Dong Khoi
Dông Khoi Street (former Catinat Street of the colonial period) gave its name to the district which extends widely around this capital artery of the city. It stretches from the centre of Saigon (the cathedral and the post office, the town hall) to the river bordered by Tôn Duc Thang street (former Myre-de-Villers quays). At the corner of Dông Khoi and Lê Thanh Tôn street, you can see the Opera House, inaugurated in 1900. From this period remain the great hotels, all gathered in this district which became the luxury square of Saigon in the new century. All the world's major brands are now located there.
Since May 2015, Nguyên Huê Street, which stretches from the City Hall to the river, offers visitors a large pedestrian area in the city centre. This is an innovative urban development in Vietnam, but its realization (the cost would be 20 million US dollars) has caused much controversy. Fountains and illuminations are equipped with the latest technology and the area is covered by a free wifi connection. Caution while walking: using the remote surveillance system, pickpockets are rampant, especially around the fountains, an area where walkers make great use of tablets and smartphones ...
Pham Ngu Lao
The Pham Ngu Lao district, in the south, is Saigon's backpacker district par excellence, with its many budget hotels and bars, and its nightlife (those traveling with their families will prefer to move to a more peaceful area) that attracts western visitors. Rich in accommodation solutions, including for travellers concerned about a certain comfort, it has over the years become a village within the city. The population is constantly renewing itself since it is made up of travellers passing through. There are no monuments in this district dedicated to welcoming tourists. The Bên Thanh market is well worth a visit, both for the good deals and the atmosphere that reigns there
The Pham Ngu Lao district too busy, too touristy for us to linger there? Do not rely on appearances, Pham Ngu Lao retains mysteries. Who can boast of having really explored every nook and cranny of this labyrinth of alleys and passages (hem) that hide behind the vast, lively and commercial arteries, accessible through invisible entrances that slip between the facades?
In August 2017, in the Pham Ngu Lao district, Bui Viên street nicknamed Tây street (Westerners street) became, after Nguyên Huê street, inaugurated in 2015 (Dông Khoi district), the second pedestrian street of Ho Chi Minh City. Vehicle traffic is prohibited there every weekend from 7pm to 2am. The area benefits from free wifi coverage and security is ensured by a camera system. The animations should multiply there. The cacophony is there...
District 2
District 2 (An Phu and Thao Dien districts) is located northeast of the city centre. Allow about 20 minutes by taxi when traffic is smooth. It used to be one of the poorest parts of the city, but the peasants have given way to real estate developers. Today it is a district where many expatriates - including a significant number of French people - have chosen to settle. A pleasant and green living environment, an area more residential than touristic, therefore, but with many cafés and restaurants.
District 3
A little behind District 1, District 3 nevertheless offers quality accommodation solutions that are often a little less expensive. It is also a trendy and cosmopolitan district that comes alive in the evenings. There are many restaurants. There's something for every taste and budget. The cafés and bars are popular with both the local youth and the expatriate community.
Cholon
In Quân 5, Cholon spreads out around the boulevard Trân Hung Dao. Cholon, which in Vietnamese means "the big market", is a mainly commercial district, with a stall by the doorstep, streets crowded with vendors and objects for sale. This real financial and commercial centre has a hectic atmosphere. At nightfall, the signs light up, people are agitated. Cholon finds its second wind and revives in us the legendary images of Asia, the memory of a not so distant time when Cholon was a mecca for Saigon's nightlife and its interloping pleasures: opium dens, playgrounds and brothels. Legendary memories only, because today the nights in Cholon are much quieter.
