Vo Van Tan Street

(Hotels: Victory, Minh Khang, Saigon Golden Lotus, Thien Thai)

With a perfect location, an intersection of Vo Van Tan and Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Victory Hotel (***) is high-recommended for you. Famous spots of District 3 such as Turtle Lake, Phan Dinh Phung Stadium, War Remnants Museum or Co.opmart Nguyen Dinh Chieu Supermarket are all easy to approach. Furthermore, going along Nam Ky Khoi Nghia one-way street from Victory Hotel, you will reach Independence Palace and 30/4 Park in District 1. On the other hand, if you prefer getting surrounded by food and clothes, choose hotels on the other half of Vo Van Tan street (the segment between Truong Dinh and Cao Thang). Minh Khang (***), Saigon Golden Lotus (**) and Thien Thai (*) are some good options.

Truong Dinh Street

(Hotels: Hong Hac Boutique Hotel, Sonnet Saigon, Ruby Star 2)

Choosing accommodation on Truong Dinh street gives you an opportunity to enjoy Lẩu dê Trương Định and Lẩu Cá Kèo Bà Huyện just by a short walk. Moreover, Hong Hac Boutique Hotel (***), Sonnet Saigon (***) and Ruby Star 2 (**) are all near Tao Dan Park and Cung Văn Hóa Lao Động (A center of sports and culture). At weekend, do not forget to visit them as a lot of exciting activities of Saigoneses will take place there and attract a great number of citizens of the city.

Hai Ba Trung Street (Hotels: Hong Vy 1, A25 Hotel Saigon Park View, Evergreen, Saigon Sky)

Opposite Le Van Tam Park, a well-known and huge park of Ho Chi Minh city, hotels in this area give you a fresh and peaceful atmosphere. Nevertheless, you will never get bored as Hai Ba Trung street and the nearby ones are filled with people visiting such restaurants, coffee shops, and clothing stores. You may take a look at Hong Vy 1 (***), A25 Hotel Saigon Park View (**), Evergreen (**) and Saigon Sky (*).

Cao Thang Street

(Hotels: White Lion, Sen Viet, Huy Hoang 2, Thien Thao, Festival)

What else can be better than staying on the street keeping the heart of the local cuisine in District 3? Sleepless nights observing colorful decorations of shops, listening to the sound of the crowd and wandering to taste every single kind of food are such experiences for travelers. Furthermore, there are a large number of alleys in nearby areas, which is also a special feature of the district. Delving into them to discover what is actually the normal life of Vietnamese people that is worth trying. White Lion (***), Sen Viet (***), Huy Hoang 2 (**), Thien Thao (**) and Festival (*) are some hotels on Cao Thang street.

New Pacific Hotel (****)

Although New Pacific is not located in the center of District 3, this four-star hotel attracts visitors due to its luxury. It is not only near the airport but also surrounded by plenty of restaurants and coffee shops, which ensures your convenience when traveling to Saigon.

Website: http://www.newpacific.vn/
Address: #9 Ky Dong street, ward 9, district 3, HCMC

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Lẩu cá kèo Bà Huyện

The soup of this fish hotpot is so special that it makes anyone having visited here once definitely return. Cá kèo nướng (grilled fish), which is crunchy so you can even chew bones, is also rated high. Nevertheless, when it is crowded, the service sometimes causes inconvenience to customers.

Opening hours: 10:00 am to 10:00 pm
Prices: 250 000 vnd / 2 people
Address: #87 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan street, ward 7, district 3, HCMC
Telephone: (+84)839307687

Lẩu dê Trương Định

Two famous goat meat dishes you should try when going to Truong Dinh street are goat hotpots and grilled goat breasts. The restaurant has an air-conditioning area upstairs; you can have your food grilled but the 5% extra payment is required. Instead, sitting on the ground floor to grill goat meat by yourself is worth experiencing.

Opening hours: 10:00 am to 11:00 pm
Prices: 220 000 vnd / 2 people
Address: #105 Truong Dinh street, ward 6, district 3, HCMC
Telephone: (+84)839304296

Bánh tráng trộn Chú Viên

Bánh tráng trộn (a mixture of rice paper, dry beef, egg, peanut, mango and so on) is Vietnamese students’ favorite snack food. It is usually sold by street vendors who gather at school gates; therefore, a lot of parents are afraid what their children eat doesn't meet the sanitary conditions of foods. Notwithstanding, Bánh tráng trộn Chú Viên is famous for food hygiene and safety. That is why there are hundreds of buyers queuing in front of the small stall in a day. And one more thing, remember to order a packet of bánh tráng trộn with less chili if you are not good at eating spicy food.

Opening hours: 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Prices: 10 000 vnd – 20 000 vnd
Address: #38 Nguyen Thuong Hien street, ward 5, district 3, HCMC
Telephone: (+84)906562562

Nước dừa tắc Pasteur

The segment of Pasteur street in district 3 comprises a large number of small shops in terms of different aspects. Wandering along the street to take a look at them, you probably should take a rest at stalls selling nước dừa tắc (coconut and kumquat drink) on the pavement. This is the perfect beverage for you to refresh the tiring body.

Opening hours: 10:00 am to 11:00 pm
Prices: 6 000 vnd – 14 000 vnd
Address: #254 Pasteur street, ward 8, district 3, HCMC

Cao Thang Street

Known as gorgeous food paradise, Cao Thang street (the segment between Nguyen Thi Minh Khai and Dien Bien Phu) is full of big restaurants (fast food, buffet, BBQ or Vietnamese food), bakeries and coffee shops.

#51 Cao Thang Alley

Opposite to the noticeable main street, a small alley at #51 Cao Thang is familiar with young people due to a wide range of cheap and tasty snacks (bánh tráng nướng, hoành thánh chiên, cút lộn xào me, súp cua, bánh flan, etc). Do not miss a chance to come here for the local food at night, as you will realize that it is not only eating but also discovering the lifestyle of Saigoneers.

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Co.opmart Supermarkets
Co.opmart Supermarkets supply a variety of high-quality consumer goods such as food, clothes, electronic stuff, etc. If you intend to spend a long holiday in Vietnam without carrying lots of luggage, find Co.opmart and prepare yourself sufficiently. There are two branches in district 3 for you to choose.

Website: http://www.co-opmart.com.vn/ (Vietnamese)
Address:
---Co.opmart Nguyen Dinh Chieu: #168 Nguyen Dinh Chieu street, ward 6, district 3, HCMC
7:30 am to 10:30 pm (From Monday to Sunday)

Saigon Holiday Market Weekend Fair
In recent years, weekend fairs (also known as sale-off fairs) have become an indispensable highlight of Ho Chi Minh city and attracted a huge number of young people, especially girls. Features of them are only taking place at weekend, gathering a wide range of shops offering 20-50% discounts on products (clothes, shoes, purses, cosmetics, souvenirs, etc) and having an eating area to take a rest. Among these fairs, Saigon Holiday Market is one of the most well-known ones because there are performances of famous singers. Let’s come to this sale-off fair and experience more by yourself.

Opening hours: 9:00 am to 9:00 pm (Saturday and Sunday)
Address: #8 Vo Van Tan street, ward 6, district 3, HCMC (Phan Dinh Phung Stadium)

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Turtle Lake
Although this site is officially called Công Trường Quốc Tế, Saigoneses are more familiar with the name Turtle Lake (Hồ Con Rùa). Above the lake, there are four walking paths which lead to the center tower and a statue of a turtle carrying a stele. In 1976, an explosion destroyed the statue; however, people prefer the name Turtle Lake till now. This place is rated as one of the perfect spots to have a date or gather friends. Just relax beside beloved ones, eat snacks sold around (bánh tráng trộn, súp cua, bắp xào, trà đào, etc), enjoy the wind and find fun with the colorful crowded city at night. More amazingly, Turtle Lake is very near the center of district 1 so it is not a problem for you to walk to Youth Cultural House (Nhà Văn hóa Thanh niên), Diamond Plaza, Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica (Nhà thờ Đức Bà) and so on.

Address: At the intersection of three streets: Vo Van Tan, Tran Cao Van and Pham Ngoc Thach

War Remnants Museum
Famous for the devastating war against the US army, Vietnam attracts international tourists to War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh city. There is a guide who shows you around, shares unbelievable historical stories and gives you a closer look at the present life of dioxin victims in Vietnam. Moreover, war vehicles, model jails and real photos of war crimes will absolutely make visitors get goose bumps. This is a highly recommended museum for you when paying a visit to Ho Chi Minh city.

Opening hours: 7:30 am to 12:00 pm; 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm (From Monday to Sunday)
Admission prices: 15 000 vnd
Website: http://www.baotangchungtichchientranh.vn/ (Vietnamese, English, Chinese)
Address: #28 Vo Van Tan street, ward 6, district 3, HCMC
Telephone: (+84)839305587; (+84)839306664

Southern Women’s Museum
Southern Women’s Museum proudly illustrates the portrait of Vietnamese women in the south in terms of culture, fighting in wars and developing the new society. A wide range of traditional costumes, daily items, rare pictures and lively photos helps you imagine the spirit of Vietnamese ladies. Until now, the museum has attracted more than 1500 tours of international visitors.

Opening hours: 8:00 am to 11:30 am; 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm (From Monday to Sunday)
Admission prices: Free
Website: http://www.baotangphunu.com/ (Vietnamese)
Address: #202 Vo Thi Sau street, ward 7, district 3, HCMC
Telephone: (+84)839320322; (+84)839325690

Tan Dinh Church
Built in 1876, the 140-year-old church amazes people with the color pink outside and the magnificent Roman architecture. This is also the second largest church in Ho Chi Minh city, after Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica (Nhà thờ Đức Bà) in district 1. Tan Dinh Church is definitely worth visiting.

Website: http://giaohattandinh.com/ (Vietnamese)
Address: #289 Hai Ba Trung street, ward 8, district 3, HCMC
Telephone: (+84)838290093

Vinh Nghiem Pagoda
In 2015, David Cameron, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, paid a visit to Vinh Nghiem Pagoda. Not only is the pagoda well known for its stone tower, the highest stone structure in Vietnam, but it also provides you with peace in the soul. That is why your trip to Ho Chi Minh city should never miss such a holy place.

Website: http://vinhnghiemvn.com/ (Vietnamese, English, Chinese)
Address: #339 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia street, ward 7, district 3, HCMC
Telephone: (+84)838966798

All photos on this post taken by Nguyen Vu

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