Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by almost everyone who lives here, is loud, fast, friendly and full of surprises. If it's your first visit, it can feel like a lot. The good news is that many of the city's best sights are within walking distance or a short Grab ride of District 1.
We're the hosts at Saigon Hemstay, a 4-bedroom townhouse in a quiet hẻm (alley) off Đề Thám street in District 1. These are the places we send our own guests to, grouped so you can plan your days. Travel times are from our front door.
Right on the doorstep: the Phạm Ngũ Lão backpacker area
Saigon Hemstay sits in the Phạm Ngũ Lão neighbourhood, the city's traditional traveller quarter. Step out of our alley and you're surrounded by cafés, street-food stalls, tour agencies, laundries, ATMs and convenience stores.
Bùi Viện Walking Street
≈ 5 min walkSaigon's party street. After dark it closes to traffic and fills with neon, live music, street-side bars and grilled-food stalls. Even if you're not a party person, walk it once around 9 PM to feel the energy. Then come back to your quiet room at Saigon Hemstay. The alley location means you get Bùi Viện without the noise.
September 23rd Park (Công viên 23/9)
≈ 10 min walkGo at sunrise. Between about 5 and 7 AM the park is full of locals doing tai chi, badminton, line dancing and group aerobics. It's one of the most authentic and free things to do in Saigon.
- 97A Phó Đức Chính, District 1
Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts
≈ 10–15 min walkA beautiful yellow colonial mansion with Vietnamese lacquer paintings, sculpture and propaganda art. Quiet, cool and rarely crowded: a good escape from the midday heat.
Markets and shopping
Bến Thành Market
≈ 15 min walkSaigon's most famous market, under its iconic clock tower. Come for coffee beans, dried fruit, lacquerware, áo dài fabric and souvenirs, and eat at the food stalls inside. Prices for tourists start high, so smile and bargain politely.
- 26–28 Thủ Khoa Huân, District 1
Bến Thành Street Food Market
≈ 15 min walkAn easy, air-conditioned-ish food hall with dozens of stalls under one roof. A great first stop if you want to try lots of Vietnamese dishes without worrying about ordering in Vietnamese.
Saigon Centre & Takashimaya
≈ 15–20 min walkModern mall on Lê Lợi with international brands, a basement food hall and supermarket. Useful for anything you forgot to pack.
Bình Tây Market, Chợ Lớn (Chinatown)
≈ 20–25 min by GrabThe wholesale heart of Saigon's Chinatown. It's chaotic, colourful and very local. Combine it with the incense-filled Thiên Hậu Temple nearby for a half-day trip.
History and landmarks
Most of the city's headline sights are clustered together in District 1, so you can see several in one day. A Grab bike from Saigon Hemstay to any of them usually takes about 10 minutes.
- 28 Võ Văn Tần, District 3
War Remnants Museum
≈ 10 min by GrabPowerful and difficult, this museum tells the story of the Vietnam War through photographs and objects. Give it at least two hours, and plan something gentle afterwards.
Independence Palace (Reunification Palace)
≈ 10 min by GrabThe 1960s presidential palace where the war ended in 1975. The retro interiors, war room and basement bunkers feel frozen in time.
Notre-Dame Cathedral & Saigon Central Post Office
≈ 10 min by GrabTwo French-colonial landmarks side by side. The post office, with its vaulted ceiling and old maps, still works, so send a postcard home. Book Street (Đường sách Nguyễn Văn Bình) runs right next to it.
- 65 Lý Tự Trọng, District 1
Ho Chi Minh City Museum
≈ 10 min by GrabA grand colonial palace housing the city's history museum. The building alone is a favourite photo spot for local wedding shoots.
- 289 Hai Bà Trưng, District 3
Tân Định Church (the pink church)
≈ 15 min by GrabPainted completely pink, this church is one of the most photographed buildings in Saigon. Pair it with lunch at Tân Định Market across the road.
- 73 Mai Thị Lựu, District 1
Jade Emperor Pagoda
≈ 15 min by GrabAn atmospheric Taoist temple full of carved figures, incense smoke and turtles in the pond out front.
Evenings: walking streets, rooftops and views
Nguyễn Huệ Walking Street
≈ 10 min by GrabA wide pedestrian boulevard that leads to the lit-up colonial City Hall. On warm evenings families, skaters and street performers fill it.
- 42 Nguyễn Huệ, District 1
The Café Apartment
≈ 10 min by GrabAn old apartment block where every floor is now a tiny café or shop. Take the lift to the top and pick a balcony overlooking Nguyễn Huệ.
Saigon Skydeck (Bitexco Financial Tower)
≈ 10 min by GrabThe 49th-floor observation deck in the lotus-shaped tower. Go just before sunset to see the city in daylight and lit up at night.
Saigon River & the Waterbus
≈ 10–15 min by GrabCatch the Saigon Waterbus from Bạch Đằng pier for a cheap, breezy ride along the river, especially lovely in the late afternoon.
Day trips from Ho Chi Minh City
Book through any reputable tour company or ask us at Saigon Hemstay for suggestions. Most tours pick up near Phạm Ngũ Lão, a few minutes from our alley.
Củ Chi Tunnels
≈ 1.5–2 hours by roadThe vast tunnel network used during the war. You can crawl through a (widened) section. Half-day tours are common, and some combine it with a speedboat ride on the Saigon River.
Mekong Delta
≈ 2–3 hours by roadBoats, coconut candy workshops, fruit orchards and floating markets. A one-day trip gives you a taste. Stay overnight in Cần Thơ to see the Cái Răng floating market at dawn.
Getting around Saigon
Grab (bike or car) is the easiest way to get around and is very affordable. Drivers can pick you up at the main road at the end of our alley, about 50 metres from Saigon Hemstay. Metro Line 1 runs from Bến Thành station (≈ 15 min walk) towards Thảo Điền and Thủ Đức.
Crossing the street: walk slowly and steadily, and don't stop suddenly or run. Motorbikes will flow around you.
Saigon rewards curiosity. Wander the alleys, sit on a plastic stool, and say yes to the coffee. When you need a calm base to come back to, Saigon Hemstay has four private bedrooms, each with its own ensuite bathroom, in a quiet District 1 hẻm a few minutes from everything on this list.
Stay at Saigon Hemstay
Saigon Hemstay is a boutique 4-bedroom townhouse in a quiet alley in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Every room has its own ensuite bathroom, air conditioning and a smart TV. Book a single room or all four. See the rooms or explore the neighbourhood.