Best neighborhoods in Ho Chi Minh City

6 areas in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam — what each one feels like, who it suits, and roughly what it costs.

District 3 ($) — Tamarind streets, quiet villas Best for Cafés + calm. Central without District 1's crowds, and better coffee. Old villas, embassies, and the city's nicest tree cover. Getting around: Walkable + ride-hail
Binh Thanh ($) — Local alleys, Landmark 81 Best for Value. Local prices ten minutes from the centre by scooter. Dense hem life under the tallest tower in Vietnam. Getting around: Ride-hail + Metro Line 1
Thao Dien ($$) — Riverside expat village Best for Long stays. Leafy lanes and international restaurants, half an hour out. The expat bubble — green, calm, not very Vietnamese. Getting around: Ride-hail; Metro An Phu
District 1 ($$) — Colonial spine, glass towers Best for First-timers. The opera house, Ben Thanh market and the river on foot. The centre of everything, priced and trafficked accordingly. Getting around: Walkable + Metro Line 1
District 7 ($$) — Planned grid, wide pavements Best for Families. Actual pavements and parks, but far from the sights. Korean and Taiwanese families chose it for a reason. Getting around: Car or ride-hail
Cho Lon ($) — Chinatown temples, wholesale lanes Best for Food + markets. Binh Tay market and incense-coiled temples, almost no tourists. The city's Chinese heart — commercial, dense, historic. Getting around: Buses + ride-hail