BY Richie Fawcett
AREA
Ben Thanh Central Market developed from informal smaller markets created by the early 17th Century street vendors gathering togetherness the Saigon River.
The earliest city market on what is now Ham Nghi Boulevard was burnt down in 1869. In its place in 1870 the French built a new city market on a nearby canal, now Nguyen Hue Boulevard. After the second canal was filled in 1889, trade moved elsewhere, and eventually in 1914 this second market was also replaced by the Halles Centrales now the Ben Thanh Market, at the intersection of Le loi and Ham Nghi. Today the front entrance of Ben Thanh Market is a popular symbol of the city.
Apart from being a major hub for the network of the city busses serving Ho Chi Min, Ben Thanh is the hub for several lines of the planned Ho Chi MinhCity Metro : Line 1 is under construction and will connect Ben Thanh with Long Binh in the future.
COCKTAIL
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHQzz1lUjdUeDkNkKyXs0gw
Ben Thanh Bottle Cocktail inspired by the Lychee sellers that stand outside the front door of the market during the season which runs from late April to late June. During this time, upto 75% of the total production is consumed in Vietnam, the rest is exported to other ASEAN countries and Europe.
INGREDIENTS –
40ml Vodka, 25ml Lychee, 15ml Ginger, 10ml Apple Cider Vinegar, top with soda.
METHOD – Build all in mixing glass with fresh ice, stir and enjoy whist reading The Cocktail Art of Saigon Drinks Manual Vol 2, exclusively available from The Studio Saigon.
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