HCM City’s first-ever underground market reopens

HCM City (VNA) – The only underground market in Ho Chi Minh City has been re-opened beneath September 23 Park in District 1, downtown the city, under a new name “Central Market” after it was shut down five months ago.

The subterranean market, which combines a shopping centre and a food court, was re-launched by Cuu Long 23-9 JSC on September 21.

It spreads over 11,000sq.m, including 4,000sq.m for parking, and consists of the 1,500sq.m Asiana Food Town featuring nearly 100 street food stalls selling food from various countries like Vietnam, Japan, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and India and the 2,000-sq.m Taka Plaza with some 300 shops selling various goods at fixed prices.

It also includes a Co.op Food outlet and a game centre.

Central Market is a mixture between a conventional and a modern market, said Director General of Cuu Long 23-9 JSC Nguyen Binh Phuong. It is Vietnam’s first-ever underground market and also a venue for events and festivals, which helps promote reputation of the city and the country among both residents and foreign visitors, he added.

To mark its opening, a series of activities are scheduled at the market from September 21 – 28, including folk games, music performances, fashion shows and tourism promotion events.

Central Market, formally known as Sense Market, was first launched in March 2017. It was developed at a cost of more than 100 billion VND (4.3 million USD) in September 23 Park’s basement, which had been abandoned for 20 years.

It was closed at the end of April because the municipal People’s Committee wanted to redesign the park to make it a more accessible green space for the public./.