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Leaving behind the hustle and bustle of the city, every weekend, many Saigonese flock to the Saigon antique market located within the Cao Minh garden cafe in a small alley on No Trang Long Street, Binh Thanh District, to fully immerse themselves in their passion and relive nostalgic memories.
The Saigon Antique Market, which opened in 2013, is a meeting place for antique enthusiasts amidst the ever-changing and glamorous city. While called a market, it's essentially a place for those with a shared passion for antiques to socialize, exchange, buy, sell, or simply show off their collections. The value of these items varies widely, but mainly depends on their age and rarity.
The Saigon Antique Market is only open on Saturdays and Sundays from 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Each visitor, buyer, or seller is charged an entrance fee of 40,000 VND, which includes one drink or one meal of their choice. The drinks and food here are diverse and quite delicious, ensuring that food lovers will be satisfied.
Most of the visitors here are regulars, so although the market is crowded, it's not chaotic or rushed, but rather like a slow-motion film, echoing memories with countless mementos that evoke nostalgia.
Buyers and sellers can spend hours just talking about antiques, finding a kindred spirit amidst the hustle and bustle of the city. Buyers take their time, and sellers aren't in a hurry either. If they don't sell today, they can wait until tomorrow, or the day after, and holding a market here doesn't incur rental costs.
Because this passion is ingrained in their blood, many vendors travel all over the country just to hunt down unique and rare items, then wait until the weekend to bring them to the market to trade with their fellow vendors.
Nowadays, this antique market is not only a destination for middle-aged people, but also a meeting place for many young people and tourists, especially foreigners. They come here not necessarily to buy or sell, but sometimes just to have the chance to touch relics from the past.
The antiques at Saigon's antique market are incredibly diverse and abundant, originating from all over the country such as Hanoi, Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An, Saigon, etc., and are attractively displayed in the stalls throughout the market. Each stall sells a different type of item, such as old cameras, old books, newspapers, and pictures, production tools, pottery, bronze items, and feng shui items.
In addition, from 9 am to 11 am, there is an acoustic music program featuring many singers. Songs from previous decades such as "Diem Oi," "Ha Trang," "Cat Bui," etc., play, taking people back to the past, making viewing the artifacts even more emotional.
Another unique aspect of the market is that it's considered a place that "preserves youthful memories," with countless photo opportunities featuring advertising signs and hand-painted inscriptions from the subsidy era as backgrounds. Just point your camera and you'll have a stunning photo for social media.
If you're traveling to Ho Chi Minh City and love collecting antiques, wanting to buy vintage items to decorate your home or give as gifts to loved ones, then this is a perfect place. For those who want a change of scenery and a relaxing weekend, try visiting this Saigon antique market. You can admire unique antiques, enjoy a dish considered a Saigon specialty, and take photos amidst the ancient, time-worn corners of the market.
