Cho Lon – The Chinatown in Ho Chi Minh City

District 5 in Ho Chi Minh City is noted for having the highest concentration of Chinese residents and workers. This location was originally founded around Cho Lon Market. Therefore, if you visit the streets of Cho Lon, you will have the chance to enjoy Chinese culture and delicious cuisine.

Located on the west bank of the Saigon River, Tran Hung Dao Boulevard is home to various markets, the most important of which is Binh Tay Market. Cholon is now an integral element of any itinerary to this big city and one of Saigon’s most famous tourist sites. Cholon currently encompasses a broad area extending from Districts 5 and 10 to the vicinity of Districts 6 and 11. The local Hoa population maintains their ancient cultural, architectural, and religious values. The traditional elegance of their architectural style is exemplified by rows of brownish-gray, tile-roofed buildings.

Cho Lon literally translates to “huge market” The Hoa (Chinese minority of Vietnam) who lived in Bien Hoa in 1778 were forced to seek sanctuary in what is now Cholon due to Tay Son retaliation for their support of the Nguyen rulers. Again massacred by the Tay Son in 1782, they were forced to rebuild. They constructed large embankments against the river’s currents and named their new settlement Tai-Ngon (Cantonese for “embankment”). Incorporated in 1879 as a city 11 kilometers from Saigon, by the 1930s it had expanded and became contiguous with Saigon. On April 27, 1931, the French colonial authority united the two cities to establish Saigon-Cholon. Cholon was eliminated from the city’s name by 1956. Today, Cholon receives a number of tourists, particularly from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan. Aso, it is remembered as a scene from Marguerite Duras’s 1984 autobiographical novel The Lover, in which a young French girl fell in love with her Chinese lover for the first time.

During the day, Cholon is filled with buyers and vendors exchanging merchandise. Cholon is home to Binh Tay Market, one of the most prominent markets in Ho Chi Minh City. Nothing is not available for sale here. Popular names in Sai Gon include Aquatria, Dong Khanh, Bat Dat, Ngoc Lan Dinh, Soai Kinh Lam, Ai Hue, Thien Hong, and A Dong. This well-known market town has about everything a tourist might desire!

Cholon appears to revitalize in the twilight hours. One may view neon signs of various sizes, forms, and colors from a distance. Not only do tourists go to this neighborhood to shop, but also to sample the cuisine of the Hoa.

In this busy region, guests may eat mouthwatering foods including as dumplings, fried rice from Duong Chau, and tofu from Tu Xuyen, among others.

The bulk of visitors to Sai Gon and Cholon are attracted by this large market town, which sparkles when the night lights are turned on. This is a panoramic view of Saigon-Cholon; feel free to explore!

Cho Lon is included in a number of itineraries for Ho Chi Minh city tours, notably one-day or half-day trips, because to its popularity with tourists.

Ho Chi Minh is recognized as an immigration city, thus by purchasing HCM Cultural city tours, you can easily explore Chinese culture in the heart of the city. These day visits provide a fun and intriguing glimpse into the culture and daily lives of Ho Chi Minh City’s inhabitants, as well as the opportunity to explore the Chinese market with its assortment of colorful goods.