YOUR INSIDER'S GUIDE TO FURTHER ATTRACTIONS
IN HO CHI MINH CITY ๐ป๐ณ SINCE 2008
SAIGON INSPIRATION ATTRACTIONS FURTHER ATTRACTIONS
SAIGON INSPIRATION ATTRACTIONS FURTHER ATTRACTIONS DISTRICT 1 โ POINT OF INTEREST โ ATTRACTIONS IN HO CHI MINH CITY
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District 1 is the financial and commercial hub ofย Ho Chi Minh City. Most travelers will spend the majority of their time here. Home to most of the major sights and an expanding number of barsย andย restaurants, District 1 was designed by French architects during the colonial era, which explains the wide, tree-lined boulevards and frequent parklands. On a visit to Saigon, you could spend all your time in District 1 exclusively and never want any restaurants, products, or services.
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Notable attractions in Saigonโs District 1 include Saigonย City Hall,ย Saigon Opera House,ย Notre Dame Cathedral,ย Saigon Central Post Office,ย Reunification Palace,ย National History Museum,ย Jade Emperor Pagoda,ย Jamia Al Muslimin Mosque,ย Mariamman Hindu Temple,ย and the tallest building in the city, theย Bitexco Tower. Conveniently, almost all ofย HCMCโs five-star hotelsย are scattered throughout District 1 making it easy for you to see the sights and indulge in comforting surroundings when it all gets too overwhelming.
Read more about Saigonโs different areas and points of interest: Districts of Ho Chi Minh City.
You can also check our guides:
What to do in Ho Chi Minh City in 24 hours?ย
SAIGON INSPIRATION ATTRACTIONS FURTHER ATTRACTIONS DISTRICT 5 OR CHO LON, SAIGONโS CHINATOWN
The District 5 of Ho Chi Minh City, more popularly known as Cho Lon, is the cityโs Chinatown. Unfortunately, it is decidedly less Chinese than it used to be due to the anti-Chinese campaign in the late โ70s when many fled the country. Saigonโs District 5 is home to the largest market in Vietnam, a deluxe shopping mall, and charming Chinese pagodas such as Nghia An Hoi Quan, Tam Son Hoi Quan, Thien Hau, and Khanh Van Nam Vien.
Cho Lon literally means โbig marketโ and youโll discover that with a shopping trek toย Binh Tay Market, the countryโs largest. Make sure to bring your camera as there are many distinctive temples in the area. Pagodas of note includeย Nghia An Hoi Quan,ย Tam Son Hoi Quan,ย Thien Hau,ย andย Khanh Van Nam Vien.. District 5, or Saigonโs Chinatown, occupies an area of 4 square km on the west bank of the Saigon River. It is a short drive away from central Saigonโsย District 1.
Read more about Saigonโs different areas and points of interest: Districts of Ho Chi Minh City.
SAIGON INSPIRATION ATTRACTIONS FURTHER ATTRACTIONS PHAM NGU LAO AREA
Commonly called โPho Tayโ (street of foreigners), the Pham Ngu Lao area in Saigon is a convenient place to find cheap accommodation,ย food,ย andย nightlife. Located inย District 1,ย Ho Chi Minh City, โPho Tayโ comprises of numerous thoroughfares, including De Tham, Bui Vien, and Do Quang Dao streets. This area is a familiar address for literally everyone from low-budget travelers to locals. The rhythm here is always busy and noisy, especially at night when the streets get insanely crowded.
Whatever youโre looking for, from local cuisine to international food, from banh mi (bread), banh xeo (pancakes), pho (the most popular rice noodle soup), bun bo Hue (also a rice noodle soup but a bit thicker than pho) to Indian, Turkish, Italian, Mexican dishes, Pham Ngu Lao is able to satisfy your craving. Thanks to the diversity, now you need to choose what to eat from tons of options. You may also want to have yourself a ca phe sua da, a powerful Vietnamese coffee mixed with milk which you can find in anyย coffeeย shop.
There are plenty of lively souvenir-and-craft stalls within the narrow lanes of Pham Ngu Lao. Here you can find almost everything: t-shirts, conical hats, handicrafts, silk, paintings, tea, coffee, coconut candies, tropical fruits and more. Remember toย bargain.
Have you ever tried wandering around Pham Ngu Lao area in the morning? Youโll be surprised by how quiet and peaceful the street is compared to its bustling pace in the evening. As Pham Ngu Lao is not such a large area, itโs the perfect place to explore the alleys, immerse yourself in the local culture and be amazed by charming colonial-era buildings where local families have been living for generations.
Perfect for experiencing โnhแบญuโ cultural, Pham Ngu Lao gathers many incredibly cheap beer stalls on the roadside. It is a great place to relax, people watch and meet friendly expats from all over the world.
