The chain made the announcement in a Facebook post on September 16, without sharing the reason for the closure. Opened in 2014, the Ben Thanh outlet is one of McDonald's oldest stores in Vietnam and its second store in the municipal city.

Situated in a prime location and open 24/7, McDonald's Ben Thanh offered fast food and a place for young people and tourists to socialise in the evenings. Many expect that the outlet would maintain operation until the first metro line is put into operation.

With the closure of McDonald's Ben Thanh outlet, the American fast food chain will have 35 outlets nationwide, including 17 in Ho Chi Minh City.

High rental costs were highlighted by some customers for the departure.

Last month, Starbucks also shut down Starbucks Reserve Han Thuyen after seven years. The store was located in a prime location in District 1. The chain has been in Vietnam for 11 years and now has 108 stores.

Vietnam's food and beverage market is experiencing drastic changes, with more than 30,000 stores shutting down in the first half of 2024. Ho Chi Minh City has been the most heavily affected, with a 6 per cent decrease in the number of stores across the city, according to market analysis by iPOS.vn.