Bến Thành
Bến Thành is a ward (phường) of District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.[1] OriginsAbout the origins of the name, some said that Bến Nghé River (means Saigon River in modern times, not the same name canal) has a wharf on it and near the Citadel of Saigon, this wharf is used for visitors and soldiers entering the citadel, so it is called Bến Thành (a wharf next to the citadel). Near this wharf there is a market, so this market is also called Bến Thành market, which is known as the Old Market (Chợ cũ) and is believed to be around Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard and Hàm Nghi Boulevard (Old Market on Tôn Thất Đạm Street is also believed to be one of the first place of the original market), the current Bến Thành Market is called New Market (Chợ mới).[2] According to the toponymologist Lê Trung Hoa, Bến Thành is the central market of the city which selling domestic and foreign goods wholesale and retail. In the early 19th century, the market was located next to the Saigon River, where there was a ferry to Phiên An Citadel (other name of Citadel of Saigon / Gia Định), so it was called Bến Thành.[2] HistoryBefore 1975, Bến Thành is a ward of the 2nd district, City of Saigon. After 1975, Bến Thành ward annexed with Nhà thờ Huyện Sĩ ward (Huyện Sĩ Church) to become Huyện Sĩ ward. However, until 1976, District 2 was merged into District 1, Huyện Sĩ ward dissolved into Wards 11, 12 and 13 of District 1.[3] December 28, 1988, The Council of Ministers issued Decision No.184-HĐBT, all of natural area and population of Ward 11 and Ward 12 were merged to re-establish Bến Thành Ward. On June 16, 2025, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly issued Resolution No. 1685/NQ-UBTVQH15. Accordingly, Bến Thành Ward (new) was formed after arranging the entire natural area and population size of Bến Thành Ward, Phạm Ngũ Lão Ward and part of the natural area and population size of Cầu Ông Lãnh Ward, Nguyễn Thái Bình Ward.[4] This Resolution takes effect from the date of issuance. 2002 ITC fireOn 29 October 2002, a fire occurred in the International Trade Centre (ITC; formerly known as Crystal Palace or Thương xá Tam Đa), located at a Quadrangle of Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa – Lê Lợi – Nguyễn Trung Trực – Lê Thánh Tôn in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (opposite Saigon Centre and Saigon Square Mall). The six-story complex building was occupied by a department store, a disco and offices of several foreign companies.[5] The fire killed 60 people and injured 90 others, making it one of the deadliest peacetime disasters in Vietnam.[6] The lot of the ITC after the event five years, was planned to build a 137 million USD 52-story complex skyscraper named SJC Tower [vi] in November 2007 and the construction was started in 2010, three years later. However, the building is still not built yet and currently still an empty lot, the project is also relevated to Vạn Thịnh Phát fraud case.
Geography Bến Thành ward is located at the city centre, adjacent to:
The ward area is 1,85 km2, population as of 2024 is 71.785, with density is 38.802 people/km2. Notable attractionsPublic area
Notable buildings
References
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![Huyện Sỹ Church [vi] (Officially known as Saint-Philippe Church. Originally known as Chợ Đũi Church as it is in the Chợ Đũi area)](File:Nh%C3%A0_th%E1%BB%9D_huy%E1%BB%87n_S%E1%BB%B9_%E1%BB%9F_HCM.jpg)
![Trần Hữu Trang Cải lương Theatre [vi]](File:Rap_Hat_cai_luong,_tran_hung_dao,_phuong_Nguy%E1%BB%85n_C%C6%B0_Trinh,_Qu%E1%BA%ADn_1,_TPHCM,_Vi%E1%BB%87t_Nam_-_panoramio.jpg)
