The unique streets in Saigon

You can find a fancy antique on Le Cong Kieu Road in District 1 or enter the world of old books on Tran Nhan Ton Road in District 5.

Saigon does not have 36 old streets selling traditional items like Hanoi but it has several streets selling special products.

1. Antique Street

Le Cong Kieu Street attracts a lot of tourists. Photo: VNE

Only about 200m long, Le Cong Kieu Street in District 1 contains inside historical and cultural treasure of the nation, which is reproduced through antiques.

Coming here, you will be lost in a world of antiques, with large and small items displayed close together inside shops and on the sidewalk. The Indochina banknotes, coins of the Ly, Tran Dynasties, pottery jars and pots of the Nguyen Dynasty in Vietnam and the Qing Dynasty in China… are what you can see.

In addition, there are countless bronze items such as Buddha and Shiva statues of different sizes. You will also see ancient stamps, the utensils made of silver … in glass cabinets.

No one knows when this street of antiques was formed. They just know that it has become a familiar address not only for those who love antiques but also tourists.

2. Street for Oriental medicines

 

Stepping into Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street in District 5, you will immediately smell the characteristic aromas of oriental medicines and herbs.

This is the street of a big community of Chinese, who mainly earn their living by selling oriental medicines.

There are all kinds of unprocessed materials which are contained in big sacks or the processed drugs which are classified into unguent, pills and powder, etc.

When night falls, the street becomes sparkling in the light from Chinese-styled lanterns.

3. Street of musical instruments

 

You can find any type of musical instrument on Nguyen Thien Thuat Street. Photo VNE

For music fans, Nguyen Thien Thuat Street in District 3 is a familiar address if you want to buy a certain type of instrument.

Coming here, you will lost in the world of music, with all kinds of instruments like guitars, zithers, monochords, violins, flutes, harmonicas ….

The shops here not only sell ready-made instruments but also produce musical instruments at customer requests.

4. Streets of old books

 

A book shop on Tran Nhan Ton Street.

 

Famous literary works of the world, books, newspapers, magazines or comics are available in the old bookstores here. Originally, there was only one shop that sold and purchased old comic books here but gradually Tran Nhan Ton street has become a famous old book shopping place in Saigon.

Customers of these stores are book lovers, who look for a specific work of the past that is no longer reprinted. Some people spend a whole day here with the sole desire to find his favorite book which is somewhere among the millions of books here.

The prices of old books here are different. Some are very cheap but some are very expensive.

The unique streets in Saigon