Where To Stay In Ho Chi Minh City: Best Districts For First-Time Visitors

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Choosing where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City can completely change your trip. The city is huge, busy and full of very different neighbourhoods, so picking the right area makes everything feel much easier, especially if it is your first time visiting Vietnam.


Understanding Ho Chi Minh City’s Districts 📍

Ho Chi Minh City is made up of lots of different districts and each one has a completely different vibe. We’ve included the districts we think are worth knowing about before you book your stay.


District 1

The main tourist hub filled with rooftop bars, nightlife, shopping, markets, cafés and many of the city’s biggest attractions. If it is your first time in Vietnam, this is our number 1 recommendation.


Ho Chi Minh City District 1

District 2 / Thao Dien

A trendy expat area known for brunch cafés, boutique gyms, western restaurants and a much more relaxed atmosphere. This is where we live, and it has a very different feel to the centre of the city.


District 3

A quieter and more local-feeling district that still sits very close to the city centre and has amazing cafés and food spots.


District 4

A lively local district famous for seafood, street food and nightlife that feels slightly less touristy than District 1.



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District 5 / Chinatown

Ho Chi Minh City’s historic Chinatown, also known as Cholon. It is filled with temples, markets, traditional medicine shops and incredible local food.


District 7

A cleaner and more modern district popular with families and expats, known for shopping malls, Korean restaurants and wide streets.


District 10

A busy local district known for amazing food, coffee shops, shopping streets and fewer tourists.


Binh Thanh

A popular area between District 1 and Thao Dien that mixes local life with modern apartments and is home to Landmark 81.


Tan Binh

The district surrounding Tan Son Nhat Airport, mainly known for airport hotels and convenience for short stays.


Thu Duc / Thu Thiem

A rapidly developing modern area with luxury apartments, riverfront views, trendy cafés and some of the city’s best skyline views.




So, Where Should You Stay?

For most first-time visitors, we would recommend staying in District 1. It is the easiest and most convenient base for sightseeing, food, bars, markets and day trips, especially if you are near Saigon Centre.


If you are staying for an extended period of time, District 2, 3 and 4 can be more comfortable locations for you to settle down in

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