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As the booths are in place, vendors start to hang up their merchandise.

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Now the two streets become a crowded market, with around 200 booths selling everything you can think of.

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A family takes a tour through the market, which opens until midnight. Cars are banned during these hours.

Photos by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

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