Footscray Market
A 10,000-square-metre indoor market that became the heart of Melbourne's Vietnamese community after the late-1970s refugee wave.
About this market
Footscray Market opened in 1984, but the character of the place was really set a few years earlier, when Vietnamese refugees resettling after the war began opening bakeries, restaurants and grocery stores along nearby Hopkins Street. That precinct became known as Little Saigon, and the market itself grew into its retail heart: over 75 independent traders across 10,000 square metres of fresh produce, meat, seafood and Asian groceries.
More than a produce market
Vietnamese food culture is the strongest single thread here, from pho ingredients to traditional bakeries, but it's layered over stallholders from the Philippines, Somalia, Sri Lanka, the Pacific Islands, Malta and Greece. It's less an "ethnic market" in the singular sense and more a working cross-section of who's actually settled in Melbourne's west since the 1950s.
Market at a glance
It's genuinely useful for ingredients other Melbourne markets don't stock: exotic fruit, fresh Asian herbs, and seafood that reviewers describe as sparkling fresh rather than just "good." The market sits directly opposite Footscray Railway Station, four stops from Melbourne Central, so it's an easy add-on to a CBD trip rather than a special expedition.
Footscray Market appeared on the Channel Nine program Postcards in 2023, described as the heart of multiculturalism in Footscray, a fair summary of a market that grew directly out of the Vietnamese resettlement of the late 1970s.
Good to know before you go
It's closed Monday and Sunday, which catches out some first-time visitors expecting a daily market. Undercover parking (over 800 spaces) makes it one of the easier Melbourne markets to drive to, with monthly passes available for regulars.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What days is Footscray Market open?
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It's closed Monday and Sunday. Check the live hours panel on this page before visiting.
- Is there parking?
- Yes, over 800 undercover parking spaces on-site, with rates from $1 for the first hour up to $10 for all-day parking. Footscray Railway Station is directly opposite.
- What makes it different from other Melbourne markets?
- The concentration of Vietnamese, Filipino, Somali, Sri Lankan, Pacific Islander and Southern European traders on one floor, a direct legacy of Footscray becoming a resettlement hub for Vietnamese refugees from the late 1970s.