This guide on where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City lists the best areas for visitors . This includes all accommodation types, from budget guesthouses to iconic five-star hotels.
Ho Chi Minh City has a population of over 9 million people and is made up of 21 districts and 1 sub-city. There are thousands of rooms and hotels to choose from, but as a visitor you only need to look for a place to stay in District 1.
I have been based in Saigon for many years, so I know the city well. This is a detailed guide for where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City for first-timers and short-term visitors.
Where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City guide
Map of Ho Chi Minh City hotels
Best areas to stay in District 1
Pham Ngu Lau (backpacker area with cheap hotels)
Ben Thanh (city centre near the landmark central market)
Ben Nghe: Nguyen Hue/Dong Khoi (historic downtown area)
Ben Nghe: Riverfront (grand hotels with river views)
Ben Nghe: Japantown (local mid-range hotels)
Other areas to stay in District 1
Nguyen Cu Trinh (some notable hotels outside the main area)
Nguyen Thai Binh (emerging inner city neighbourhood)
Da Kao (“The Soho of Saigon”)
Other areas to stay in Ho Chi Minh City
District 3 (colonial-era villas among tree-lined streets)
District 4 (apartments facing District 1)
District 5 (the old Chinatown of Saigon)
Thao Dien (Thu Duc City) (the coolest neighbourhood in HCMC)
Thu Thiem (Thu Duc City) (future financial quarter in new urban area)
Pham Viet Chanh (Binh Thanh District) (new hipster area)
Vinhomes Central Park (Binh Thanh District) (home to the tallest building in Vietnam)
Map of Ho Chi Minh City hotels
Hotels mentioned in this article are pinned on this map, along with the main landmarks of each area.
[View map of Ho Chi Minh City hotels.]
Best areas to stay in District 1
The point of these Where To Stay guides is to narrow down which area to stay, especially when overwhelmed with thousands of options.
The best areas to stay in Ho Chi Minh City is in District 1, and the main areas in District 1 are the following wards:
Pham Ngu Lau is the best area to stay if you are on a budget.
Ben Thanh is the best area for mid-range hotels.
Ben Nghe is the best area for luxury hotels.
Pham Ngu Lau
[Pham Ngu Lau.]
Pham Ngu Lau is the backpacker area of Ho Chi Minh City, and is similar in vibe to Khao San Rd in Bangkok (the biggest backpacker street in Asia). Pham Ngu Lau is where to find the cheapest hostels, guesthouses, and hotels in District 1. The remarkable thing about the backpacker area is its central location near the Ben Thanh Market. You can walk to all the main sites of District 1 from here.
If you are on a budget then look no further as here you will find $5 dorm beds and basic guesthouse rooms for around $15.
Search hotels near Pham Ngu Lao street (backpacker area)
Pham Ngu Lau is a ward of District 1 (a ward is a subdivision of a district). The Pham Ngu Lau backpacker area refers to the main street called Pham Ngu Lau, the parallel street of Bui Vien, and the alleys that run between the two streets.
Pham Ngu Lau Street
Pham Ngu Lau Street is opposite September 23rd Park, which is a rare slice of green space in the city. This street is lined with travel agencies, bus offices, and hotels.
There are some mid-range hotels here that overlook the park. If you want a park view, check the room type before booking. Hotels on Pham Ngu Lau include Liberty Saigon Green View Hotel (3-star) and Vien Dong Hotel (3.5 star).
[Check rates for Liberty Saigon Green View Hotel.]
One of the more remarkable hotels in this area is the M Village Phạm Ngũ Lão. This hotel has converted an old Southern Vietnamese modernist apartment block with its distinct rounded edges. M Village is a local brand that offer modern accommodation with community spaces.
[Check rates for M Village Phạm Ngũ Lão.]
Pham Ngu Lau/Bui Vien alleys
The cheapest places are located in the alleys between Pham Ngu Lau and Bui Vien. There are two main backpacker alleys that connect Pham Ngu Lau and Bui Vien: 175 Pham Ngu Lau/28 Bui Vien and 185 Pham Ngu Lau/40 Bui Vien.
[Backpacker area in 40 Bui Vien.]
These are classic backpackers streets, with travel agents and cafes serving banana pancakes and other western comfort food.
[Backpacker alley at 185 Pham Ngu Lau.]
There are many smaller alleys between the two main roads that have guesthouses. I stayed at Tam Anh Guesthouse in one of these alleys. This isn’t bookable online, and there are still guesthouses in this area that operate on a walk-in basis like in the days when backpackers had a Lonely Planet in their hand.
[Tam Anh Guesthouse in alley 241 Phạm Ngu Lao.]
Some people complain that Pham Ngu Lau is a backpacker ghetto, but most of the people who live here are living in small houses that are typical of the cramped conditions of the inner city. I would argue that by staying in these alleys you are getting a glimpse of how hundreds of thousands of people live in this enormous city.
[Alley 104 Bui Vien.]
Bui Vien
[Entrance to Bui Vien Walking Street.]
Bui Vien is a big backpacker party street with mega bars spilling out onto the street in the evening. Local expats mock it, which expats do to differentiate themselves from travellers. The thing with Bui Vien is that there are very few places like this (apart from aforementioned Khao San Road), so it is a spectacle in itself. At night the street is filled with just as many young Vietnamese looking to party. I have walked through here in the early morning to find people still partying. As a middle-aged man who doesn’t drink, I have no business being here, but I like that it exists.
Bui Vien is a noisy party street, so if that is your scene then go ahead and book a room on Bui Vien.
Ben Thanh
[Ben Thanh Market]
If you had a to pick a central point in Ho Chi Minh City, Ben Thanh Market is a logical choice. Indeed, the town planners have decided to build the largest metro station in Saigon in front of Ben Thanh Market. Three metro lines will eventually interchange here. Ben Thanh Ward also includes the Independence Palace.
There lots of budget and mid-range hotels in the streets surrounding the market and it’s a better option if the backpacker scene isn’t your thing.
Search for hotels around Ben Thanh Market.
Most of the hotels are on and around Le Thanh Ton St and Ly Tu Trong St.
Hotels in this area include Avanti Hotel (3-star) and Alagon City Hotel & Spa (4-star).
Liberty Central Saigon Centre Hotel (4-star) is from the domestic hotel brand Liberty Central.
The landmark hotel of Ben Thanh is the New World Saigon Hotel opposite 23 September Park. It was the first five-star Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City when it opened in 1994, and it hosted President Bill Clinton in 2000.
[Check rates for New World Saigon Hotel.]
Ben Nghe: Nguyen Hue/Dong Khoi
Downtown Saigon isn’t really a phrase that is used, but if you had to designate a downtown area then it would be Ben Nghe Ward in District 1. The streets around Nguyen Hue and Dong Khoi form the core of this downtown area. There are mostly mid-range hotels and international luxury hotel chains in this area.
There are remnants of the French-colonial era here, back when it Saigon known as “the pearl of the Orient”. At the top of Nguyen Hue is the old town hall, which competes with Ben Thanh Market as the central point of the city. In front of the town hall is the Ho Chi Minh statue.
Nguyen Hue
Opposite the town hall on Nguyen Hue is the Rex Hotel (5-star). There is a rooftop bar called the The 5 O’clock Follies, named after the news reports that would be broadcast from here during the war.
[Check rates for the Rex Hotel.]
Nguyen Hue has been turned into a broad pedestrian area (called Nguyen Hue Walking Street). The pedestrian plaza is too hot during the day, but at night it’s packed with people wandering around. At 42 Nguyen Hue is the famous apartment block that is filled with cafes.
Hotels on Nguyen Hue include Palace Hotel Saigon and Saigon Prince Hotel (Formerly Duxton Hotel Saigon).
The unassuming Times Square building on Nguyen Hue is home to The Reverie Saigon. This 5-star hotel was listed by Condé Nast Traveler at number four of the “50 Best Hotels in the World”. It has also been recognised for its opulent lobby.
[Check rates for The Reverie Saigon.]
Search for hotels near Nguyen Hue Street.
Dong Khoi
Dong Khoi is the most elegant street in the city, though it hasn’t realised its full potential. At the top of Dong Khoi is the Notre Dame Cathedral and old Saigon Post Office. Dong Khoi runs down to the riverfront, and some of the most iconic hotels of Old Saigon can be found along here.
Next to the Opera House is the Hotel Continental (5-star). This landmark 19th century hotel is famous for being the residence of Graham Greene while he was writing The Quiet American.
[Check rates for the Hotel Continental.]
Behind the Opera House is the Park Hyatt Saigon Hotel (5-star).
[Check rates for Park Hyatt Saigon Hotel.]
On the other side of the Opera House is the Caravelle Hotel (5-star), which was home to embassies and foreign correspondents during the Vietnam-American war.
[The Opera House and Caravelle Hotel.]
Moving down Dong Khoi, the main hotels include:
Bong Sen Hotel Saigon (3.5-star)
Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers (5-star).
Saigon Hotel (3.5-star).
Hương Sen Hotel (3-star).
[Check rates for Hương Sen Hotel.]
Hotel Grand Saigon (5-star).
[Check rates for Hotel Grand Saigon.]
The Myst Dong Khoi (5-star).
Search for hotels around Dong Khoi Street.
Ben Nghe: Riverfront
Dong Khoi and Nguyen Hue run towards the Saigon River, and along the riverfront there are a variety of old and new hotels to choose from. There is a park along the river (Bach Dang Wharf), though it is separated by a busy road that is difficult to cross by foot.
These are the main hotels that are on the riverfront of the Saigon River, listed in geographical order.
Hotel Majestic Saigon (5-star): Historic hotel at the start of Dong Khoi.
[Check rates for Hotel Majestic Saigon.]
Riverside Hotel (3-star): Mid-range hotel in a classic old building.
[Check rates for the Riverside Hotel.]
Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel (4-star): Liberty Central is a domestic hotel brand.
Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon (5-star): Luxury hotel chain owned by Marriott International.
The Landmark Serviced Apartments (4.5-star): Serviced apartments managed by Peninsula Properties.
Lotte Hotel Saigon (5-star): Lotte Hotels and Resorts is a South Korean luxury hotel chain.
[Check rates for Lotte Hotel Saigon.]
Le Méridien Saigon (5-star): Luxury hotel chain owned by Marriott International.
Ben Nghe: Japantown
Between the Ben Nghe riverfront and Le Thanh Ton is the area informally referred to as Japan Town. There are some small alleys here with Japanese restaurants and bars, and it’s one of the most authentic “Little Tokyo” areas in Southeast Asia.
[Japan Town area of District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City.]
The main entry points to the Japantown area is via 15 Le Thanh Ton or 8A Thai Van Lung. There are monthly room rentals in this area, which are best found by walking around looking for “Room For Rent” signs.
There are many local budget and mid-range hotels on the main streets in this area. Some of the hotels include:
Dong Du Hotel (2-star)
Saigon Hanoi Hotel (3-star)
Ramada Encore by Wyndham Saigon D1 (4-star): Formerly M Boutique Hotel Saigon.
Northern Saigon Hotel (4-star).
Silverland Jolie Hotel (4-star).
The main through-road in this area is Le Thanh Ton, and the Japan Town area is around the Saigon Sky Garden serviced apartment complex (4-star).
Signature by M Village Lê Thánh Tôn (4-star) is by the local hotel group M Village, offering “a modern space designed in a minimalist style”.
Other areas to stay in District 1
I have listed the most useful areas to stay in District 1 if you are a first-time visitor. Here are some other areas with notable hotels in District 1.
Nguyen Cu Trinh
Nguyen Cu Trinh Ward is next to Pham Ngu Lau. There aren’t as many hotels here, but there are a few hotels worth mentioning.
La Memoria Hotel – City Centre (2.5-star) is a budget design hotel that looks like it is from New Mexico. It’s not far from Bui Vien, so you have access to the backpacker area without being in it.
Pullman Saigon Centre Hotel (5-star) is in a flatiron-shaped building in the area below Pham Ngu Lau.
[Check rates for Pullman Saigon Centre Hotel.]
Hotel Nikko Saigon is a 5-star hotel by Nikko Hotels International from Japan.
Nguyen Thai Binh
Nguyen Thai Binh is the ward below Ben Thanh and Ben Nghe. This area still retains its gritty edge, but this area is too central to not be eventually gentrified.
There are some cool bars and restaurants that have opened up in this ward. One of my favourite places is Marou Chocolate, who opened their first store (Maison Marou Flagship Saigon) on Calmette Street. This area also includes the highly-rated Quince Saigon restaurant, which was listed in the first Michelin guide for Vietnam.
Also in this area is the old apartment block with cafes at 14 Ton That Dam. Visiting these cafes gives you a glimpse at what life in these old apartment blocks are like.
There are not many hotels in this area, so an alternative is to check the likes of Airbnb. One travel writer based in Ho Chi Minh City wrote about his experience staying in an old apartment in Nguyen Thai Binh.
I have stayed in some budget hotels in this area, including Blue River 2 Hotel and Ohana Hotel. These are typical budget hotels that you wouldn’t go out of your way to stay out.
One hotel that is heralding the new cool of Nguyen Thai Binh is the Triple E Hotel Metro Ben Thanh (3-star).
[Check rates for Triple E Hotel Metro Ben Thanh.]
Da Kao
I’ve heard Da Kao being described as The Soho of Saigon. This ward is in the upper part of District 1 in a gridded-out residential and commercial area. There are cool bars tucked away in alleys and lots of local restaurants to choose from. The far end of Da Kao is bordered by the Nhiêu Lộc-Thị Nghè Canal, which is a rehabilitated canal with a park.
There aren’t many hotels here, but it’s a good area to look for longer stays. There is an alley full of monthly rentals at 18A Nguyen Thi Minh Khai. This is often referred to as “English Teacher Alley”, as there are many foreign workers renting cheap rooms. If you are staying for longer then just walk around the alleys here and look for the “Room For Rent” signs.
Da Kao Ward is home to Wink Hotel Saigon Centre. This 4-star local hotel brand is has cool modern vibes, with great working area in the lobby.
There aren’t many tall apartment towers in Da Kao, so The Marq stands out as a land mark here. There are short-term apartment rentals at The Marq.
Other areas to stay in Ho Chi Minh City
If you are visiting for the first time then just stick to District 1 to simplify your search. If you are curious to know more, then here are other areas for consideration.
District 3
District 3 is nestled into the corner of the L-shaped District 1. It is a district of two halves, with the east half being tree-lined and gridded out during the French colonial era. There are many old villas in this area that were built by rubber plantation owners. This area is now where most of the consulates of Ho Chi Minh City are located. The other half of District 3 has narrow lanes with crowded tube houses.
Victory Hotel Saigon (3-star) is a local mid-range hotel not far from the War Remnants Museum
[Check rates for the Victory Hotel Saigon.]
Novotel Saigon Centre (4-star) is a 10-minute walk from the Sai Gon Central Post Office.
Hôtel des Arts Saigon – MGallery Collection (5-star) is on the border of D1 and D3, one block behind the Notre Dame Cathedral.
[Check rates for Hôtel des Arts Saigon – MGallery Collection.]
La Vela Saigon Hotel (5-star) is a big local luxury hotel on Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa (the road connecting the airport to District 1). One of its most popular features is the rooftop pool. This hotel is a bit far up D3 for my taste as it is a 30-minute walk to the post office.
Wabi Sabi Serviced Apartments is set in modern tube house with a green exterior. Wabi Sabi is on Nguyen Dinh Chieu, which is one of the main through-streets of D3.
[Check rates for Wabi Sabi Serviced Apartments.]
District 4
Mention that you are staying in District 4 to a Saigonese and they may mention something about it being a gangster land. The old port of the Saigon River is on the D4 riverfront, and where there are ports there are gangsters. Those days are long gone, but its reputation lives on among the locals.
At the start of Pasteur Street in D1 is the Rainbow Bridge, and across the bridge in D4 are some new apartment towers. Even though they are in D4, these apartments are close to the downtown area of D1. This is an area to consider if you are staying longer. The big downside is that the canal is blocked due to an unfinished flood barrier, so the canal water has gone stagnant.
[Rainbow Bridge and Saigon Royal Residence.]
NU Saigon Royal Luxury Apartment is a short-term apartment rental near the rainbow Bridge in Saigon Royal Residence.
District 5
District 5 is where the Chinatown of Saigon can be found. This area used to be the city of Cho Lon before it merged into Saigon. There is no area called Cholon but the western half of D5 is still referred to as the Cholon area.
While this was a historically big Chinatown, many Chinese left after 1975. The Chinatown of Saigon is nothing like Chinatown of Bangkok. There are numerous historic sites to see here, but they are spread out and it is not a good area to stay in. You are better off spending a day wandering around Chinatown and staying in D1.
If you are staying in District 5, the Windsor Plaza Hotel is the landmark hotel of this district.
Thao Dien (Thu Duc City)
Thao Dien is a ward in a bend of the Saigon River in Thu Duc City (a sub-city area east of the Saigon River). Thao Dien has become the coolest expat area in Saigon, and there has been a frenzy of apartment building along the path of the future Line 1 of the HCMC Metro. This area is an expat bubble, so I wouldn’t stay here if it’s your first time in Saigon. There aren’t many hotels here anyway as it’s mostly apartment blocks.
I would stay in Thao Dien if you are a repeat visitor to Saigon and you just want to hang out in Thao Dien for the cafe and night life scene.
You also may want to stay here if you are scouting for an apartment. Hotels to consider here include Common Inn Thao Dien (3-star) and Cityhouse – Atelier (4-star).
If the noise and traffic of Ho Chi Minh City has broken your spirit, or if you are a resident looking for a staycation, then the Villa Song Saigon is a villa resort in a garden setting on the Saigon River.
Thu Thiem (Thu Duc City)
Thu Thiem is the area directly opposite the District 1 riverfront area. It’s not an area that I recommend staying in, but I place this here in case you have been staring across the river wondering what is going on.
The Thu Thiem New Urban Area is supposed to be the new financial district of Ho Chi Minh City (sort of like Pudong is to Shanghai). Things have not gone to plan and most the area remains undeveloped. Maybe it will be a thriving metropolis in 20 years, but for now it is sparsely population and there aren’t enough amenities to make it worthwhile staying in.
There are new apartments going up around the Ba Son Bridge, which connects Thu Thiem to District 1. Metropole Saigon Suites is in this area.
Pham Viet Chanh (Binh Thanh District)
Pham Viet Chanh is a street in Binh Thanh District that has become one of the coolest areas in Saigon. A second Japantown emerged here after restaurants were being priced out of the D1 Japantown. In addition to the Japanese bars and restaurants, bars hipster bars other foreign restaurants started popping up as well.
This area is in Ward 19 of Binh Thanh, but people just call it the Pham Viet Chanh area. There are hardly any hotels here, so you are better off just getting a taxi here at night. It is still residential, and Pham Viet Chanh is dominated by a big public housing block.
The Bloom Pham Viet Chanh is a new apartment block built in the small alleys. This apartment might herald what this area will look like in the future.
Another place to consider for longer stays in this area is the row of apartments that face the canal. Garden Studio is opposite Saigon Zoo in District 1, and you can see the giraffes in the zoo from some of these apartments.
Vinhomes Central Park (Binh Thanh District)
Vinhomes Central Park is a new urban area that is dominated by the Landmark 81 Tower. This 461.2-metre skyscraper is the tallest building in Vietnam. The tower includes the Vinpearl Landmark 81, Autograph Collection. The main tower is surrounded by a jumble of cookie-cutter apartment blocks. This area is of no interest to visitors, so I wouldn’t stay here unless you really want to stay in the tallest building in Vietnam.
[Landmark 81 and Vinhomes Central Park by the Saigon River.]
