1. Overview of Tay Ninh Market
1.1. Location and history
Located right in the center of Tay Ninh city, on Cach Mang Thang Tam street, Tan Ninh ward, Tay Ninh Market is a familiar stop for tourists on their journey to explore the Southern region. From Sun World Ba Den Mountain to the market is only about 8 km, you can easily combine visits in the same day. Not only convenient in location, the market is also the "shopping heart" of the local people.
Born over 50 years ago, Tay Ninh Market was once the main trading place for the whole province, a gathering point for agricultural products, goods, and regional specialties. During the period 2020–2023, the market was renovated and upgraded its infrastructure, becoming a more modern and spacious central market, but still retaining its old soul, rich in Southern character. Therefore, for the people of Tay Ninh, the market is not just a place of business, but also a memory, the breath of daily life.
Tay Ninh Market is located in the heart of Tay Ninh, near many famous tourist attractions. (Source: Collected)
1.2. Atmosphere and Characteristics
From 5 AM, when the sky is still dimly lit by dawn, Tay Ninh Market is bustling with vendors' calls, laughter, and the aroma of early morning food stalls. The lively atmosphere lasts until 7 PM, creating a feeling that is both vibrant and intimate. The market is divided into three main areas: a fresh food section with abundant vegetables, fish, and meat; a specialty and souvenir section with all kinds of salt, cloud-kissed rice paper, and dried beef; and a rustic culinary area.
What makes Tay Ninh Market uniquely attractive is not only its diverse goods but also its people. The friendly vendors, with their gentle smiles and characteristic Southern Vietnamese accents, make visitors feel the warmth and charm of this land. Wandering through the market, visitors feel immersed in the world of flavors and colors of Tay Ninh's simple yet sincere culture.
2. Why Tay Ninh Market is a "Must-Visit" Destination
2.1. The Soul of Southern Culture in Every Stall
At Tay Ninh Market, visitors not only browse colorful stalls but also get to "touch" the authentic life of the Southern Vietnamese people. Here, each stall tells a small story: the seller chats cheerfully while packing goods, customers inquire with familiar voices, laughter mixes with the sounds of knives chopping and scales weighing.
Unlike many modern markets, Tay Ninh Market retains its traditional trading spirit, "trading with smiles, exchanging with trust." This friendliness allows visitors to feel the warmth of the Southern countryside, where every greeting and inquiry is filled with closeness and affection.
Tay Ninh Market still retains traditional trading characteristics, imbued with the identity of the holy land. (Source: Collected)
2.2. Specialty paradise to buy as gifts
Speaking of Tay Ninh Market, one cannot miss the specialty area, a convergence of the quintessence of the Southern land. Every stall is overflowing with the colors of dew-dried rice paper, dried young buffalo, tamarind mixed with shrimp salt, shrimp paste, or dried wild vegetables. Especially, Tay Ninh shrimp salt is harmoniously spicy and salty.
Thanks to its location just about 10 minutes from Sun World Ba Den Mountain, Tay Ninh Market becomes an ideal stop after a sightseeing trip. Visitors can enjoy local cuisine and choose packaged specialties to give to relatives.
3. Tay Ninh Market Food Area
3.1. Local breakfast dishes
Mornings at Tay Ninh Market are a paradise of rustic dishes with rich Southern flavors. The most famous is Trang Bang noodle soup, with chewy and soft noodles, clear broth, and a sweet and refreshing flavor from simmered bones. Additionally, there is Nam Vang noodle soup, crab vermicelli soup, pork organ porridge, familiar dishes that have retained their traditional recipes for decades, carrying the unique flavor of this land.
Breakfast at Tay Ninh market is diverse, with many delicious eateries. (Source: Collected)
3.2. Famous Snacks
Speaking of Tay Ninh cuisine, the famous mixed rice paper (banh trang tron) cannot be missed, a snack that encapsulates the local culinary soul with shrimp salt, dried beef, quail eggs, and fried shallots. Besides, there are also fruit salads, durian sugarcane juice, and mung bean sweet soup, sweet and refreshing dishes to dispel the southern midday sun. The prices of the dishes range from only 25,000–40,000 VND, both delicious and familiar, loved by both tourists and locals.
3.3. Evening Dining Area Around the Market
After 5 PM, the area around Tay Ninh market takes on the bustling atmosphere of a mini night market, with dozens of stalls selling grilled seafood, skewers, sweets, sugarcane juice, and cold desserts. Tourists can enjoy dinner while strolling around to buy souvenirs and admire the illuminated streets. A simple yet very "authentic" experience, making the journey to explore Tay Ninh more complete and memorable.
4. Shopping and Tips for Visitors to Tay Ninh Market
4.1. Opening Hours and How to Get There
Tay Ninh market is open from 5:00 AM to 7:00 PM daily, busiest in the morning (7 AM–10 AM) and late afternoon (4 PM–6 PM). From Sun World Ba Den Mountain, it only takes about 10 minutes by taxi or motorbike to reach the market (about 8 km). The area has a private parking lot, costing only 5,000 VND/vehicle, very convenient for tourists combining shopping after visiting or worshipping.
4.2. Small Tips When Shopping
When shopping, ask for prices gently and prioritize stalls with clearly listed prices. For specialties like shrimp salt, dew-dried rice paper (banh trang phoi suong), and dried beef, choose vacuum-sealed packages for good preservation. If buying in large quantities, tourists can ask vendors to pack items in boxes for shipping via bus or post office, which is a quite popular and quick service.
4.3. Tay Ninh Snacks to Buy as Gifts
Before leaving the market, don't forget to choose some Tay Ninh market specialties as gifts: authentic shrimp salt, tamarind-flavored chewy rice paper (banh trang deo me), dried young buffalo (bo to say kho), handmade peanut candy, or some small handicrafts, conical hats, and simple fabric bags. Each gift brought back is not just a specialty, but also a sweet aftertaste of a gentle and friendly land.
Buy snacks when visiting Tay Ninh market to bring back as gifts. (Source: Collected)
5. Suggested itinerary combination: sightseeing, dining, and shopping in a day
A day in Tay Ninh can start at 7:00 AM, when you leave Ho Chi Minh City and head towards the sacred land of the South. Around 9:00 AM, take time to explore Sun World Ba Den Mountain, where visitors can take the cable car to admire the panoramic view, worship the Statue of the Lady Buddha Tay Bo Da Son, and check-in amidst the beautiful "sea of clouds". At noon, enjoy a pure meal in the dining area on the mountain, enjoying the fresh and rare peaceful atmosphere.
A day visiting Tay Ninh Market (Cho Tay Ninh) combined with exploring Black Lady Mountain (Nui Ba Den). (Source: Collected)
In the afternoon, when the sun softens, visit Tay Ninh Market (Cho Tay Ninh) to buy specialties, enjoy mixed rice paper salad, durian sugarcane juice, and feel the local rhythm of life. Around 5:00 PM, stroll around the night market, snack, watch the sunset over Tay Ninh Bridge, then conclude the journey with a light dinner before returning to Ho Chi Minh City or staying at a central hotel. A short day, but enough for visitors to "touch" upon the nature, culture, and cuisine of this gentle land.
Amidst modern life, Tay Ninh Market (Cho Tay Ninh) still retains the rustic breath of the Southern countryside. Visiting the market, you not only buy specialties or enjoy delicious food, but also find warmth in familiar smiles and calls. A small stop, but enough to make the Tay Ninh journey more complete.
