Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide in 2024
Today, Vietnam Budget Carrental will show you the Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide in 2024. Ho Chi Minh City, or Thành Phố Hồ Chí Minh in Vietnamese, more commonly known as Saigon (In Vietnamese: Sài Gòn) or by the short forms HCMC or HCM, which used to be the capital of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), and is the biggest city in Vietnam.
Brief Introduction
When Saigon fell in 1975, it was changed its name to Ho Chi Minh City. However, both Vietnamese and Westerners still use the old name for Saigon, especially when talking about the most touristy part of the city.
Ho Chi Minh City is located at 10°10' - 10°38' North latitude and 106°22' - 106°54' East longitude.
- The north borders Binh Duong province.
- The west borders Tay Ninh province and Long An province.
- The east borders Dong Nai province and Ba Ria - Vung Tau.
- The south borders the East Sea and Tien Giang province.
Located in the South, belonging to the Southeast region, Ho Chi Minh City is 1,730 km from Hanoi by road. The city center is 50 km from the East Sea coast on a straight line. With its focal position in Southeast Asia, Ho Chi Minh City is an important transportation hub for road, waterway and airway, connecting provinces in the region and also an international gateway.
How to get to Ho Chi Minh City?
1. Going by bus
The following bus stops are where you will get off the bus:
- Cho Ben Thanh Bus Station is right in the middle of HCMC, close enough to walk to tourist spots and places to stay.
- Mien Dong Bus Station: This is where buses going north leave and land. From Cho Ben Thanh Bus Station, you can take bus number 19 to get here.
- To get to Mien Tay Bus Station, take bus 139 from Tran Hung Dao Street.
- Cholon Bus Stop.
It costs between 8,000 VND and 50,000 VND to ride a public bus around the city from these stops.
Many buses from private tour companies drop off people on Pham Ngu Lao, which is just west of De Tham. This makes it easy to get to places to stay in the backpacker area. Of course, this means that at least 40 other people will be looking for the same rooms, which can be stressful because the close spots will be taken quickly. People who slowly explore the narrow lanes will find rewards. These alleys seem to have a life of their own. If you want to take an Open Tour bus, the French and German governments say not to.
As soon as you get off the bus, cab drivers will be all over you asking, "Where are you going?" Taxi drivers will probably try to take advantage of the fact that you don't know where you are in the city. Most likely, you'll already be in Pham Ngu Lao. If you tell the cab driver to take you to the same spot, he'll just go around a few blocks again and take your money.
From Phnom Penh, you can take a bus with a number of different companies for about US$12 per person. You can't get a visa at the border, so make sure you have one ready before you go. A famous bus line run by Capital Tours leaves from the Capital Guest House in Phnom Penh and takes people to the border. Once they have their visas, they transfer to a partner Vietnamese bus and continue their trip to HCMC.
>>Read more: Taxi Ho Chi Minh To Phnom Penh Cambodia
2. Going by train
The GA Sai Gon train station is on Cach Mang Thang Tam (CMT8), which is northwest of the city center. The big hotel districts are only a short taxi or public bus ride away. The "backpackers district" has an official train ticket office at 275C Pham Ngu Lao.
Along the Reunification line, five trains leave Hanoi every day. Even though some of the trains are called "express," the trips all take between 30 and 35 hours. The SE3 train leaves Hanoi at 11 PM and gets there at 5 AM the next morning. It is the fastest train.
However, SE5, which leaves at 3:45 PM and arrives at 4:40 AM, has better tourist coaches that are run by the private company Livitrans. A normal ticket costs between 1,008,000 VND and 1,547,000 VND, and a tourist ticket costs twice that.
3. Going by plane
Ho Chi Minh International Airport code SGN, also written as Tân Sơn Nhất, is the busiest in Vietnam. Singapore, Bandar Seri Begawan, Manila, Hong Kong, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung, Nanning, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, Kunming, Busan, Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Nagoya, Doha, Frankfurt, London-Gatwick, Paris, Moscow, Perth, Darwin, Sydney, Melbourne, Yangon, and Istanbul. All of these cities have direct flights to SGN.
One is a shiny, nice new international terminal that took over all international flights in 2007. The other is a 200-meter-away, old but still useful domestic terminal. The airport is only 8 km from the city center, which is very handy. When you got off the plane at the foreign terminal, you could shop duty-free, but that stopped in early 2010. If you are coming to Vietnam, you must buy any duty-free things you want at the airport where you are leaving. Once you get past immigration on your way out, there is limited food at both airports that costs twice as much.
The Burger King is on the upper level of the International building, where the arrivals are. Everything is set in US dollars, and the prices look like they would be at a store in the US. Like, a juicy grill meal cost $7.90. A second place outside on the exit level (before security) was also being built.
After landing at the airport, you will think about leaving with the transfers at Ho Chi Minh Airport to your accommodations, there are some options for you below:
By taxi from the airport
Pay close attention: You have to avoid the taxi scam while traveling to Ho Chi Minh as taking one is one of the worst things about going to Vietnam.
The people in charge of Saigon's airport have tried many ways over the years to make more money by giving certain taxi companies a monopoly or near-monopoly (which means higher prices for passengers). The Vietnamese, on the other hand, hate being picked on. (About 90% of the people who land at the domestic terminal and most of the people who land at the foreign terminal are Vietnamese.) Any attempt at a monopoly system has been weakened by complaints and pushback that finds workarounds. This makes for a slow-motion game of cat and mouse that could change over time.
You can find the Vinasun taxi stand at the right end of the international terminal. To get there, take the lift up two floors to the departure floor from the ground floor (arrival floor). You can also turn right out of the terminal and walk 200 meters to the domestic terminal parking lot to find a wider range of choices if you are quick on your feet and the options look sketchy. It costs about 100,000 dong to take a cab from the airport to District 1 (downtown). There is also a 10,000 VND toll fee.
At the domestic terminal, the only company that is allowed to pick up right next to the building is Sasco, which has the airport taxi license. As you come out of customs, their cars will be the first ones you see by the street. There are, however, a lot of less expensive competitors 100 m out into the parking lot. Usually, they have uniformed cab wardens waiting to try to get your business as you walk up. In HCMC, taxi prices are very fair as long as you use the meter and go with reliable companies such as Vietnam Budget Carrental or VinaSun.
If you're not sure, make sure the driver decides to use the meter and turns it on before you get in. It's important to be careful when you choose because outsiders are often the target of over-price scams involving eager touts who will try to take your bags. A shady driver might start the meter without turning it on and then demand a high fare or try to negotiate a set price in a place where tourists can't easily call another cab. I suggest taking a Vinasun taxi or a Vietnam Budget Car hire. These cabs are outside the domestic terminal. If you can't find them there, cross the street and go to the right corner of the parking lots. It will only take you one minute to walk there.
It only takes 15 minutes to get to the city center on a hot Sunday afternoon or between 10 PM and 6 AM, when there isn't as much traffic. Usually, cabs can slowly move through traffic that is almost stopped for up to an hour. Depending on the time of day and where you are going, the price from the airport to the city should be between 85,000 and 140,000 dong. This does not include the airport tax. Taxis used to only charge for distance, not time. But because traffic has gotten so much worse recently, time charges have started to show up. The rules change over time and between businesses. You can take a cab from the airport to District 1 (downtown) for about 100,000 dong, plus a 5,000 dong toll fee.
>>Read more: Private Limousine Ho Chi Minh Airport To Muine | Budget Car Rental
When taking a cab in HCMC, you should generally be careful and use common sense. You should know something is wrong when people in the area avoid a certain cab service or driver. If you want to avoid getting ripped off while waiting for a taxi, look for the taxi wardens who are usually standing around the line. They will call the taxi for you. Most big cab companies are honest, but if you want to avoid any trouble, you could just buy a "taxi coupon" at one of the counters next to the exchange desk in the international airport terminal, after you clear customs and go through x-rays.
Taxis that look like the above-mentioned reliable companies are probably scam artists, so be careful. There are a lot of gangster taxis, and some very closely copy the names and markings of more reputable taxi companies, with only small changes. For example, MEi Linh or Mai Lin or M Taxi instead of Mai Linh. If a stranger doesn't know what's going on, they will charge ridiculous prices. There have been times when fake taxi services or drivers took off with visitors' things still in the trunk or boot while they were not paying attention.
Be careful, because some taxis look like VinaSUN and even copy their phone number (38 27 27 27) without the start. These taxis have meters that run three times as fast. VinaMET is this one. The same scam is also going on with Mai LINH's copiers. Do not deal with these con artists.
Watch out for cab touts who wear white shirts and carry laminated "fixed prices" cards that say 4,400,000 dong per car to the city's hotels. Even if they make the price go down to 2,600,000 dong, it is still a scam. Do not pay attention to them; only take cabs with meters.
If you want to take a cab with meters, you should change just enough cash at the airport (about US$10 should do). There could be a fee of up to 3% at the airport exchange. It's important to be clear about which hotel you want to be driven to because taxi drivers get paid to take people to certain hotels. Drivers may make up any reason, like "no vacancies," "the circus is in town," "that hotel burned down recently," and so on, to get people to stay at other (commission-paying) hotels.
>>Read more: Taxi From Ho Chi Minh To Phu Quoc
By bus from the airport
You can get off at the bus stop on the southwest side of the Ben Thanh Market roundabout or at the east end of the Pham Ngu Lao area for 10,000 VND. As soon as you leave the international airport building, turn right. The bus will be waiting there.
If not, it will take you about three minutes to walk down to the domestic exit. When you pay, try to have exact change on hand. If not, you will be given coins, which are legal money but many places won't take them.
A short distance away, across a small road, is where the bus will be waiting. There are no signs showing where the bus stop is. The taxi wardens will show you where to stand and wait if you ask them.
>>Read more: Shuttle Bus Ho Chi Minh Airport Transfer To City Center
Car rental service and drivers
As of late, Vietnam Budget Carrental has become Vietnam's most reliable foreign company specializing in renting a car. They have new model cars and workers who speak English. Traveling to the city costs about 140,000 VND.
Leaving HCM City
Make sure you know which gate you want to go to when you get to the airport. If you want to catch an international trip, go straight to the newer international terminal. This is where internal flights to Hanoi, Danang, Nha Trang, and other places leave from (turn left).
In the event that you are dropped off at the wrong terminal, you will have to quickly walk 600 m to get to the correct station. This is not a good idea, especially if you are already running late for the flight.
Taxi drivers will add an "entrance fee" to your total fare when you get to the airport. This is the 5,000 dong fee to get into the airport. The "Airport Departure Tax" is not the same thing as this entry fee. The foreign departure tax should have been included in the price of your flight ticket.
How to explore HCM City?
1. By motorbike
Motorbike cabs, or xe ôm, which means "hug-vehicle," are easy to find (you'll hear "you want moto!" everywhere), cheap, and safe most of the time. Ever since 2007, all riders in Vietnam have had to wear helmets. This law is strictly followed. Make sure the driver gives you a hat. If he doesn't, you'll have to pay the fine, so find another one.
Set a price that you both agree on before you leave. Short trips around town shouldn't cost more than 20,000 VND, and the trip to the airport should cost around 40,000 VND. To get an idea of the price, round up to half of what a cab would cost for the same trip. Most drivers are friendly, and if you ask them to, they'll go slower.
Another thing is that if you're really having trouble holding on to the motorcycle, they won't mind giving you a bear hug. As with most Vietnamese people, many moto drivers, especially in District 1, speak English. If you take the time to get to know them, they will smile at you and possibly show you all the sights.
Anywhere, but mostly near the tourist area (Pham Ngu Lao) in District 1, you can rent a motorcycle. You can get a good 100-110cc bike for 110,000 VND. It's best to let expert drivers take you around Saigon. The traffic is heavy and moves in a way that makes sense.
But if you want to go on an adventure, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, drivers who don't have much experience should think about renting a motorbike, which is usually a bit more expensive, because at a busy intersection, you don't have time to worry about how to change gears.
Be careful of crooks; always keep your motorcycle close by or park it with someone watching it. There are guards or parking attendants in front of most places who will give you a number tag and watch over your motorcycle. There are separate parking lots all over the city, in alleys, on roads, and in basements. Go to places where there are neat rows of motorcycles stopped or signs that say "giu xe." At some places, it's free, but you should leave a small tip. At fancy nightclubs, it costs 10,000 VND.
2. By bus
There are 150 lines that bright green city buses run. The large Ben Thanh bus stop is in District 1, right across the street from Ben Thanh Market. To find the maps, just go to the desk in the middle of the waiting room. It's cheap, safe, and not too busy on the buses.
A lot of them are new and comfy, with things like air conditioning, music, and even TVs. If you don't speak or read Vietnamese, it can be hard to find the right line. If you can't find your way, be polite and ask someone in the area. They will do their best to help. If you have a piece of paper and a marker pen, it might help to talk less.
The buses work well and move quickly. The driver and the person who collects the fares work for most of them. The fare collector talks to the people on the bus while the driver keeps it going. It makes sense for locals to say that buses are faster than cars.
There is an unofficial right of way for buses on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City. If a car sees a bus coming, it moves out of the way. Taxis know that when they get into a fight with a bus, they should back down. Bus rides cost between 4,000 and 8,000 VND, which is less than $1, and they are safer than many other options.
>>Read more: Shuttle Bus From Ho Chi Minh To Mui Ne Nha Trang
3. By taxi and rental car
Taxis are the most comfortable way to get around, and they don't cost nearly as much as they do in other big places around the world. Taxis are easy to find, and you can flag one down anywhere in the city center from early morning until about 1 AM. However, it can be hard to find one when it's raining or during the workday rush hours.
Taxi rates are not controlled by the city government. Instead, each company sets its own prices, which can change from time to time. Visitors should know that you can't just pick any cab and expect to pay the same amount. It's a "caveat emptor" market where some shady people take advantage of tourists. Luckily, though, the market is pretty competitive, and 80% of cabs are run by honest businesses with similar prices. Two of the top dependable and best taxi brands in Vietnam that you can trust are VinaSun and Vietnam Budget Carrental.
Most taxi drivers don't speak much English and don't know any other languages, so it's a good idea to write down the name and address of your destination, ideally in Vietnamese, to show the driver. The people at your hotel can help. Also, it's helpful to have a business card from your hotel with you.
Drivers often don't have enough change, so bring bills and small coins with you to pay. Most taxis are Toyota Vios sedans (which can hold up to four people) and Toyota Innova minivans (which can hold up to six people). These cars are made in Vietnam and are not expensive to buy. Most of the time, fares are the same for all car models, though bigger cars would cost more.
>>Read more: Rent A Car With English Speaking Driver 3 Days In Ho Chi Minh
Historically, cabs only charged for distance, not time. However, time charges have begun to appear as traffic has gotten much worse in recent years. If you have to wait for six minutes, Mai Linh costs 2,000 VND, which is about US$1 an hour. It's not even close to enough to make the cars want to stop. If you give them the chance, they'll probably drive too fast. In HCMC, buses and cars drive in the center lanes (two-way streets) or left lanes (one-way streets), while motorbikes drive in the outside lanes, also called right lanes.
During rush hours during the week, the car lanes don't move for blocks at a time. The bike lanes, on the other hand, move a little faster. It's not always the same taxi driver who will dart into the motorcycle lane and pass other cars. They could be fined for that, in theory. Not everyone does it all the time, though. It's so bad in the city during rush hour now that you might want to avoid going anywhere between 7 AM and 8:30 AM or 4:30 PM and 6 PM.
A daily car rental with driver is a good choice for trips outside of the city or just to have your own car for the day. This is something that many top car rental agencies like Trust Carrental or Vietnam Budget Carrental, do.
4. By speedboat
You can take a VIP speedboat tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels, the Mekong Delta, or a tour through the wild canals around Saigon with Saigon River Express. They offer 5-star service and use brand-new speedboats. On a tour around Saigon at dusk, you can see a village made of bamboo and thatch and narrow jungle canals with a temple that floats in the water. By hydrofoil, you can get to Vung Tau. As the boat goes through the Saigon River to the sea, it's a good way to see the trade maritime areas.
- Address: No 2, Ngo Duc Ke Street, HCMC
- Website: www.saigonriverexpress.com/
- Email: bookings@saigonriverexpress.com
- Best for: Family, Couple, Solo
- Entrance: Depending
- Hours: Depending on time
- Distance to city center: 9.9km (6.2 mi)
5. By cyclo
Cyclo rides through downtown HCM City are a great way to see the city like the locals do. A cyclo is like a backward bike with a passenger sitting in the front seat. The city's sights, sounds, and smells are a big part of its appeal, and the best way to enjoy them is at a slow pace on a cyclo. To be safe, watch out for cameras, wallets, and other valuable items while riding a cyclo; motorbike riders can easily steal these things.
This way of getting around is going away for a lot of reasons, including the fact that the government is trying to limit cyclos on busy city streets. Because they go so slowly and cost about 36,000 VND an hour, they can be a good way to see the city.
Make sure you get a good deal from the bike rider ahead of time. Some bicycle riders have been known to try to change the agreed-upon price after the ride is over. In another trick, the driver may go to places that are good for his wallet. Make sure you know the price and where you're going before you leave to avoid these issues.
>>Read more: Best Ways From Ho Chi Minh To Phu Quoc
6. On foot
Walking is another recommendation for you if you want to know more about the city in a calm and relaxing way. Just strolling around the city will give you a good feel for it. You may see some of the proud facilities in Saigon such as:
Thong Nhat Stadium
Thống Nhất Stadium is one of the busiest football arenas in Vietnam. It is regularly chosen as the venue for many major domestic tournaments. Thống Nhất Stadium, built in 1968, is a well-known stadium in Vietnam.
Thống Nhất Stadium has a substantial seating capacity, which can accommodate up to 25,000 spectators (later upgraded to 40,000). It's worth noting that the predecessor of Thống Nhất Stadium was the Renault Stadium. Before 2003, Thống Nhất Stadium was considered the largest and most modern football stadium in Vietnam, and it was often referred to as the National Stadium by the football community.
>>Read more: How To Get From Ho Chi Minh To Muine: Transportation To Muine
Phu My Port
- Address: Street 3, Phu My Town, Tan Thanh, Ba Ria - Vung tau
- Map link: Phu My Port
Although it's called "walking," to visit this place, you'll need to transfer from Phu My Port to Ho Chi Minh and back again by private car or expressway. This port is located less than 50 km from Ho Chi Minh City via the Ho Chi Minh - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway and National Route 51.
It boasts a range of modern and comprehensive infrastructure that has already been completed and will continue to expand in the future, including the Ben Luc - Long Thanh expressway connecting Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Dong Nai, and various provinces in the Mekong Delta.
Phu My Port is one of the top 5 international seaports for cruise ships in Vietnam and is the first deep-water seaport in the southern region, situated on the banks of the Thi Vai River in Phu My Town, Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province.
It was established in 1993 by the Joint Venture Company for Import and Export Services of Agricultural and Forestry Products and Fertilizers in Ba Ria, with investors from three countries: Vietnam, France, and Norway.
This is a very large international seaport with an area of 26.5 hectares. It can accommodate cargo ships of up to 70,000 deadweight tons and has the capacity to handle loading and unloading of up to 9 million tons per year.
>>Read more: Private Taxi Transport From Phu My Port To Vung Tau Tour
Some historical and religious sites for you to consider
War Remnants Museum
- Address: Ward 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Phone: 02839305587
- Website: https://baotangchungtichchientranh.vn/
- Opening time: 7:30 A.M to 5:30 P.M
- Entry fee: 20,000 VND for children and 40,000 VND for adults
- Map link: War Remnants Museum
The museum opened quickly, not even five months after the South Vietnamese government fell. It has moved to a new building with three stories of displays and tanks, jets, helicopters, and howitzers from the U.S. military on show outside. There are disturbing displays of man's cruelty during the Vietnam (American) War, such as halls full of horrifying photos, a fake "tiger cage" prison, and jars of deformed fetuses thought to have been affected by Agent Orange.
It is clear that there is bias because there are no "records" of the North Vietnamese Army doing anything bad. The story of the war reporters from around the world who often went missing or died in the line of duty is told in an exhibit on the third floor. Be careful of the amputees who will try to sell you things. The Reunification Palace is only a short walk away.
Museum of Vietnamese History
- Address: 2 Nguyen Binh Khiem, Ben Nghe, District 1, HCM City
- Phone: 02838290268
- Website: http://www.baotanglichsutphcm.com.vn/
- Opening time: Monday - Closed; Tuesday to Sunday - 8 A.M to 11:30 A.M and 1 P.M to 5 P.M
- Entry fee: 30,000 VND
- Map link: History Museum of Ho Chi Minh City
Right inside the zoo gates, where Le Duan Street and Nguyen Binh Khiem meet. The museum has a great collection of old things from Vietnam. You will not understand what you are seeing if you do not read about Vietnamese past first. The Botanical Gardens are nice to look at outside, and they're a great spot for a cheap lunch away from the people.
Thien Hau Pagoda
- Address: 710 Nguyen Trai, Ward 11, District 5, HCM City
- Opening time: 24/7
- Entry fee: No
- Map link: Ba Thien Hau Temple
This is one of the top 10 most famous pagodas to see in Vietnam. It honors Lady Thien Hau, the sea goddess, who left behind two huge turtles to watch over things while she was away. From March 23rd to March 30th, there is an event in her honor. The sculptures on the garden walls outside the temple are very beautiful.
Central Mosque
There are 12 mosques in Ho Chi Minh City. The Central Mosque was built in 1935 and is one of them. It was built so that Muslims from southern India and Saigon could pray there, but now Muslims come from as far away as Pakistan and Indonesia to pray. The most people come on Friday.
The cool stone floors and shady porch make it a great place to read, relax, or even take a nap during the day. In most churches, you should take your shoes off before going inside and dress modestly if you want to go inside.
>>Read more: Top 20 Best Tourist Attractions To Vietnam 2024
Places for you to go shopping around
Ben Thanh Market
- Address: Ben Thanh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Map link: Ben Thanh Market
The clock tower on the big traffic circle makes Ben Thanh easy to spot. This is one of the top 8 famous night markets in Saigon and the biggest old-style market in the central area. It has several hundred small stalls filled with goods, and the aisles are so narrow that it could not be passed through.
The market is now split into two sections: one for tourist goods (lots of jeans, T-shirts, and small souvenirs) and one for everyday goods (fruit and veggies, rice, kitchenware, flowers, meat, fast food, and pickled fruits and candies made in the local style).
Some shops run by the Ben Thanh Group are right on the north side (back) of Ben Thanh Market. They sell things at set prices that are much less expensive than the stalls in the market. There's no need to bargain. If these fakes aren't good enough for you, you can find plenty more in the shops on the side streets or at the night market later.
Saigon Square
- Address: 77-89 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Ward Ben Thanh, District 1, HCM City
- Opening time: 9 A.M to 9 P.M
- Map link: Sài Gòn Square
You should go to this place. It's the same as Ben Thanh, but it has air conditioning. The general rule here is to haggle your way through. On the weekends, middle-class Vietnamese people also shop here. You could do your shopping here during the day and then go to Ben Thanh for the night market. You don't have to go shopping on The Day Ben Thanh. You can plan to see some sights instead. Ben Thanh Market is only a short distance away.
>>Read more: The Best Time Of Year To Visit Ho Chi Minh Vietnam
Binh Tay Market
- Address: 57A Muoi Tower, Ward 2, District 6, HCM City
- Opening time: 5 A.M to 7:30 P.M
- Map link: Binh Tay Market
This market is in Chinatown, which is the less well-known twin of Ben Thanh. It sells a wide range of goods, from spices and Chinese drugs to silk and unusual kinds of fermented fish, dried seafood, and jerky. If you want to find a wide range of silks and velvets from Vietnam, avoid the busy Ben Thanh Market and go to Bình Tay instead. Chỏ Bình Tay sells a lot of things in bulk. You can see that a lot of the goods at Ben Thanh Market come from here.
Oil-Painting - Bui Vien Street
- Address: Pham Ngu Lao, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Map link: Đ. Bùi Viện
Near the De Tham and Pham Ngu Lao streets tourist area in District 1. Several stores on this street sell oil paintings for prices that are fair (between 450,000 and 5,000,000 dong). You can look around here if you want to buy a portrait of a Vietnamese painter or even have your own picture made in oil. Within a day or two, you can get a picture that is ready to go.
Places for you to enjoy the cuisines
Chao long Ba Ut
- Address: 193 Co Giang, Ward Co Giang, District 1, HCM City
- Opening time: 6 A.M to 7 P.M
- Price: 10,000 to 40,000 VND
- Map link: Cháo Lòng Bà Út
Talking about Saigon cuisine, we cannot overlook this place. For over 80 years, Co Ut's porridge stall on Co Giang Street in District 1 has been a familiar address for diners in Saigon. With its rich, balanced flavor that earns praise from all who try it, this is one of the delicious eateries in Saigon that you should enjoy at least once when visiting.
Banh mi Hoa Ma
- Address: 53 Cao Thang, Ward 3, District 3, HCM City
- Opening time: 6 A.M to 11 A.M
- Price: 50,000 VND to 60,000 VND
- Map link: Bánh Mì Hòa Mã
According to many people's stories, this is one of the first places selling banh mi thit (bread with meat) in Saigon which is in the top 10 street food you must try.
The owners are a Northern couple who migrated south before the 1950s. A delicious bread roll must mention the mixed fried ingredients in a small pan. Inside the pan there are attractive ingredients like fried eggs, cold cuts, sausages, fish cake, pork roll... All are fried until crispy edges, meticulously with some onions and served hot with bread.
Dimsum Tien Phat
- Address: 18 Ky Hoa, Ward 11, District 5, HCM City
- Phone: 02838536217
- Opening time: 6 A.M to 12:30 P.M
- Price: 40,000 VND to 110,000 VND
- Map link: Tiến Phát - Điểm tâm Hồng Kông
Tien Phat is a famous dim sum brand of the Chinese in Cho Lon area. The space is not as luxurious as other dim sum restaurants but gives diners a sense of familiarity, just like watching Hong Kong movies.
Banh duc Phan Dang Luu
- Address: 116/2/3 Phan Dang Luu, Ward 3, District Phu Nhuan, HCM City
- Phone: 02839904211
- Opening time: 3 P.M to 6:30 P.M
- Price: 22,000 VND/1 dish
- Map link: Bánh Đúc Phan Đăng Lưu
Known for its long-standing history and taste, Phan Dang Luu's rice flour cake shop is a must-try in Saigon. The cakes here are appealing with the chewy texture of the flour, abundant meat and mushrooms, and well-balanced seasoning. Adding to the soft, aromatic cakes is mung beans cooked until smooth. This dish is guaranteed to get you "hooked."
>>Read more: The Ultimate Vietnamese Street Food Guide: 30 Delicious Dishes
Pachi Pachi Restaurant
- Address: 52 Mac Dinh Chi, Da Kao, District 1, HCM City
- Phone: 02862959294
- Opening time: 11 A.M to 3 P.M and 5 P.M to 11 P.M
- Price: 180,000 VND - 250,000 VND/1 person
- Map link: Pachi Pachi Lẩu Nướng Nhật Bản
For those who love Japanese-style buffet hotpots, this restaurant is the perfect choice. The delicious Tare sauce makes the meat here much more aromatic and tender than other places, making it one of the most renowned eateries in Saigon that you should try for delicious food.
Top Bars for you to enjoy the nightlife
AIR Saigon
- Address: 136 Le Thi Hong Gam, Ward Nguyen Thai Binh, District 1, HCM City
- Phone: 0936933833
- Website: http://airsaigon.vn/
- Map link: Air Saigon
There are great views of Ho Chi Minh City from AIR Saigon, which used to be called Air 360 Sky Lounge. It's also a great spot to watch the sun go down. The menu has both Vietnamese and Western dishes, and the staff is typically friendly. During happy hour (6–8 pm), the prices for drinks are fair, but after that, they get pretty pricey.
The Alley Cocktail Bar & Kitchen
- Address: 63/8 Pasteur, Ben Nghe, District 1, HCM City
- Phone: 0935653969
- Website: https://www.facebook.com/thealleysaigon/
- Map link: The Alley Cocktail Bar & Kitchen
This bar is tucked away in a small alley and is named after the Mekong Delta, where the owner, Minh Tan Pham, was born. A cool group of young people like to hang out at The Alley because of the great food, well-made drinks, and friendly atmosphere.
Blanchy’s Lounge
- Address: 95 Hai Ba Trung, Ben Nghe, District 1, HCM City
- Phone: 0899499779
- Website: http://www.facebook.com/blanchys.lounge
- Map link: Blanchy's Lounge
People from all over the city, including expats and tourists, like to hang out at Blanchy's Lounge late at night. If it gets too busy downstairs, go to the terrace on the third floor. For a flash bar in a big city, the three-hour happy hour during the week is a great deal.
For those who are interested in the strange name, it comes from the mustache of Paul Blanchard, a colonial businessman who made a lot of money growing peppers and later became the first mayor of Saigon (1895–1901).
Broma: Not A Bar
- Address: 41 Nguyen Hue, Ben Nghe, District 1, HCM City
- Phone: 0325203217
- Map link: Broma Not A Bar
Broma is a small, cool bar that has a huge selection of canned beers from all over the world, and the bartenders make great cocktails. Sit in the outdoor bar on the top floor, which is right between two of the city's tallest buildings, Saigon Times Square and Bitexco Financial Tower. The only bad thing is that customers often take over the sound system and play music.
Firkin Bar
- Address: 20 Mac Thi Buoi, Ben Nghe, District 1, HCM City
- Phone: 0931312723
- Website: https://www.facebook.com/firkinbar/
- Map link: Firkin Bar
There are 27 comfortable seats in this cozy bar, and the focus is on "bespoking" whiskey and whisky-based drinks. If you don't know the difference between the spellings, ask the bar staff. There are over 250 different kinds of whisky and hundreds of other specialty liquors from around the world in the bar. To go with the drinks, there is a choice of tasty gourmet bar snacks.
Indika Saigon
Welcome to Indika, the "house of curiosity" where you can relax in the yard or at the bar. Indika has events all the time. Check their Facebook page for the most up-to-date list of live music, film shows, and "wine and words" book clubs. From 10 a.m. to midnight, there is a rotating menu with real wood-fired pizzas and lots of vegan and vegetarian choices to satisfy your hunger.
>>Read more: Top 10 Best Bars In Phu Quoc Vietnam
O’Brien’s Factory
- Address: 74A3 Hai Ba Trung, Ben Nghe, District 1, HCM City
- Phone: 02838293198
- Website: https://www.facebook.com/OBriens-Factory-771582816227833/
- Map link: O'Briens Factory (Irish Bar)
O'Brien's Factory is a terrific location to relax, make new friends, watch sports, and enjoy live music on Friday nights. It is an Irish bar with pool tables, exposed brick walls, friendly staff, daily happy hour, and really fine food.
HPasteur Street Brewing Co.
- Address: 144 Pasteur, Ben Nghe, District 1, HCM City
- Phone: 02873007375
- Website: http://pasteurstreet.com/
- Map link: Pasteur Street Brewing Co.
Pasteur Street is where Saigon's craft beer scene really got going. Its goal is to mix American-style craft beer with tastes that are only found in Vietnam, like jasmine, jackfruit, and chocolate. Do get a flight of beers to taste all of their wonderful flavors. You can pair the beer with American comfort food that tastes great.
Places for you stay
Vinpearl Luxury Landmark 81 Hotel
Here, it is an honor to be recognized by the World Travel Awards 2019 as the "World's Leading Riverside Hotel." The hotel offers 223 luxurious rooms with incredibly beautiful views of the Saigon River.
Inside this hotel, you can also enjoy many upscale amenities, including 3 top-notch restaurants, 12 conference halls that can accommodate up to 1000 attendees, an infinity pool, Akoya Spa, a fitness room, and more. Especially on the 81st floor, guests can comfortably observe the city of Saigon as night falls, and this is undoubtedly an amazing feeling.
>>Read more: Can Tho Travel Guide: All Things You Need To Know In 2024
Sheraton Saigon
The Sheraton Saigon Hotel offers a distinct advantage for travelers seeking to admire and take in the most dazzling aspects of vibrant Saigon. With its 5-star status, the Sheraton Saigon provides top-notch amenities, ensuring a comfortable stay for guests.
Featuring a total of 485 opulent rooms, each adorned with luxurious furnishings, every room's window boasts a captivating view of Saigon's beauty. The hotel is naturally equipped with an extensive array of fantastic amenities, including restaurants, a 5-star swimming pool, a gym, a spa, and more. Particularly, the rooftop bar offers the most splendid scenery for guests to enjoy while holding a glass of wine, taking a sip, and gazing at the Saigon skyline – a truly magnificent experience.
Majestic Saigon Hotel
In addition to the unbeatable beautiful views, the Majestic Saigon offers many wonderful experiences for travelers with its international restaurant system, outdoor swimming pool, spa, gym, and more. What sets this place apart is its rooms designed in a French architectural style, adorned with wall paintings and high-quality stone floors, creating an overall atmosphere of utmost sophistication.
>>Read more: Danang Travel Guide in 2024: Everything You Need to Know
Caravelle Saigon Hotel
- Address: 19-23 Lam Son Square, Ben Nghe, District 1, HCM City
- Phone: 02838234999
- Map link: Caravelle Hotel
This is one of the oldest 5-star hotels in Saigon, opened since 1959. With the main colors of white and noble gold, Caravelle Saigon has 335 rooms fully equipped with modern amenities from TV, workspace to air conditioner, coffee table, etc.
Plus, guests' culinary experiences here will be more abundant than ever with 6 restaurants providing flavors from around the world. More than that, be prepared to enjoy 5-star amenities like: Spa, swimming pool, Gym, sauna, etc.
Intercontinental Saigon Hotel
With a prime location on the two central streets Le Duan and Hai Ba Trung, this is certainly one of the best affordable hotels with beautiful views in Saigon for you. Intercontinental Saigon has 305 rooms with extremely luxurious yet subtle, not over-the-top designs. The rooms are also equipped with glass window walls and modern furniture such as: TV, minibar, Wifi, marble bathroom,...
>>Read more: Travel Guide For Living In Phu Quoc Vietnam
Top 5 banks for you to exchange money
Techcombank
Vietnam Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank, also known as Techcombank, started with initial charter capital of just 20 billion VND in 1993.
To date, Techcombank has grown into one of the top banks in Vietnam in terms of capital, with over 300 representative offices in most provinces and cities, meeting the transaction and financial security needs of many people.
In recent years, Techcombank has always maintained its momentum of exceeding growth milestones compared to the previous year. This correct vision and strategy has helped Vietnam Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank continuously expand its operations, creating jobs for thousands of workers.
ACB - A Chau Bank
Asia Commercial Bank with over 27 years of establishment and development has always affirmed its position as one of the top banks in Vietnam. ACB is confident in its competitive advantages of customer orientation, sustainable financial results, effective risk management, and leadership in business ethics.
The core values that ACB pursues are Integrity - Innovation - Prudence - Harmony - Efficiency. The bank not only provides quality services and wholeheartedly supports customers, but also builds a dedicated staff team from the perspective of embracing differences for development.
Vietnam International Bank ( VIB )
Vietnam International Commercial Joint Stock Bank (VIB) was established on September 18, 1996 and is one of the leading commercial joint stock banks in Vietnam. The bank currently has over 11,000 staff, 174 branches and transaction offices across key provinces and cities nationwide.
As of June 30, 2022, its equity capital reached over 28,250 billion VND and total assets exceeded 348,000 billion VND, while VIB's charter capital reached over 21,076 billion VND.
Throughout its formation and development process, VIB has achieved accomplishments in financial and banking services while continuously caring for and carrying out community activities, contributing to the socio-economic development of people.
AgriBank
Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development was established in 1988 as a leading commercial bank with monetary policies contributing to economic stability and inflation control, an indispensable companion of Vietnamese farmers.
Agribank is a State-owned commercial bank playing a key role in the banking system, effectively implementing the Party's policies and guidelines. Its policies to serve agricultural and rural development have had many positive impacts on people's lives and rural economies across the country.
Agribank has nearly 2,300 branches and transaction offices nationwide. By the end of 2021, the bank's total assets reached 1.68 million billion VND, while its capital reached over 1.58 million billion VND.
TP Bank - Tien Phong
TP Bank, officially known as Tien Phong Commercial Joint Stock Bank, was established in 2008 with a focus on offering specialized financial products for young customers. Over the course of nearly 14 years, TP Bank has achieved recognition as one of the Top 100 Best Places to Work and the number one digital bank in Vietnam.
Digital banking is the cutting-edge competitive edge for TP Bank when compared to other banks in the industry. With offerings for both individuals and organizations, Tien Phong Bank has developed noteworthy products such as Live Bank – a 24/7 automated bank, Savy – a savings application, and more.
If you're still wondering which bank to exchange money and open an account with, TP Bank is one of the top choices you should consider.
Top 4 Mobile Network Operators you have to notice
Viettel
Viettel is one of the world's fastest-growing telecommunications companies, always at the forefront of innovation and creativity. They listen to and understand their customers to provide the best services.
Currently, the company boasts one of the largest customer bases in the world and is the largest telecommunications service provider in Vietnam. They invest and do business in 12 different countries.
MobiFone
The predecessor of MobiFone is the Mobile Information Company of Vietnam. MobiFone's primary focus lies in organizing the design and construction, utilizing advanced technology and techniques to develop networks and implement new mobile information services.
Wherever there is a need, be it for work or education, MobiFone aspires to provide excellent products and services to connect individuals, families, and businesses within an ecosystem.
Vinaphone
Although Vinaphone is a relatively recent addition to the telecommunications market, it has quickly secured a notable position by focusing on offering high-capacity data packages and continually introducing various promotional programs for new customers, surpassing other network providers.
In addition to the three major network providers, another noteworthy option is Vietnamobile. Due to limited infrastructure, Vietnamobile may have slightly slower speeds, but it compensates by offering substantial data capacity at very low costs. For those who primarily use data for reading news, browsing Facebook, or messaging, Vietnamobile can still be a satisfying choice.
Vietnamobile
Vietnamobile is a mobile network provider that has been in a development phase in Vietnam since it officially introduced its services to consumers in 2009. Vietnamobile focuses on offering innovative products, and providing international standard customer care through a nationwide distribution network.
Vietnamobile carries a mission to connect the young generation of Vietnam to the world through mobile internet, with the aim of enhancing knowledge and accessing entertainment services related to music and sports. Vietnamobile aims to help young people seamlessly integrate into the advanced world, all at the most reasonable cost.
Does the Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide in 2024 cover everything for you after finish reading? If you have some other queries about this city's attractions, you can contact Vietnam Car Rental to enjoy our provided services to make your trip more unforgettable.
