Get yourself full for just $8 at this Saigon market

Market 200 is a well-known location for street cuisine among people who live in HCMC. The market is in District 4 on Alley 200 of Xom Chieu Street. There are more than 50 vendors selling all kinds of food over 300 meters of the alley.

Many vendors start operating around 1:30 p.m. and stay open until around 11 p.m. They sell snails, noodle soup, fried chicken and fried rice, offal stew, vermicelli, porridge, sweet dessert soup, and spring rolls. The reasonable prices of the meals draw a lot of repeat customers. Market 200 is named as such because it is situated on Alley 200, according to Minh Tri, a resident of District 4.
Guests also joke that in this market, you can eat till you’re satisfied for only VND200,000 ($8.53). “People say the food here is affordable, cheap and delicious,” he said. “Despite the fact that many dishes have seen price increases, if you know what to order, you can still enjoy a range of foods at an average price of VND20,000-30,000 ($0.85-1.28) per dish.”

Oanh’s stall has been selling pha lau (offal stew) for more than 20 years. The offal is cooked with coconut water, creating a rich and aromatic dish without the stink of beef intestines. Aside from the regular stew, there is also a fried version. “A bowl with all kinds of toppings served with bread is VND33,000,” said Nguyen Thi Oanh, the 60-year-old owner. “Guests can also choose to eat this with instant noodles.”

Another popular spot in Market 200 is Hang’s crab soup, which is well-known for its delicious broth made from stewed bones. This stall is open every day from early afternoon until after 9 p.m. There are many different toppings including crab sticks, century eggs, pork brains, eggs, and shrimp. Some of the favorite toppings are century eggs and pork brains. The vendor sells 300 cups of crab soup each day. A bowl with full toppings costs VND25,000.

Ut sells different kinds of deep fried treats, such as sweet potato, banana, and spicy cake made from tapioca. With three hot pans being used at the same time, the food is always hot. The stall is open from early afternoon to 6 p.m. every day. The price of each treat starts from VND10,000.

In addition to fried snacks, Ut also sells braised bananas. If you want a sweet treat but don’t particularly like deep-fried food, the soft bits of banana are a perfect alternative. They have a light aroma and a sweet taste.

“Banh trang tron”, or mixed rice paper salad, is one of the favorite street foods in Ho Chi Minh City. At Market 200, there are about five stalls selling this snack with similar flavors. The price for a full portion that include dried seafood, jerky, boiled quailed eggs, mango strips and different kinds of sauces is VND25,000.

If you have a sweet tooth, you should try Ha Tram’s che, which offers about 20 different types: tapioca, lotus seed, lotus root, coconut, and beans. Che bi, which is tapioca pearls with copra in the fillings, and is served with sweet sugar water and ice, is the most popular dish. A cup of che costs VND15,000 on average.

Despite having diverse and affordable dishes, many people have commented that the dining space at Market 200 needs to be improved. When packed, most vendors’ limited spaces cannot accommodate enough diners. Also, visitors shouldn’t come by car as the road leading to the market is small. To prevent traffic jams, motorcycle riders should leave their vehicles in the parking area at the far end of the market.