Cho Lon means Big Market, and it has been part of Saigon since the eighteenth century. This is the city's Chinatown, a district with its own culture, lifestyle and architecture, and it feels very different from the glass towers and colonial boulevards of central District 1. The city tourism site describes bright red Chinese-style buildings and lively narrow lanes, and the area rewards slow walking with temples, shops and street life. The star is Thien Hau Temple at 710 Nguyen Trai Street in District 5, built in 1760 and dedicated to Mazu, the Chinese goddess of the sea. You enter through a green iron gate with hanging lanterns, cross a courtyard and exit through a side gate onto a small street, past porcelain figurines. It is described as one of the oldest Chinese pagodas in Saigon. Quan Am Temple at 12 Lao Tu Street is dedicated to Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy, and was built by Hokkien immigrants in the early nineteenth century, with courtyards, altars, statues and paintings under drifting incense. Nearby, Binh Tay Market is a famous wholesale market for those who want to keep walking.
How it works
Cho Lon lies south-west of the city centre in District 5, a ride of about fifteen to thirty minutes from District 1 depending on traffic. Walking between the temples is possible, but the streets are busy, so many visitors take a taxi or ride-hailing car for the transfer and then walk locally. Visiting the temples is free. Opening hours are not stated on the tourism page we used, so expect the temples to be open during the day and check locally.
What to expect
Temples here are working places of worship, with burning incense and offerings, so dress modestly, speak quietly and ask before photographing people. Mazu's birthday is celebrated on the twenty-third day of the third lunar month, when her statue is carried through the streets in a procession, and the area is at its busiest and most colourful. Outside festival days, the temples are calm, and the best part of a visit is the details: ceramic figures, carved roof ridges, coiled incense hanging from the ceiling and the smell of smoke.
Making the most of it
Go in the morning, when the light is soft and the streets are cooler, and pair the temples with lunch in a local restaurant, since Cho Lon is known for Chinese-Vietnamese food. If you want more context, a guide or a cyclo tour of the district is an option, but the area is easy to explore alone. Combine it with the Jade Emperor Pagoda on a temple-focused day. Carry small notes, keep your phone secure in crowded lanes and allow two to three hours in total.
A morning in Cho Lon pairs well with a measured pace. Start with the Thien Hau Temple, cross to the Quan Am Temple, then stop for a bowl of noodles or dim sum at a local restaurant, and finish at a market or a herb shop. Take cash in small notes, because many places do not accept cards, and use a ride-hailing app for the return to avoid negotiating a fare.
If you are interested in architecture, look up at the roof ridges and the ceramic scenes, which are often more detailed than the doors below them.
What to expect
The experience
A free self-guided walk through Saigon's Chinatown, with the Thien Hau and Quan Am temples, lantern-hung lanes and local food stops.
Best time
A morning, when the streets are cooler, or Mazu's birthday on the twenty-third day of the third lunar month for the procession.
How long
Two to three hours.
Tips
Take a taxi or ride-hailing car from District 1, dress modestly in the temples and carry small notes for offerings.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Visitors who want the older, Chinese-influenced side of Saigon and a few atmospheric temples.
- Families
- Interesting for children who like lanterns and incense, though the lanes are busy.
- Couples
- A slow, atmospheric walk with a Chinese-Vietnamese lunch.
- Pair with
- The Jade Emperor Pagoda and the Fito Museum on a temple and culture day.
- Time needed
- Half a day with lunch.
Good questions
What is Cho Lon?+
Cho Lon, meaning Big Market, is Saigon's Chinatown in District 5, part of the city since the eighteenth century.
What is Thien Hau Temple?+
A temple at 710 Nguyen Trai Street built in 1760 and dedicated to Mazu, the Chinese goddess of the sea.
Is it free to visit?+
Walking around Cho Lon and visiting the temples is free. Offerings and donations are optional.
How do I get to Cho Lon?+
It is in District 5, south-west of the centre. A taxi or ride-hailing car is the easiest way.
When is the busiest time?+
Mazu's birthday on the twenty-third day of the third lunar month, when her statue is carried through the streets.
