When travelling in Vietnam, it can be complicated on which District to stay in. Ho Chi Minh City is divided into 24 districts. These are the 5 Districts that most travellers and expats would be staying.
District 1, So What is in District 1 ?
Most travellers and tourists would stay in District 1. District 1 is strategically positioned, with most of the embassy and government office located here. Ben Thanh Market, The Reunification Palace, the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office are all located here. District 1 is similar to Orchard Road in Singapore, and New York City in the USA. District 1 is house to many 5-star hotels. Being the Orchard Road, and the New York City of Ho Chi Minh City, everything seems to be more costly at District 1 and it is considered as a “District that never sleeps” with tons of entertainment activities available.
Saigon’s version of the Bangkok’s Khao San Road is located at District 1 Pham Ngu Lao Street, this is the backpackers haven. (Which is also the place I took the coach to Phnom Penh)
District 2, So What is in District 2 ?
District 2 is located about 15-20 mins away from District 1, it is less crowded and a less expensive district to live in. District 2 is separated by the Saigon River, and in the past, it is one of the poorest areas. Now, District 2 house many international schools. If you are scared of crossing the road in Saigon, District 2 might be more suitable as it has lesser traffic and vehicles. District 2 is suitable for expats or for families with children, who doesn’t mind having any entertainment activities.
District 3, So What is in District 3 ?
If you are looking for a short-term stay with a tight budget, District 3 would be the right place for you to find accommodations. But you would need to take a taxi or rent a motorcycle to get from District 3 to District 1. District 3 has tons of interesting coffee house with various themes, movie theatres, parks. The War Remnants Museum is also located in District 3. But District 3 is notorious for its bad traffic, especially during peak hours.
District 5, So What is in District 5 ?
District 5 is also known as the Chinatown of Ho Chi Minh City. It has much ancient and oriental architecture, with many pagoda and temples. The cost of living in District 5 is lower than District 1 and similar to District 3. The best time to visit District 5 is during or near to Lunar New Year, where the place is thickened by the festival atmosphere. Most staying in District 5, do not speak any English, rather they are able to speak Mandarin and/or Cantonese.
District 7, So What is in District 7 ?
District 7 is a bit further away from District 1, this is the place where I went to VivoCity at Saigon, to watch my 4dx movie. Many expats from Korea and Japanese are located at District 7, which creates the mini Korean and mini Japanese town in the area. District 7 also has many authentic Korean and Japanese food. District 7, do not have much entertainment activities, and public transport is not convenient. District 7 tends to cost you more for the same services compared to other Districts.
So, Which District would you be keen to stay in?
What a really great and comprehensive guide! I really liked Saigon but the districts can be a bit confusing.
Thanks for the encouragement! Hope you enjoy it!
Deciding which area to stay in a city is always quite a daunting task, so this is a great run down which will save a heap of time! Think I’d opt to stay in district 5, love a bit of oriental architecture, and would be so cool during the new year.
Yes! I have been to Saigon a few times and have been staying in District 1, i am looking to stay in District 5 on my next trip in July.
It’s really sad that my inital thoughts jumped to the Hunger Games when I started reading about “District 1”, “District 2” etc!! I’m sure Saigon is a much friendlier setting though!! I had no clue that Ho Chi Minh City is divided into 24 districts – thanks for narrowing these down into favorites among travelers and expats 🙂
When I was writing the blog post, my first impression was also the hunger games.
We stayed in District 1 when we visited and found it really easy to get around – and it wasn’t too far a walk to get to the War Remnants Museum in D3. The traffic was pretty hectic – but luckily we had traveled down from the north and had gotten used it by the time we reached Siagon – but it can be pretty daunting for those who have never experienced it before!
Yes, District 1 is the most convenient. I have been to Saigon a few times, and would love to stay in Chinatown.
When I was in Saigon, I stayed in District 1 for ease of seeing all of the sites. If i was living in Saigon, I’m sure I’d pick a different district. The layout reminds me a bit of London, where i live. Here, we use Zones to essentially understand how far out a location is from the centre of the city – though Zone 1 is pretty huge! Anything to help make sense of a busy city is always helpful!
I would love to stay in District 5.
Great detail and I’d love to learn even more about these districts… I think while more difficult for a Western traveler, District 5 sounds like the more interesting place to stay.
Yes! Everyone seems to be staying in District 1, I would love to try staying in District 5 the next time I am in Saigon.
Wait… wheres district 6???
District 5 & 6 make up the area known as Cho Lon- where concentrate the majority of the Chinese population in Vietnam. Most travellers and tourist would go to District 5 which is the Chinatown of Saigon.
Smart, I like this article. This was exactly the question I asked myself when I went to Vietnam. Thanks for laying it out there.
Thanks for the encouragement. Hope this is helpful to you.
I particularly love District 1! It’s fantastic, and has a lot of history!
Yes, District 1 is awesome! its the central of Saigon
What district has the most local food markets? I would want to stay in an area that wasn’t too touristy and had a lot of local businesses and shops and places to eat. This guide was very helpful, I have not been to Saigon yet, but my husband and I have it on our list of places we want to visit in the future.
Every district has street food. So I would suggest you stay in District 1 and the move around. It would be more convenient.
Very informative! The description of the districts are quite practical. Based on this information we would probably stay in District 2. This will definitely help when I plan our trip to Vietnam.
I haven’t been to Vietnam yet, but this is a great resource when I plan my visit. I love it when cities have neighborhoods that have a unique and distinct feel to them. I think I would stay in District 5, as I used to live in China and I had good times staying in ChinaTown in cities all over the world.
Yes! I would love to stay in District 5.
The term ‘district’ really reminds me of the hunger games;-) But having visited Saigon last year (I stayed in District 3;-) I can really appreciate what you have created here as it can be confusing to figure out which district is where and what the highlights of each of these districts are. Great guide!
Thanks for the encouragement! District 3 is pretty convenient also.
I’d go for District 1 if I was to stay in Saigon for only a short time – then it’s good to be close to everywhere.
Good to know this info about the different districts! Had no idea about it. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the encouragement! Hope you enjoy it!
A nice and detailed article. I dont know when would i visit Saigon but have bookmarked your ost for future ref.
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the encouragement! Hope it would be useful when you head to Saigon.
I’d be happy to stay anywhere in Saigon, just to get the experience. But this is a useful guide if you are travelling with kids for example!
I haven’t been to Saigon yet. So for my first time, I would likely stay in District 1. Are all the accommodations confined just to these 5 districts? On my second visit, I usually like to stay closer to where the locals live.
There are a lot of accommodations around. I would be heading there in June-July, and would be writing about which accommodation to stay at which districts once I am back.
District 5 looks wonderful, but honestly, just being in Saigon would be amazing enough for me. My bestest is from Vietnam, but she has never spoken about how Ho Chi Minh City is divided into 24 districts, will be quizzing her more now, especially about district 5. 🙂
Yes! you should totally quiz her. I asked my friend that I got to know when I was travelling in Vietnam last year, about the 24 districts and he happens to be a tour guide.
Wow thanks for the run down on the different neighbourhoods in Saigon. Sounds like 1 and 3 are best spots for tourist to stay. Its always a decision to stay further out of the city for cheaper accommodation as it can sometimes actually cost you more to get back into the city
Yes, I agree! I intend to try out District 5 in my upcoming trip. Have tried out District 1 and 3.
Although the names are not the most charming, I can’t help but think that they are easy to understand and grab a hold of. I’ve never been to Vietnam myself although a friend of mine moved there, i should really give it a go!
I feel like I’ve just stepped into the Hunger Games! But seriously, this will be extremely useful if I am ever able to make it to Ho Chi Minh City!
Please try to make it to Saigon, its a beautiful place!
What a helpful, straightforward post! It can be really difficult to figure out where to stay, especially in busy cities with so many districts. It took me forever to finally decide where to stay in Bangkok. I’ve bookmarked this page to come back to when I visit Vietnam. District 1, though, sounds like the place to be, even if it is a bit more expensive. SE Asia is so hot and being centrally located would be important for me.
I totally agree that SE Asia is warm like crazy, have been staying in Singapore all my life. District 1 would be a good place to stay in if it is your first time in Saigon.
That ‘s a very informative post. When I travel one of the most difficult parts of the trip is deciding where to stay. I always prefer to stay in the center as I love to go everywhere on foot, where possible. District 1 for me then.
District 1 is the most convenient!
District 7 sounds interesting with the Japanese town but lack of public transportation would not fit the way we travel. I think that District 5 would also be a fun place to spend some time. I would love to experience some of the festivals!
You should head there during Lunar New Year! I think it would be fun.
I think district 5 would be my thing because it would mean I get to practice my Mandarin – also I love going to Chinese temples. I’d definitely have to hire a motorbike though to get around!
Yea! I intend to explore District 5 on my next trip! would share more on District 5 when I come back.
I’d been to all districts except District 5. If I would in Ho Chi Minh though, I think District 2 is for me. It’s not that far from where all the action is (district 1) but it is relatively peaceful.
District 2 is quiet and relatively peaceful, if you are not the nightlife kinda person.
Hey, thanks for laying out this guide for the districts in Saigon. I’d probably stay in District 3 and check out the coffee houses and then perhaps visit the Chinatown to see the temples. 🙂
That is what I am going to do when I head there in July!
Such a detailed article. I feel like visiting Saigon right away. Bookmarking for future.
Saigon is a very beautiful place!
This is fantastic. I’ve just started planning for a trip there and I haven’t even gotten to the point of figuring out about the districts. This helps me figure out where we’d be happiest staying. Thanks.
I would love to stay in District 5 for my next trip! If this is your first time, I would recommend staying in District 1.
I really didn’t know too much about Saigon before reading this. Thanks for a helpful breakdown.
Thanks for the encouragement! Do save this for future reference.
Great summary! I think every district would have its own unique attractions. The mini Korean and Japanese towns sound interesting, would like to see how that is incorporated within Saigon.
Yes! but the public transport can be a bit tough!
Thanks for the tips! I think all the districts look like they have something great to offer–District 1 would be nice to stay in since it’s so central, but District 5 looks interesting, too! Will have to reference this again when we head to Saigon sometime–hopefully soon!
Thanks for the encouragement! Do save this for future reference.
Nice guide to Saigon. Although I’ve never been, I’m sure this will be useful when I do visiit in the future.
Thanks for the encouragement! Do save this for future reference.
I’m going to look out for district 5! I love that they don’t speak english and that it’s more traditional!
Yes! I would be heading in July and would take tons of photos especially District 5. Would be sharing it here and in my facebook.
Naming areas of a city always intrigues me, as i am much more used to neighbourhood names than numbers! I found the same scheme in Paris. I guess you can get used to anything, once it becomes familiar! i think i would stay in district 1.
District 1 is a good and convenient place to stay in. I think with the numbers its easier then having tongue twisting names.
I think I’d like to stay in District 5 because of the older architecture and since it’s less expensive than District 1. I hadn’t realized there were so many different districts in Saigon, so this guide certainly helps. Thank you!
Thanks for the encouragement! Do save this for future reference, when travelling into Saigon.
Thanks for putting this guide together! I was briefly in Saigon in 2010 and loved my entire time there! Just didn’t have the opportunity to really know the Districts.
Saigon is a very beautiful place that constantly attracts me back to it, time and time again.
I’d settle in 3! It really was hard to choose 🙂 lol
Yes! I totally agree that it’s difficult to choose from all the choices.
Really helpful guide on where to stayin hcm. i think ill stay on a district where accomodation is cheaper and where there is less people. 🙂
Thanks for the encouragement! Do keep this for future reference, when you are heading to HCMC.
I agree. I also felt I was reading some guides to the Hunger Games. LOL!
But well, this guide is so helpful. Never been to Saigon, but at least now I already had an idea about the districts and where to explore.
Thanks for the encouragement! Do keep this for future reference when heading to Saigon.
Nice post! District 3 seems to be calling to me. Although, it it safe to walk there?
Saigon is pretty safe.
Interesting! I’ve been to Saigon before and its pretty cool see the different districts and what you can do there!
Interesting! I’ve been to Saigon multiple times and I love seeing the different districts and what you can do there.
We will be here next year and I am glad I stumbled upon your post here. 😀 But still, good luck with me on finding a good district to stay in. Lol!