Chợ Lớn

Vietnam's great Chinatown. Cho Lon is the historic Chinese quarter of Ho Chi Minh City, spread mainly across Districts 5 and 6 to the west of the central area. Its name means "big market," and for generations it has been the commercial engine of the city's ethnic Chinese community, a dense grid of wholesale markets, trading houses, temples and workshops with a character distinct from the French-influenced downtown.

Temples and assembly halls. Cho Lon is renowned for its concentration of ornate Chinese temples and community assembly halls, built by immigrants from different regions of southern China. Their tiled roofs, coiling dragons, carved screens and clouds of incense make them among the most atmospheric religious sites in the country, dedicated to figures such as the sea goddess and various guardian deities, and still central to community life and festivals.

Markets and commerce. At the heart of the district is the sprawling Binh Tay Market, a landmark wholesale bazaar in a courtyard building, surrounded by streets specialising in fabric, herbs, dried goods, hardware and traditional medicine. The relentless trade, street food and bilingual signage give Cho Lon an identity all its own within the wider city.

Visiting. Cho Lon lies a short taxi or bus ride from the centre of Ho Chi Minh City and is best explored by day, when the markets and temples are busiest. There is no admission to the district, and temples are generally free to enter, with modest dress appreciated. The area is crowded and hot, so wander at an easy pace, and it becomes especially vibrant around the Lunar New Year. Combine temple-hopping with a meal of the district's Chinese-Vietnamese specialities. Traditional medicine shops, lantern makers and gilded temple gateways give the streets a character quite unlike the rest of the city.