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Ho Chi Minh CityCho Lon (Big Market)

Cho Lon (Big Market) tours with best prices and high quality in 2026

Exploring Cho Lon – the famous and oldest Chinatown in Ho Chi Minh City – is an attractive journey for those who want to discover a unique cultural corner in the heart of the vibrant city. Spanning across District 5 and a part of District 6, Cho Lon impresses visitors with its ancient assembly halls, sacred temples, rows of houses with distinct Chinese-style architecture, and a bustling trading life across generations. Strolling through the lively streets, enjoying traditional cuisine, and discovering historical stories associated with the establishment and development of the Chinese community in Saigon, visitors will feel the unique cultural fusion that cannot be found anywhere else. A journey to explore Cho Lon is not just a simple sightseeing trip, but also an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the historical depth, community identity, and enduring vitality of this city named after President Ho Chi Minh.

Accompanying travelers on that journey, Sovaba Travel – a reputable international travel brand, offers well-designed Cho Lon sightseeing programs that harmoniously combine hands-on experiences with the discovery of the unique cultural and historical values of Ho Chi Minh City. Each itinerary is thoughtfully crafted, making it easy for visitors to explore famous landmarks such as Ba Thien Hau Temple, Nghia An Assembly Hall, Binh Tay Market, or the unique wholesale streets typical of the area. Under the guidance of a professional, dedicated, and locally knowledgeable tour guide team, visitors will gain many interesting perspectives on the daily life, beliefs, and significant contributions of the Chinese community to the development of Saigon – Ho Chi Minh City. Do not miss the opportunity to explore one of the city's most culturally rich areas. Book a tour with Sovaba Travel to fully enjoy the unique experiences and distinctive traditional beauty of Cho Lon on your upcoming trip to explore Saigon.

List of tours to Cho Lon (Big Market)

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Overview of Cho Lon Tour

Cho Lon is an area deeply imbued with Chinese-Vietnamese cultural heritage in Ho Chi Minh City, stretching mainly across District 5 and part of District 6. Once a bustling independent city before merging with Saigon in 1931, Cho Lon today still preserves its rich historical, architectural, and community values almost intact. It is considered the cultural, commercial, and spiritual hub of the largest Chinese community in Vietnam, where visitors can encounter ancient assembly halls, centuries-old pagodas and temples, traditional markets, and vibrant specialty streets. However, to truly understand the stories behind each architectural work, custom, or the development history of this Chinatown, embarking on a professional guided tour will offer a far more complete and enriching experience than exploring independently.

The tours exploring Cho Lon are thoughtfully designed to harmoniously blend sightseeing, experiential activities, and deep insights into local culture. Guided by knowledgeable history and culture tour guides, visitors will not only visit prominent landmarks such as Binh Tay Market, Ba Thien Hau Pagoda, Chinese assembly halls, or traditional craft streets, but also have the opportunity to savor the fine essence of Chinese cuisine, featuring dim sum, dumplings, roasted duck, and signature sweet soups.

A market rich in Chinese cultural heritage
Photo: A market rich in Chinese cultural heritage 

Highlight Destinations and Experiences in Cho Lon Tour

The appeal of a Cho Lon tour lies not only in its bustling markets or famous dishes, but also in the journey of exploring a "living museum" of the history and culture of the Chinese community in Ho Chi Minh City.

  • Ba Thien Hau Pagoda (Cho Lon Ba Temple): The oldest temple (built ~1760), dedicated to Mazu – the patron deity of seafarers. Features unique "Quoc" character layout architecture, tiled roof decorated with dragon and phoenix ceramic reliefs. It is the venue for the vibrant Via Ba Festival (23rd day of the 3rd lunar month) featuring lion and dragon dances.
  • Ha Chuong Assembly Hall (Huong Chau): Built in 1809, featuring intricate wood carvings and ornate roof tiles. Offers a spacious layout with harmoniously arranged shrine halls.
  • Tam Son Assembly Hall: Dedicated to Goddess Thien Hau and Kim Hue Thanh Mau, famous as a place to pray for fertility. Features ancient Fujianese architecture.
  • Nhi Phu Temple (Ong Bon Temple): Dedicated to Bon Dau Cong (God of Wealth), recognized as a national historic site. Offers a unique architectural character compared to other temples in Cho Lon.
  • On Lang Assembly Hall (Quan Am Pagoda): Over 300 years old, preserving precious artifacts such as Qing dynasty bells and drums. Famous for the traditional custom of "beating petty people".
  • Binh Tay Market: The largest commercial hub in the area, boasting unique East Asian architectural design (bagua layout). Offers a vast variety of goods: food items, fabrics, household items, and souvenirs.
  • Luong Nhu Hoc Lantern Street: A vibrant check-in spot, especially during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Daytime is great for shopping, while evenings offer sparkling light displays.
  • Other experiences: Traditional Chinese medicine street, iconic Chinese alleys, silver crafting workshops, and sampling local street food (Kieu Ky dumplings, Hoc Lac dim sum, Cot Dien sweet soup...).

These destinations create a multi-layered cultural tapestry, giving visitors a deeper understanding of the centuries-old harmony between Vietnamese and Chinese cultures.

Binh Tay Market
Photo: Binh Tay Market 

1-Day Cho Lon Tour Itinerary

Thoughtfully designed by Sovaba Travel, the Cho Lon tour offers travelers the opportunity to fully discover the cultural beauty of the Chinese-Vietnamese community in the heart of Saigon through iconic landmarks and unique experiences.

07:30 – 08:00: Pick up guests at the designated meeting point in District 5, enjoy breakfast with traditional heritage noodles.

08:00 – 11:30: Visit Ha Chuong Assembly Hall, Tam Son Assembly Hall, Ba Thien Hau Pagoda, and Nhi Phu Temple. Sovaba Travel's tour guide will introduce the history, architecture, and spiritual life of the Chinese community in Cho Lon.

12:00 – 13:30: Enjoy lunch with famous Chinese specialties such as dim sum, dumplings, roasted duck, and rest.

13:30 – 16:30: Continue exploring On Lang Assembly Hall, shopping at Binh Tay Market, checking in at Luong Nhu Hoc lantern street, and enjoying traditional cloth-filter coffee or traditional Chinese sweet soup.

16:30 – 17:00: End of the program, drop guests off at the meeting point.

With a flexible itinerary, diverse experiences, and the companionship of a professional guide team, Sovaba Travel's Cho Lon tour is an ideal choice for travelers wishing to gain a deeper insight into one of Ho Chi Minh City's most culturally rich areas.

Enjoying local street food at the market
Photo: Enjoying local street food at the market 

Booking a Cho Lon Tour

Booking a Cho Lon discovery tour becomes convenient and easy when choosing Sovaba Travel – a trusted tour operator specializing in unique cultural, historical, and local life experiences in Ho Chi Minh City. 

Quick booking methods:

  • Website: sovaba.travel
  • Consultation Hotline: 0934 733 223 (24/7 support)
  • Tour options: Group tours, private tours, or customized itineraries for individuals, families, and corporate groups.

Sovaba Travel supports pick-up service in central Ho Chi Minh City and provides consultation to match each traveler's schedule, preferences, and budget. More than just a simple sightseeing trip, discovering Cho Lon with Sovaba Travel opens up opportunities to delve into the history of Saigon's Chinatown, admire ancient assembly halls and temples, explore vibrant Binh Tay Market, savor the essence of Chinese cuisine, and feel the centuries-old cultural fusion in the heart of Saigon.

Exploring Cho Lon at night
Photo: Exploring Cho Lon at night 

A Cho Lon tour not only offers the chance to discover ancient architectural works, sample delicious Chinese cuisine, and learn about unique cultural values that have endured for centuries, but also helps travelers experience a vibrant, multi-faceted Saigon from an authentic and profound perspective. With a well-structured itinerary, professional service, and experienced tour guides, Sovaba Travel promises to deliver a complete, meaningful, and memorable journey.

If you enjoy exploring Ho Chi Minh City from different perspectives, do not miss out on other attractive programs from Sovaba Travel, such as the Nguyen Hue Walking Street tour, Ben Thanh Market tour, Independence Palace – Central Post Office – Notre Dame Cathedral tour, Cu Chi Tunnels tour, Saigon River cruise tour, or Saigon By Night tour. Each journey is a unique story, helping you better understand the history, culture, and vibrant lifestyle of the city named after Uncle Ho. Contact Sovaba Travel today to select the right trip and start your journey to explore Ho Chi Minh City in the most complete way.