If you’re a first-time visitor to Ho Chi Minh City, it’s important to know where to stay and which hotel that best suits your budget and preference. Without proper research, this could lead to unnecessary hassles and travel expenses. Hailed as Vietnam’s biggest city and business capital, Ho Chi Minh City features plenty of things to see and do, from fascinating historical landmarks and beautiful pagodas to hip bars and sprawling shopping malls.
Ho Chi Minh City is divided into 24 districts, each offering unique experiences and accommodation options to travellers worldwide. To help you decide where to book your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, we’ve compiled a quick rundown of the pros and cons of its most popular districts.
District 1 (Downtown) : How to decide
District 1 is Ho Chi Minh City’s main financial and commercial hub, featuring French colonial architecture, tree-lined boulevards, as well as ample dining and shopping opportunities. Notable attractions here include Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon Central Post Office, Reunification Palace, Saigon Zoo, Jade Emperor Pagoda, Botanical Gardens Mariamman Hindu Temple and Bitexco Tower. Due to its popularity, District 1 offers plenty of accommodation options that range from five-star hotels set along the upscale Dong Khoi Street to budget guesthouses within the backpackers street of Pham Ngu Lao.
District 2 : How to decide
A 20-minute drive from the city centre, District 2 serves mainly as the home for expats and affluent locals. Great for escaping from District 1’s overcrowded environment, this locale is filled with high-quality apartments, villas, and houses as well as international schools, commercial offices, bars, and restaurants. Located along the Saigon River, there are lots of restaurants, cafes, boutique shops and tree lined parks in District 2, as well as Saigon Outcast, a vibrant creative space for artists.
District 5 (Chinatown)
District 5 is Ho Chi Minh City’s Chinatown, where you can find oriental-style architecture, vibrant street markets, and an array of authentic Chinese restaurants. Prominent landmarks here include Buddhist temples such as Tam Son Hoi Quan, Thien Hau and Khanh Van Nam Vien, as well as Binh Tay Market, which is the largest market in Vietnam, all of which are easily accessible via cyclo services. District 5 is also most lively during annual celebrations such as Chinese New Year and Mooncake Festival.
