Ho Chi Minh City Districts Guide
Ho Chi Minh City is split into 22 districts, each with its own personality. This guide breaks down the ones that matter most to visitors.
District 1: The Heart of Saigon
Almost everything a first-time visitor pictures when they picture Saigon — the markets, the skyline, the colonial landmarks — sits inside District 1.
Read the guide →District 3: Local Life Next Door to the Centre
One district over from the tourist core, District 3 trades a little convenience for tree-lined streets, local cafes and noticeably lower prices.
Read the guide →District 7 (Phu My Hung): Modern, Planned, Expat-Friendly
Wide roads, shopping malls and international schools — District 7's Phu My Hung area feels like a different city to the historic centre.
Read the guide →Binh Thanh District: Riverside, Rising, and a Little Rougher
Home to the country's tallest building and a fast-growing bar scene, Binh Thanh is one of the most interesting districts to watch right now.
Read the guide →District 5 (Cholon): Saigon's Chinatown
One of the largest Chinatowns in the world by some measures, Cholon has its own markets, temples and culinary identity within the wider city.
Read the guide →Thao Dien (District 2): Leafy, International, Laid-Back
Wide, tree-lined streets, a large international community, and Saigon's best concentration of brunch spots and craft coffee shops.
Read the guide →District 4: Saigon's Best Seafood Street Food
A short bridge crossing from District 1 takes you into one of the city's best (and least touristed) street food districts.
Read the guide →District 10: Residential, Local, Underrated
Rarely mentioned in guidebooks, District 10 offers a genuinely local slice of the city within easy reach of the centre.
Read the guide →District 6: Wholesale Markets and Working Saigon
Bordering Cholon, District 6 is defined by wholesale trade and markets rather than sightseeing, with a distinctly working character.
Read the guide →District 11: Local Life, Lower Prices
Another largely residential, low-key district, worth knowing about mainly for its park and genuinely local food scene.
Read the guide →