A food stall offering Vietnamese sweet soups at Sense Market

As such, the market will continue operation instead of being closed on April 30 as planned.

According to an official dispatch of the HCMC government, the market does not affect the park’s environment and operations. In addition, thanks to its convenient location in close proximity to the backpackers quarter in District 1, the market has attracted many foreign tourists.

In the dispatch, the city government also asked the Department of Planning and Architecture to organize a contest to find a new planning design for September 23 Park. Meanwhile, the Department of Culture and Sports is responsible for removing the Pink Lotus Theater from the park and the Department of Transport is in charge of removing the bus station.

The underground Sense Market is developed and operated by Saigon Co.op and Cuu Long Investment Commercial Company, with an investment of nearly VND200 billion (US$8.6 million).

The market covers 11,000 square meters of land. Of this, a parking lot covers 6,000 square meters, while the remaining area comprises a food court with 100 food stands and a shopping center called Taka Plaza with 400 booths. SGT