{"id":9414,"date":"2021-10-06T12:51:57","date_gmt":"2021-10-06T04:51:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/?p=9414"},"modified":"2021-10-06T13:01:35","modified_gmt":"2021-10-06T05:01:35","slug":"ben-thanh-market","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/ben-thanh-market\/","title":{"rendered":"Historic B\u1ebfn Th\u00e0nh Market Reopens, Scan Your QR Codes & Buy Fresh Groceries"},"content":{"rendered":"

B\u1ebfn Th\u00e0nh Market resumes activities with new rules in place<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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To some people, a trip to a crowded wet market in Saigon with seldomly any air conditioning and lots of weird smells can be a real grind. With freshly butchered meats in the open for everyone to touch, and dizzying heaps of fresh produce sitting next to stacks of eastern medicine, a wet market is like a maze.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But for many Saigon locals, this place is home to fascinating sights, sounds, and smells that modern marts and supermarkets can’t offer. Unfortunately, wet markets were among the first places to be closed after the fourth Covid-19 wave struck.<\/span><\/p>\n

After four months of suspension, many wet markets in Saigon have reopened, among which is the iconic <\/span>B\u1ebfn Th\u00e0nh Market<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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B\u1ebfn Th\u00e0nh Market reopens, selling essential goods<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\nImage credit: <\/span>Lao \u0110\u1ed9ng<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

On 4th October, 109-year-old B\u1ebfn Th\u00e0nh Market, one of the city\u2019s largest wet markets and tourist attractions, opened its doors to visitors.<\/span><\/p>\n

Most of the stalls offer essential goods, such as live seafood, meats, and vegetables. Some stalls are also offering freshly cooked meals and desserts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nImage credit: <\/span>Lao \u0110\u1ed9ng<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Stalls selling non-essential commodities such as clothes, shoes, and cosmetics have not been allowed to reopen yet.<\/span><\/p>\n

All of the vendors are fully vaccinated and visitors are also required to scan their QR codes, either on Zalo or other mobile apps, to make their health reports before checking in, <\/span>Lao \u0110\u1ed9ng<\/span><\/i><\/a> reported.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the stalls, transparent screens and barriers are also set up to minimize exposure between visitors and vendors and to reinforce safe distancing.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nImage credit: <\/span>Lao \u0110\u1ed9ng<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

While the number of visitors and their purchasing power have reduced immensely compared to the pre-pandemic days, most vendors are glad that they can finally reopen their stalls after four months.<\/span><\/p>\n

In June, over 1,200 stalls inside B\u1ebfn Th\u00e0nh Market had been ordered to close after locally acquired infections started to surge in the community. Today, only 70 of these stalls are still operating.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Aside from B\u1ebfn Th\u00e0nh Market, other wet markets across the city have also resumed activities.<\/span><\/p>\n

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More wet markets reopen with prices lowered for groceries<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\nImage credit: <\/span>Lao \u0110\u1ed9ng<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

In C\u00e2y Th\u1ecb Market in B\u00ecnh Th\u1ea1nh District, a great number of fresh groceries are now being sold, and surprisingly, within a lower price range compared to that during the semi-lockdown.<\/span><\/p>\n

With <\/span>VND10,000 (~USD0.44)<\/b>, customers can buy a pile of water morning glory or parsley, according to <\/span>C\u00f4ng An<\/span><\/a>. During the restrictive period when nobody could go out to buy groceries and fresh produce was scarce, this price tag was unfathomable.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At <\/span>C\u0103n c\u1ee9 26 Market in G\u00f2 V\u1ea5p, the prices of live seafood are also hitting a new low.<\/span><\/p>\n

During the days of restrictions, 1 kilogram of freshwater prawns were priced from <\/span>VND270,000-VND300,000 (~USD11.86-USD13.18)<\/b>. Today, the prices are in the range of <\/span>VND200,000-VND220,000 (~USD8.79-USD9.67)<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Plus, most visitors have been vaccinated with at least one jab and done well to uphold health protocols when navigating the markets.<\/span><\/p>\n

Trading activities and pricing at local wet markets is also gradually returning to pre-Covid conditions.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Saigon is on track to return to normal<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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After months of restrictions, we\u2019re thrilled to know that more and more wet markets are reopening. Not only does the availability of wet markets help reduce the catering pressure on supermarkets and marts, but it\u2019ll also help prevent price gouging and allow customers of all budgets to access essential goods within their means.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hopefully, we can all support local businesses, and wet market vendors in particular, to get back on their feet during this challenging time by purchasing goods directly from them. <\/span>
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\n<\/span>Meanwhile, let\u2019s mask up, get vaccinated whenever possible, and maintain social distancing while in public.<\/span><\/p>\n

Also check out:<\/span><\/p>\n