The nightlife in Saigon is so fantastic that it is hard to choose what to start with first. Yet I would rather start with the Saigonese food and drinks. Vietnam had once been a colony of China and France so Vietnamese food is a mixture of French food and Chinese cuisine, plus the Vietnamese taste. That is why Vietnamese food is rated as one of the best food in the world. While experiencing the nightlife here, travellers usually go to District 1, 3, and 5 and run into many eating spots with delicious food, including Vietnamese traditional food to other countries’ cuisines such as French, Mexican, Korean, and Japanese food. When thinking of late night eating option, most people will recommend going to Pham Ngu Lao area – the backpackers area in Saigon. On Pham Ngu Lao street, you will experience eating street food while sitting on chairs placed on the pavements. This pavement- eating style has become a part of Vietnamese culture and as a foreigner, you definitely should try it out!

There are also other areas for late-night eaters. Here are my suggestions:

STREET FOOD AREAS

Ben Thanh night market

Ben Thanh market is located right in the center of District 1 and it attracts thousands of tourists and travellers every year as it is a symbol of a traditional market of Vietnam. For late- night eaters, Ben Thanh market serves a variety of food ranging from Vietnamese traditional dishes such as pho, bun rieu, banh canh, … to Western and Eastern food for those who want to try out. The food taste here is amazing; Vietnamese people take pride in their ability to cook good food.

Bui Vien Street

Just like Pham Ngu Lao street, Bui Vien street is a center hub for late- night eaters with small local restaurants located next to each other. Prices vary so choose a restaurant wisely by reading recommendation and reviews in Tripadvisor or any other review platforms to see which is right for you and your pocket.

Hang Xanh congee – Cháo Trắng Hàng Xanh

Congee (or rice porridge) is what many Vietnamese people want to eat when it comes to late night eating. Congee in Cháo Trắng Hàng Xanh, Bình Thạnh Dist. is served with other ingredients such as shrimp, pork, fish, eggs, or even kimchi at a very reasonable price at about 15000 VND-30000 VND. Having been to this vendor before, I suggest you should go with a local Vietnamese or people who have gone to this place before as it sometimes can be hard to find if you are unable to communicate and speak Vietnamese.

Besides eating, Saigon has much more to offer. In District 1, rooftop coffees/bars, high-rolling casinos, pleasing jazz performance are among many options in Saigon nightlife entertainment.

Saigon rooftop bars are rated as one of the best in Asia. With an astonishing view of the vibrant city of Saigon to various types of cheap drinks offered, Saigon rooftop bars attract hundreds of people, including celebrities, affluent people, every night. Here are top 5 best rooftop bars in Saigon according to Trip Advisor:

ROOFTOP BARS & CLUBS

Saigon Saigon Rooftop Bar

Address: 19 – 23 Lam Son Square, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tel: (84-8) 3823 4999
Note: Happy Hour specials from 4:00pm to 7:00pm and live music nightly from 9:00pm
Email:  hotel@caravellehotel.com

Chill Sky Bar

Address: 6th Floor Rooftop, AB Tower, 76A Le Lai, District 1, Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam.
Tel: 84 93 882 28 38
Website: http://chillsaigon.com
Price: About 20$/cocktail
Note: Happy hour from 17:30 to 20:00

Sax N Art Jazz Club

Address: 28 Le Loi, District 1, HCMC, Vietnam
Website: http://www.saxnart.com
The cover charge of 100 000 VND

Rex Hotel Rooftop Bar

Address: 141 Nguyen Hue street, Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam.
Tel: 08 3829 2185
Price: Pricey (for example, $6 – $10/beer)
Note: 17:00 to 19:00 Happy hour
Website: http://www.rexhotelvietnam.com/dining/rooftop-garden/

Gallery Drinkery

Address: 64 Ton That Thiep | Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Note: Happy hour: 5pm to 8pm
Tel: +84 8 3914 2817

Saigon nightlife is incomplete without the presence of luxurious bars and drinks. The prices in bars and vendors on the street are different so plan accordingly so as to save money and spend wisely. I wish you would have a good time in Saigon and don’t leave Saigon without knowing what nightlife is like here! It’s worth to try.

The post Saigon Nightlife appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

You may order vegan food using the word “chay” or “đồ ăn chay” (Literally: vegetarian food). But how do we pronounce that though? A way to say the word “chay” is to combine the first syllable of the word “chayote” and the vowel of the word “say”. And, “đồ ăn”, which means food, is “do” and the first syllable of “ankle”. Hope this could help you pronounce the full word correctly!

By the way, here are two tips when you speak Vietnamese, use just a little amount of air and do not compress the words when pronouncing.

Healthy Farm

You choose your favorite ingredients, Healthy Farm’s chefs make delicious noodle dishes out of them. Ingenious concept, isn’t it? That is what I thought when I first got here. There is a great variety of options for customers to pick including noodles, vegan meats, and vegetables. Moreover, the restaurant offers vegan burgers, ice creams, and many more good drinks. A breakfast or lunch here to me is an absolutely great idea.

Opening hours: 10:30 AM – 10:30 PM
Address: #42 Tran Hung Dao St., Pham Ngu Lao ward, district 1, Saigon.
Phone:+84 8 3838 6668
Website: facebook.com/healthyfarmvegan/

Loving Hut Hoa Đăng Restaurant

Loving Hut is a vegan restaurant chain with more than 100 outlets in Asia, Europe, South America, North America, and Australia. Among the places I recommend here, this one is where a proper man in a suit and tie may get his proper full course dinner.

Opening hours: 09:00 AM – 02:00 PM and 04:00 PM – 09:00 PM
Address: #38 Huynh Khuong Ninh St., district 1, Saigon.
Phone:+84 8 3820 9702
Website: lovinghuthoadang.com/

Phương Mai Vegan Restaurant

Don’t be fooled by the restaurant’s small size look! It offers a lovely atmosphere and an amazing menu. I once stumbled across this small shack and now I have to come back every (almost) week because of the delicious dishes. Moreover, this place has a small meditation room and a reading room with a few charity bookshelves. You can read, take any titles that you like or consider making donations to enrich it.

Opening hours: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Address: #7 Phan Chu Trinh St., District 1.
Phone: +84 8 38 223 166 – +84 8 88 339 257
Website: facebook.com/pmvegetarian/

Liên Hương Vegan Restaurant

Lien Huong is a decent vegetarian restaurant in a quiet and comfortable setting that you should not miss when you are here in Saigon although it is quite an adventure to get here as the restaurant is located in an alley. However, it is really not that hard if you simply follow our map.

Opening hours: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Address: #149/31A Le Thi Rieng St., Ben Thanh ward, District 1.
Phone: +84 8 3925 0547
Website: facebook.com/pmvegetarian/

Tib Vegan Restaurant

Established in 1993, Tib Restaurant was among the pioneers in Vietnam to revive rustic Hue dishes such as Jellyfish noodle (Vietnamese: Bún giấm nuốc), Steamed rice pancake with shrimp in banana leaves (Vietnamese: Bánh nậm tôm), Romaine lettuce roll (Vietnamese: Cuốn diếp) into luxurious settings. One interesting point that helps Tib stands out from its competitors is that the restaurant mainly focuses on food made from fresh vegetables and fruits instead of offering fake flavors or vegan meats.

Besides the main courses, Tib also serves breakfast with coffee and snacks. Don’t forget to check it out!

Opening hours: (Mon to Sat) 11:00 AM – 02:00 PM and 05:00 PM – 10:00 PM
(Sunday) 11:15 AM – 02:00 PM – 05:15 PM – 10:00 PM
Address: #89-91 Phan Ke Binh St., Ben Thanh ward, District 1.
Phone: +84 8 3911 5455
Website: tibrestaurant.com/

The post Vegetarian Restaurants in District 1, Saigon appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

Lý Tự Trọng & Lê Thánh Tôn Street

(*****) – New World Hotel Saigon
(****) – Grand Silverland Hotel & Spa, Golden Central Hotel Saigon, Liberty Central Saigon Center Hotel, Norfolk Hotel, Alagon D’antique Hotel & Spa, Central Palace Hotel
(***) – Sanouva Saigon Hotel, Lavender Boutique Hotel,Avanti Hotel, Bali Boutique Ben Thanh Hotel, Lan Lan II Hotel, GK Central Hotel, 
(**) & (*) – Ellyse Nga Khanh Hotel, Nguyen Shack Saigon, Phan Long Hotel, 

As two one-way and paralleled streets, the area around Lý Tự Trọng & Lê Thánh Tôn streets is one of the most busiest area in Saigon where not only you can find several quality hotels but you can also look for many restaurants and shops. Moreover, these street is also near those central spot such as the Independence Palace, Nguyễn Huệ Pedestrian, Bến Thành Market and so on.

The Riverside Area

Nguyễn Huệ-Đồng Khởi-Hai Bà Trưng-Thái Văn Lung-Thi Sách-…

(*****) – Rex Hotel, The Reverie Saigon Hotel, Caravelle Saigon, Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Tower, Hotel Majestic Saigon, Park Hyatt Saigon, Grand Hotel Saigon, Lotte Legend Hotel Saigon, Le Meridien Saigon,v.v.
(****) – Saigon Prince Hotel, Silverland Jolie Hotel & Spa, Royal Hotel Saigon, Hotel Continental Saigon, Liberty Central Saigon Citypoint, Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel, Millennium Boutique Hotel,  Sunny Service Apartment, Paragon Saigon Hotel,v.v.
(***) & (**) – Au Lac II Hotel, Asian Ruby Central Point Hotel, Camelia Saigon Central Hotel, Huong Sen Hotel, Catina Saigon Hotel, Roseland Point Hotel, v.v.

The area is a combination of more than ten streets which are near the bank of Saigon River. This area is right inside the center of Ho Chi Minh City where you can find everything you want from high-class hotel, restaurants, shopping mall to common hostels, food stalls, shops, ect. You can easily get to those famous spots such as the Independence Palace, Nguyễn Huệ Pedestrian, Notre Dame Cathedral  and you can even walk along the bank or have a cruise on the Saigon River.

Bui Vien Street and nearby area

Meraki Hotel(**), Beautiful Saigon Boutique Hotel(**), Gia Vien Hotel(**),v.v.
New Saigon Hostel, Diep Anh Guest House, Townhouse 373 Saigon, Sigoong Hostel, The Hangout-Vietnam Hideout Hostels, Sunny Guest House,v.v.

Bui Vien, crowded from day to night, is the most popular street among foreign tourists in Saigon. Not only this street but the Phạm Ngũ Lão and Đề Thám street nearby also has a great number of  western-style restaurants,pubs, galleries, and most important, backpacker hostels with appropriate prices and high quality.

 Here are typical hostels in the area:

1.     New Saigon Hostel

Located on Bui Vien street, the most well-known street for expats, New Saigon Hostel is featured with its cleanliness, safety, and especially the enthusiastic and friendly staff who are willing to suggest places for you to go, as well as help you book tours and bus tickets. Although the hostel doesn’t have any bar or lounge area to meet people, its location is on one of the most busiest streets in Saigon where you can find several pubs or bars instead. This place is highly recommended by hundreds of foreign tourists.

Address: #270 Bui Vien Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh city

2.     Diep Anh Guest House

Diep Anh Guest House, situated in an alley between Bui Vien and Pham Ngu Lao street, is one of the most famous guest houses in the city. Its reputation comes from the owners, a lovely and helpful couple (Anh & Diep). They can recommend many places to go, help you book appropriate tours, introduce ways to buy high-quality goods and even chat about lots of things in Saigon with you. These will make you feel the warmth of a family and the soul of people here.

Address: #241/31, Phạm Ngũ Lão, District 1, Ho Chi Minh city

3.     Town House 373 Saigon

Do you want to have the best breakfast at a hostel in Ho Chi Minh city? So you can not miss Town House 373 Saigon. Highly recommended for its breakfast. The hostel will serve you a buffet with fruits (typically “dragon fruit” and “passion fruit”), salad, tea and so on. Besides, it is also featured with the friendly and helpful staff, safety and good wifi.

Address: #373/45 Pham Ngu Lao Street, Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh city

4.     Sigoong Hostel

Sigoong Hostel, located on De Tham street but not at the crowded part, will help you rest well with its clean and comfortable beds. It also has professional service, good prices, decent breakfasts and even a rooftop loungue where you can have beer and meet other travelers.

Address: #92 De Tham Sstreet, District 1, Ho Chi Minh city

The post Where to stay in District 1, Saigon? appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

Com tam

“Cơm tấm”, essential to the daily lives of Saigon people, is one of the must-eat foods while visiting Saigon. Com suon is normally a dish of rice with pork meat, but with many additional material such as “bì”, “chả”, “xíu mại” and especially fish sauce added, it becomes a delicious traditional food in Saigon.

Cali “Com tam”

As a famous “com tam” brand in Vietnam, Cali “Com tam” serves many kinds of “com tam” such as “Com tam suon bi cha”, “Com tam xiu mai”,… and even sticky rice.  The prices are a little high but still worth for its distinctive pork embalmed with spices,  modern decoration, and enthusiastic staffs  .These restaurants are favourite places of white-collar workers in the city to have lunch.

Prices: 25.000-70.000 vnd
Hotline: 3925 2222
Address:
#222 Hai Ba Trung, Tan Dinh, District1, Ho Chi Minh
#48 Nguyen Hue, Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh
#32 Nguyen Trai, Ben Thanh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh
#35Bis Le Thanh Ton, Ben Nghe, District1, Ho Chi Minh
#236 Le Thanh Ton, Ben Thanh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh
Website: http://comtamcali.com/vi/

Thuận Kiều “Com Tam”

Thuan Kieu “com tam”, also a long-standing “com tam” brand in Vietnam,  features with its high-quality meal including big pork slices, additional materials, delicious fish sauce and the professional service.

Prices: 40.000-60.000 vnd
Tel : (+84) 8 39553031
Address: #26 Ton That Tung, Ben Thanh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh
#114 Yersin, Nguyen Thai Binh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh
Website: http://comtamthuankieu.com.vn/

Bùi Thị Xuân “Xôi chè”

Bùi Thị Xuân “Xôi chè” is very famous for its delicious sticky rice as well as sweet gruel. The restaurant is not only spacious and airy but it also contains a diverse menu of different foods. A sticky rice dish features with not only the rice but also additional ingredients such as saltish rousong (chà bông), Chinese sausage and especially fatty pate. Therefore, this place is usually crowded with lots of people, especially on the weekends.

Address:#111 Bui Thi Xuan,  Pham Ngu Lao, District 1
Prices: 10.000-30.000vnd
Website: http://www.xoichebuithixuan.com/index/

Noodles delicacy

Although Ho Chi Minh City is in the South of Vietnam, the food here is the combination from all over the country. There is “Bún Chả” from Hanoi, “Bún Bò” from Hue, “Bún Mắm”  and so on.

Hoa Đông “Bún Chả” of Hà Nội

Do you want to enjoy a traditional food of Hanoi at the heart of Saigon? Hoa Dong “Bun cha”, opened from more than 50 years ago, is the best option. The restaurant has a reputation for its tasty meats, grilled chopped crab, shrimp rice cake and many other tasty things in every bowl of “bún chả”. It has another branch on Nguyen Trai Street.

Prices: 45.000-65.000vnd
Address: #121 Lý Tự Trọng, Ben Thanh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh

Bùi Thị Xuân “Bún Bò Huế”

“Bún Bò Huế” is a traditional food of Huế province but very popular in Ho Chi Minh City with several restaurants serving it. But if you want to taste the true Huế’s soul in this food, why don’t try Bùi Thị Xuân “Bún Bò Huế”?  With the professional service, Bùi Thị Xuân “Bún Bò Huế” will surprise you with its bowl of “bún bò” containing a lot of meat and tasty bouillon, so you can enjoy the most famous Hue’s food.

# At the corner of Cong Quynh – Bui Thi Xuan Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh
Prices: 45.000-60.000vnd

Ngọc “Phở” of Hồ Hảo Hớn

Phở is a traditional food of Vietnam and there are many kinds of pho depend on the weather, tradition and people of a particular region. At Hồ Hảo Hớn phở, although it is just a small food stand set up in an alley, you can enjoy the very South in every bowl of Phở, with the typical culantro (ngò gai), delicious bouillon, and especially the friendly and generous atmosphere of the South.

Address: #Alley 30 of Ho Hao Lon Street, Co Giang, District 1, Ho Chi Minh
Prices: 50.000-60.000vnd

“Bún Mắm” 61

“Mắm” is a hard-to-eat food for many people, but it is a traditional food of the South. If you want to try, “Bun Mam” 61 is a good choice. As a famous “bún mắm” restaurant in Saigon, “Bún Mắm”61 features with its high-quality food, fresh cuttle-fish, tasty consomme and appropriate prices.

Address: #63 Co Giang, District 1, Ho Chi Minh
Prices: 30.000-60.000vnd

The post What and where to eat in District 1, Saigon? appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

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Rooftop Bars

If you want to have such modern and luxurious experience, then some interesting rooftop bars are for you. These bars were built on top of skyscrapers in HCMC with not only outstanding looks but also good music. Only in these bars can you enjoy the high-quality drinks while admiring the city's fascinating view.

Saigon Rooftop Bar

The Saigon Saigon Rooftop Bar opened in 1959 and set on the ninth floor of Caravelle hotel, highlights itself with such a cozy atmosphere by enthusiastic staffs, especially wooden furniture and amazing views from Lam Son Square.

Opening Hours: Daily 11:00 am – 03:00 am
Address: #19 Lam Son Square, District 1, Ho Chi Minh
Tel: (+84) 83 823 4999
Prices: 200.000 - 1.100.000vnd

Chill Sky Bar

The luxurious and flashy Chill Sky Bar, up on the 25th floor of Saigon’s AB Tower, attracts many affluent residents and expats because of its live music held by the DJs. Its drinks such as cocktails, beers, and wines are very expensive but there are happy hours promos offered for customers.

Opening Hours: Daily 5:30 pm – 03:00 am
Address: #76A Le Lai, Ben Thanh, District1, Ho Chi Minh
Tel: (+84) 83 827 2372
Prices: 20.000 -550.000vnd

Rex Hotel Rooftop bar

Rex Hotel Rooftop Bar, located on the fifth floor at the heart of Saigon, will bring you such happy moments at night. You can enjoy the cocktails while getting to see HCM People’s Committee, Saigon Opera House and especially the Nguyen Hue Pedestrian.

Opening Hours: Daily 7:00 am - 10:00 pm
Address: # 141 Nguyen Hue Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh
Tel: (+84) 83 829 2185
Prices: 200.000-440.000vnd

Casino

Many grand hotels in HCMC have their own casinos, though incomparable with Las Vegas', they still are considered as an exciting way to spend your night. Two biggest casinos in the city at the moment are the Caravelle Hotel, Sheraton Saigon Hotel, and Towers. Get into the Casinos for gambling games and try out with your luck, why not?

Caravelle Hotel:

Address: #19  Lam Sơn Square, Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh
Website: caravellehotel.com
Tel: (+84) 8 3823 4999

Sheraton Saigon Hotel and Towers:

Address: #88 Dong Khoi Street, Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh
Website: sheratonsaigon.com
Tel: (+84) 8 3827 2828

Ben Thanh Night Market

Ben Thanh is one of the greatest attractions in the evening. When the night comes, vendors appear with delicious foods as well as fashion items together with a variety of souvenirs. The night market, set up to become a tourist attraction along the Phan Boi Chau side of the Ben Thanh market, has caught a lot of expats and residents’ attention.

Opening Hours: Daily 6:00 am –12:00pm
Address: #Phan Boi Chau Street, Ben Thanh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh
Tel: (+84) 83 521 0004

Nightclubs

There are a number of nightclubs in Saigon, which are served as important leisure to the modern society. With a range of premium to affordable service, these nightclubs attract mostly the youth as well as international tourists who are interested in going out for drinks, socializing with people and having fun.

Apocalypse Now Nightclub

Apocalypse Now is one of my favorite nightclubs in Saigon. This place is where you can enjoy a lot of fun. You can chill out with tasty snacks and some cool drinks when observing the others or asking to join them to dance cheerfully with the music.  

Opening Hours: 8:00pm- 04:00am
Address: # 2B-C-D Thi Sach Street, Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh
Tel: (+84) 8 3825 6124
Prices: 50.000 - 5.500.000vnd

Lush Nightclub

The lush nightclub is more premier than the Apocolypse Now. Set into two floors, with the place upstairs for seating and the downstairs for dancing, the nightclub plays different types of music such as hip hop, pop and so on, and it is full of the youth who are energetic and sociable, having fun with their sparkles.

Address: #2 Ly Tu Trong, Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: (+84) (0) 9 1863 0742
Opening hours: 8:00pm - 4:00am
Prices: 20.000-440.000vnd

Saigon River Dinner Cruise

Exhausted of visiting so many places in Saigon? How about contemplating the City on a cruise along the Saigon River? The Saigon River Dinner Cruise gives you a chance to dine in a floating restaurant while enjoying a beautiful traditional puppet show. During that excursion, you can get a significant view of Saigon at night with the Bitexco Tower charmingly shining, many imposing constructions, highly-crowded streets and so on. This experience will make you feel the soul of this lively city.

Address: #Saigon River ( Hotel Pickup)
Time: from 6:00pm
Price: 70$/Adult

Live music bars

There are many bars in Saigon, especially in District 1, which have live band performance. Drinking at the bar, you will enjoy the music, from acoustic to rock and from ballads to underground. These places will make you feel the high-standard mental life of the citizens.

Hardrock Cafe

Hardrock Cafe is remarkable for its tasty cocktails, pretty decoration, delicious food and, most importantly, live bands. These bands perform a variety of rock ballads.

Opening Hours: Weekdays 11:00 – 24:00, Weekends 11:00 – 02:00 (Live music from 21:00)
Address: #39 Le Duan street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh
Tel: (+84) 8 6291 7595
Prices: 20.000 - 440.000vnd

Sax n' Art Jazz Club

Sax n’ Art, with dark and smoky atmosphere, is a famous bar in Saigon where you can listen to the Jazz music played by the band of the bar’s owner with many traditional instruments. Sax n’ Art’s drinks are quite more expensive than these at some other bars in the city but they are trying for you, especially when you are able to listen to one of the best jazz bands in Vietnam.

Opening Hours: 19:00 – 24:00 (live music from 21:00)
Address: 28 Le Loi, District 1, Ho Chi Minh
Tel: (+84) (0) 8 3822 8472
Prices: 150.000 - 275.000vnd

Seventeen Saloon

Wanna try some heavy rock? How about Seventeen Saloon with a high volume of rock performed through night? This is one of the most famous bars in Saigon where you can excessively enjoy an overnight-show of heavy rock with friends.

Opening Hours: 7:00 pm – 02:00 am (live music from 21:00)
Address: #103A Pham Ngu Lao Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh
Tel: (+84) (0) 8914 0007
Prices: 200.000-1.100.000vnd

Bui Vien Night Street

Bui Vien night street is the most popular one among foreign tourists in Saigon. This street, crowded from day to night, has a great number of restaurants, pubs, galleries, backpacker hostels and more with appropriate prices and high quality. Walking along the street at night, you will be confused with the number of foreigners here that makes the street looks international.

Address: Bui Vien Street, Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh 

The post Nightlife of District 1, Saigon appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

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Independence Palace
Designed and built on the foundation of the 1962 Norodom Palace, the Independence Palace became the headquarter of the Saigon government, as the White House to the U.S. government, throughout the Vietnam war. After the reunification of Vietnam, the Palace received a second name: the Reunification Palace. It witnessed the unjust brutality of the war, the painstaking schemes of the enemy and the Vietnamese's pursuit of peace.

Not only does the Palace hold historical importance, but it also showcases 60s Vietnamese architecture. The Palace's architecture is the intersection between Western and Eastern cultures, expressing the East's cultural values as well as representing its traditional philosophy and identity.

Today, the Independence Palace is one of the must-visit places for citizens as well as for tourists.
Opening hours: 7:30am to 11:00am ; 1:00pm to 4:00pm every day.

Admision prices:

• For solo visitor: Adults: 30.000vnd; Students:15.000vnd; Children (6-17 years old) : 5.000vnd.
• For visitors in tour (more than 20 people): Adults:20.000vnd; Students:10.000vnd; Children (6-17 years old) : 3.000vnd.

 Websites: http://ditich.dinhdoclap.gov.vn/vi-vn/trang-chu.aspx
 Address: #135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Saigon, Vietnam

Notre Dame Cathedral

Notre Dame Cathedral, officially named Immaculate Conception Cathedral Basilica, is the first Catholic cathedral built in Saigon under the French colonial period. Throughout the ups and downs of history, its beauty is still intact amidst Saigon - it is the beauty of history, of the transformation, of assimilation in the age of integration and development and of the adaptation of Western culture into the Orient. The cathedral has long been an essential part of the Saigonese cultural and spiritual life, also a proud symbol of this city.

Opening hours: 8:30am to 10:00am; 2:30pm to 3:30pm (Monday to Friday)
Time for Mass : 5:30am and 5:00pm (Monday to Saturday); 5:30am, 6:30am, 7:30am, 9:30am (for abroader), 4:00pm, 5:00pm, 6:30pm
Address: #1 Công xã Paris Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

The City’s Opera House

The City Opera House is one of the most notable architectural monuments built under the French colonial period. Since its completion, the City Opera House has been used to host not only musical events but also French soldiers moving to the South from the North or used as the South Vietnam House of Representatives, etc.

Not only holding within itself the nuances of history, it also represents old Western architecture, with a tinge of popular flamboyant French architecture at the same time and a combination of architectural and sculptural art. Today, the Opera House is of great artistic importance and also one of Saigon's monuments

Address: #7 Lam Son Square, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: +84 8 3829 9976

Central Post Office

Built under European influences during the French colonial period, the Central Post Office is one of the most remarkable architectural monuments in Saigon It is famous not only for its old and meaningful external architecture but also for its grandiose internals, including arches, sophisticatedly sculpted patterns and the two historical maps (the 1892 Saigon Map and the 1936 Vietnam-Cambodia power lines). Today, tourists often visit the Central Post Office for the beauty of its old architecture amidst the city's modernity.

Address: #2 Cong xa Paris Street, Ben Nghe Ward , District 1, Ho Chi Minh
Tel: +84 8 3822 1677
Opening hours: 7:00am to 7:00pm (Monday to Friday); 7:00am to 6:00pm (Saturday); 8:00am to 6:00pm (Sunday)

Museum of Ho Chi Minh City

Built from the French colonial period with the original purpose is Museum of Commerce, the building was used as accommodation for politicians, the work of the interim government, and so on. Until the day reunification, the building was returned to inherent function and named Museum of Ho Chi Minh City, showcasing exhibitions related to knowledge, natural geography, economy, culture, and history of the City. The building is designed in a classic-regenerate style combining Asian-Europe culture and surrounded by gardens. This is a useful place when you want to learn about the City.

Address: #65 Ly Tu Trong Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Website: http://www.hcmc-museum.edu.vn/vi-vn/trang-chu.aspx
Opening hours: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (Monday to Sunday)
Tel: 08.38.299.741

Ho Chi Minh’s Museum of Fine Arts

An exemplary architectural monument built during the French colonial period, this building became the Museum of Fine Arts in 1987 and officially went into operation in 1992. Today, the Museum is Vietnam's largest art center, preserving many paintings, sculptures, and antiques throughout history.

Address: #97 Pho Duc Chinh Street, Nguyen Thai Binh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Tel:0838294441
Website: http://baotangmythuattphcm.com/
Opening hours 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (Tuesday to Sunday)
Admission prices: 5.000vnd for Vietnamese; 10.000vnd for foreigner

Nguyễn Huệ Pedestrian street

The Pedestrian street, a remarkable city construction, was built along Nguyen Hue boulevard and officially went into operation on April 30, 2015. The Nguyen Hue Pedestrian street is 670 meters in length, 64 meters in width, extending from the front office of the people's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City to the area along the bank of the Saigon River. Sprinkler system combined lighting, fog, lighting, and cameras are controlled by the control room below the street. Every day, the street welcomes thousands of visitors in the country and abroad. Along the street is the mixture of modern and antique architecture or new and historic values. Although the Pedestrian has been in operation recently, it becomes a new cultural and attractive symbol of Saigon

Address: Nguyen Hue Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Bitexco Finacial Tower

The Bitexco Finacial Tower, inspired by the charming and attractive image of lotus, Vietnam's cultural icon, is one of the tallest buildings in Vietnam and a new icon for the era of prosperity and integration of HCMC. Most of the building area is used to place the transaction site by the leading financial enterprises in the world. The top area of the building is decorated and lit at night to create stunning scenery as the lighthouse of the city. This is also a recreation center that is appealing to young people.

 

Website: http://www.bitexcofinancialtower.com/
Address: #2 Hai Trieu Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

All photos on this post taken by Linh Nguyen and Trieu Anh.

The post Where to visit in District 1, Saigon? appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

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Ben Thanh Market

Originating from a small marketplace before the French colonial period, Ben Thanh Market today is one of the most historical and cultural markets in Saigon particularly and in Vietnam generally. It is Saigon's most popular representative and is the number one must-go place for either domestic or international tourists. Not only an epitome of Vietnamese culture, Ben Thanh Market is also the source of all sorts of merchandise, ranging from daily use to rare goods such as clothes, jewelry, household items, foods, fresh seafood and more with premium quality.

Opening hours: 7:00 am to 7:00 pm every day
Tel: 0838299274
Website: http://www.chobenthanh.org.vn/uc/home
Address: Quách Thị Trang Square, Bến Thành Ward, HCMC

Saigon Square

Saigon Square, one of shopping places attracting thousands of young people and tourists daily, is renowned for its diverse range of goods, notably clothes, footwear, jewelry, and more. Although sorted in a kiosk system as in a market, the merchandise here is nonetheless high-quality, inexpensive and frequently discounted; therefore, Saigon Square is regarded as a "premium marketplace".

Saigon Square:

Address: 73 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa, Bến Thành Ward, District 1 Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: 090 977 70 68
Opening hours: 9:00am to 9:00pm

Major Trade Centers: Dimond Plaza, Parkson Saigon, Vincom Center, Saigon Center

District 1, the lively district of the most economically developed city in Vietnam, is home to many quality trade centers that are diverse in goods and entertainment services, attracting young people and tourists alike. They are Diamond Plaza, Parkson Saigon, Vincom Center, Saigon Center, etc.

Nguyễn Trãi, Hai Bà Trưng shopping street

These are the two busiest shopping streets in District 1, as well as in HCMC. Walking along the streets, you will be both attracted and surprised by dozens of shops, especially clothing ones. Because of their diversity in goods and reliable prices, these streets are the ideal shopping places for Vietnamese citizens and tourists.

All photos on this post taken by Trieu Anh.

The post Shopping in District 1, Saigon appeared first on Maze Vietnam.