Ultimate Guide To
Planning Your Trip To

Rex Hotel Saigon

• Rex Hotel Saigon was first built by the colonial French in the 1920s. Since then, thanks to some extensions and renovations, the place has turned into one of the most desirable hotels in all of Ho Chi Minh. The hotel is surrounded by some of the most beautiful buildings, like the Saigon Opera House and the People’s Committee Hall. No need to say that the view from the Rex Rooftop Garden alone is a reason to come and stay here.

Website: https://www.rexhotelsaigon.com/

EdenStar Saigon Hotel & Spa

• First things first: free minibar. You should be on EdenStar Saigon Hotel & Spa’s website already to book yourself a room. On top of that, there’s an outdoor swimming pool, a breakfast buffet that will almost make you forget to go sightseeing and a very highly recommended spa. We’re not going to lie, this is obviously not a budget hotel. But it will be every Dong, we promise!

Website: https://www.viceroybali.com/en/bali-luxury-resorts.php

Co Giang Street

• If you’re in for some authentic street food, old school Vietnam style, head down to Co Giang Street. Tucked away at the South end of the backpacker district, food stalls here don’t have to compete with mini markets or Western restaurants like in many other street food areas. This is local street life at its best. Sizzling barbecues, whooshing woks and nothing but smoke, the smell of freshly cooked food and laughter in the air. Bon appétit!

Anan Saigon

• Street food-inspired dishes on a fine dining Vietnamese menu. That’s exactly what award-winning chef Peter Cuong Franklin does at Anan Saigon. South-Asian flavors and fresh-market ingredients are the base for a tasting menu, five or seven courses, and they’re all meant for sharing. Anan means ‘eat eat’ by the way, and since this is Ho Chi Minh’s hottest rooftop restaurant, you better listen!

Website: https://www.facebook.com/anansaigon

Notre Dame Cathedral

• The Notre Dame Cathedral is a little piece of France and one of the most prominent tourist attractions in Ho Chi Minh City. A beacon of Catholicism, in the middle of a mainly Buddhist city. Red bricks, imported out of Marseille, stained glass and two bell towers. A fine example of that typical neo-Romanesque style. And the church is still in use too! If you’re interested, Sunday mass is at 9.30am.

Bitexco Financial Tower

• The Bitexco Financial Tower is Ho Chi Minh City’s second tallest building, 848 feet of steel and Belgian glass. There’s a helipad on the 52nd floor, shaped like a blossoming lotus bud, and every floor is a little different, giving the building its unique shape. But the real reason why this building deserves your attention is the Saigon Skydeck on the 49th floor. An observation deck with a 360-degree panoramic view over the city of Ho Chi Minh. Don’t forget your camera!

Mia Saigon

• A private urban sanctuary where space, style and luxury meet. That’s what you can read on Mia Saigon’s website and we can only agree. Located right next to the Saigon river and surrounded by art galleries, fancy restaurants and everything District Two is famous for. This Art Deco Boutique Hotel is all you could ever dream of.

Website: https://www.miasaigon.com/

Villa Song Saigon

• Villa Song Saigon is just another perfect example of District Two’s class and glamour. Located next to the Saigon river, gorgeous and serene, and decorated with style and elegant colors. If you’ve been in the vibrant center of the city all day and in need of some tranquility and intimacy, this is the hotel for you.

Website: https://villasong.com/

The Deck

• The romantic setting alongside the Saigon River, an elegant interior designed by the best local designers, a wooden deck surrounded by bamboo trees and a fish pond and, of course, a delicious pan-Asian menu. You should be convinced already. The Deck Saigon is a classy restaurant loved by both tourists and locals and rightly so!

Website: https://www.thedecksaigon.com/

Quan Bui Saigon

• Quan Bui has been a household name in District One since forever, they already have four restaurants over there, and now they have expanded into District Two as well! Yes! Their concept is simple: authentic Vietnamese food in a very cool atmosphere. And the Old World Saigon interior is very cool too!

Website: https://quan-bui.com/

The Factory Contemporary Arts Centre

• If you’re into art, you should definitely visit The Factory Contemporary Arts Centre, the very first purpose-built space for contemporary art in Vietnam. Artist and owner Tia-Thuy Nguyen invites national and international artists to talk about their work, make live art or to host exhibitions, workshops, talks and film screenings. While doing that, she always bears the needs of the local community in mind. A wonderful project!

Website: https://factoryartscentre.com/en/home/

Saigon Outcast

• Saigon Outcast focusses on organizing events that bring the community together. It began with just three shipping containers but quickly turned into a chill spot where people from the neighborhood (and tourists, obviously) can enjoy food, craft beer, festivals, alternative conferences and music. And for those who like sports, they also have a giant rock-climbing wall! Ladies climb for free on Wednesdays, men on Thursdays.

Website: https://www.saigonoutcast.com/

Hotel Des Arts Saigon

• Hotel Des Arts Saigon takes you all the way back to the roaring 30s in Vietnam, but with a twist. The hotel is a perfect combination of that typical French Indochina class and nowadays modernism. Extra plus? The owner displays his own art collection throughout the hotel, paintings and antiques, so if sleeping in a museum has always been on your bucket list, you know what to do!

Website: https://www.hoteldesartssaigon.com/

The Hut Boutique Hotel – Notre Dame

• When you walk into The Hut Boutique Hotel, you feel like you’re entering a whole new hipster world. Clean and minimal, but cozy too, thanks to the use of industrial wood and lots of greenery in every room. There’s even a hanging chair! Accents of black steel complete the picture, this is one of the most beautiful hotels in the district.

Website: www.facebook.com/pages/category/Hotel-Resort/The-Hut-Boutique-Hotel-Notre-Dame-2412717702290477/

Social Club Saigon

• A natural and clean oasis in the buzzing city, that’s Social Club Saigon, according to the owners. The rooftop terrace breathes luxury, with its comfortable lounge sofas and classy bar stools. There’s even an infinity pool, in case you like your panoramic views and cocktails with a refreshing plunge. Needless to say the food lives up to the same standards. One of our favorites!

Website: https://www.hoteldesartssaigon.com/vi/cac-nha-hang-quay-bar/quay-bar-san-thuong-social-club/

Ly Club Saigon

• If you’re in for a fancy night out, Ly Club is the place for you. Contemporary, classy and, obviously, serving delicious food. You can eat some of the city’s best Asian Fusion in here, some even say it’s a Michelin level fine dining experience. Read as: make sure you suit up!

Website: http://www.lyclub.vn/saigon/

Xa Loi Pagoda

• Xa Loi Pagoda used to be the headquarters of Buddhism in Vietnam, so this is not your ordinary temple. However, it is most famous for other things. First of all, it was the home of Thich Quang Duc, a monk who burned himself to death to protest against religious persecution. A series of raids followed and the police eventually took over the Buddhist civil rights organization violently. A beautiful place, with great historical significance.

War Remnants Museum

• If you visit one museum in Ho Chi Minh City, make it the War Remnants Museum. Gain insight into the war between the United States and Vietnam ánd the impact on Vietnamese civilians. From artillery pieces and bombs to disturbing photographs. There’s even a floor about the French and South Vietnamese prisons on Phu Quoc and Con Son islands. A museum that will definitely move you.

Website: http://www.baotangchungtichchientranh.vn/Main.aspx?L=VN

The Common Room Project

• The Common Room Project is a hostel, but definitely not as you know it. It’s a 48-bed art house for those who are looking for a luxury experience on a budget, as they say so themselves. It’s the perfect place if you’re traveling alone and want to meet new people, but also for couples and groups of family and friends. They have games, lounges, instruments,…They serve both local and Western food and they even offer Vietnamese cooking classes. And then we didn’t even mention the rooftop bar yet. Not a common place at all!

Website: https://www.facebook.com/commonroomproject/

Windsor Plaza Hotel Saigon

• The Windsor Plaza Hotel is a truly world-class hotel. Three award-winning restaurants, a terrace bar, a modern fitness center and a top-of-the-notch spa. And did we mention the five stars yet? With its 25 floors, the luxury hotel literally towers above the Cholon District, so stunning views are included too. A perfect choice if you’re looking for a place to stay in Ho Chi Minh City!

Website: https://www.windsorplazahotel.com/

Tan Nguyen Thai

• When a restaurant is always fully packed, you know you’ve come to a good place. Tan Nguyen Thai serves the best dumplings in town, according to both Vietnamese locals and Chinese expats. Their menu is over ten pages long and there’s literally not one bad dish on it. Make sure you come here with a group of friends so you can try as much as possible!

Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dim-Sum-Tan-Nguyen-Thai/252373921450832

Pho Le

• Okay, we’re in Chinatown, but this pho joint is an obligatory stop when you're in Ho Chi Minh City. With its piping hot, but mouthwatering, soup, Saigon beer and plastic stools, this place proves you don’t need fancy decoration to be one of the best places around. Sometimes local charm, delicious broth and fresh herbs are all you need. Enjoy!

Website: http://www.phole.vn/

Binh Tay Market

• The locals do their grocery shopping at Binh Tay Market, buying vegetables and fresh herbs in the early morning, which is always a good sign. The market, located in Chinatown, is one of the biggest and liveliest in the city, and it’s a little less touristy than the famous Ben Thanh Market. There’s an outside wet market and an inside food court, but you can also buy some beautiful fabrics here, like silk, or handicrafts in bulk.

Quan Am Pagoda

• The Quan Am Pagoda is a Chinese-style Buddhist pagoda. It is named after the Goddess of Mercy, Quan The Am Bo That, literally ‘the Bodhisvatta who listens to the cries of the world. Ain’t that beautiful or what? On top of that, it is one of the most beautiful and colorful temples in Ho Chi Minh City’s Chinatown and therefore a must-visit!

The Alcove Library Hotel

• A floor-to-ceiling library stacked with the best books, fiction or non-fiction, you can think of. And that’s only the lobby of the Alcove Library Hotel. There’s no boutique hotel quite like this in the city, or maybe even the world, and definitely not for that price! Staying here is an experience. And oh, you can read the books too!

Website: http://alcovehotel.com.vn

Eastin Grand Hotel Saigon

• A large outdoor pool, three (yes, three) delicious restaurants, a fitness center and upscale services. And all of that in an elegant and classic interior with dark wood furniture, Chesterfield armchairs and the softest bed linen. The Eastin Grand Hotel is a solid pick if you’re looking for a luxurious and peaceful oasis in a city that never sleeps.

Website: https://www.eastinhotelsresidences.com/eastingrandsaigon/

Here & Now Vegetarian

• When you walk in, you are welcomed by the sound of flowing water coming from a small pond and some lovely welcome music. The Here & Now restaurant wants to make you feel relaxed and at peace in the busy city of Ho Chi Minh and they definitely accomplish that. And then you haven’t even tried the food yet, a tasty traditional Asian cuisine with a modern twist. You’ll love this place even when you’re not vegetarian or vegan.

Website: https://hereandnowvietnam.com/en/

San Fu Lou

• San Fu Lou’s slogan is ‘delectable, nutritional, hygienic’. Sounds a bit boring, right? But what they actually mean is they serve fresh food only using the best ingredients while making sure you’re getting in all the nutrients you need. From dim sum and dumplings to salted egg buns, hand-pulled noodles and Peking duck. This is Cantonese food at its best.

Website: https://sanfulou.com/en/home/a

Gia Dinh Park

• If you’re into art, you should definitely visit The Factory Contemporary Arts Centre, the very first purpose-built space for contemporary art in Vietnam. Artist and owner Tia-Thuy Nguyen invites national and international artists to talk about their work, make live art or to host exhibitions, workshops, talks and film screenings. While doing that, she always bears the needs of the local community in mind. A wonderful project!

Phu Nhuan

• When you’re in Vietnam, you have to try that famous Vietnamese coffee and Phu Nhuan is definitely the place where you need to go for that. The district is known for its thriving coffee scene, with a wide range of coffee shops. If you want some peace and quiet, go to Tram Café or Pergola. If you like it a little quirky Wheel House Cafe, Up Café or Fig are the places for you. And while you’re in the neighborhood, make a stop at Luu Gia Café too for a taste of their egg coffee!