C.T Plaza
Old but gold. Personally, it is the best way to describe this plaza for now. Despite being one of the oldest plazas, it is always loaded with people on the weekends. They come to shopping,  enjoy delicious dishes of the plaza’s food court or to hang out with friends at awesome coffee shops, especially the one on the top floor with an amazing view (Moonlight Coffee Lounge). I can sit there in contemplating Saigon for hours.

Opening hours: 8:00 AM – 10 PM
Address: #60A Truong Son, ward 2, Tan Binh District, HCMC.

Tan Binh Market
In the 1960s, a vast plot located inside Ly Thuong Kiet, Le Minh Xuan, Tan Tien and Phu Hoa streets was used as a marketplace by local residents. The market has changed a lot for the last 50 years and right now this is a famous location for people who are looking for fabrics, garments, and accessories. The liveliness of trading activities is not only found in the market itself but also in the surrounding streets. Usually, the goods here do not have clear fixed prices so try bargaining every time you shop, you may get a good price reduction.

Opening hours: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Address: #172-174M, Ly Thuong Kiet, ward 8, Tan Binh District, HCMC.

Superbowl Shopping Mall
Superbowl is one of the pioneer shopping malls in Saigon with more than 30 fashion outlets of famous brands from all over the world, bowling alleys on the second floor, and many well-known restaurants as well as beer clubs such as Mama’s Chef, Gogi House, Vuvuzela, etc.

Opening hours: 8:30 AM – 10 PM
Address: #A43 Truong Son, ward 4, Tan Binh District, HCMC.

Pico Plaza & Lotte Mart
Great shopping mall with many good options for you, your friends, or your family. The plaza has inexpensive food courts, grocery stores, luxury fashion boutiques, a cinema, a gym, game zones and a lot more. By trolling around, picking up some snacks or deserts on the way, playing a few games or watching a movie, you will be having a great day there.

Opening hours: 8:00 AM – 10 PM
Address: #20 Cong Hoa, ward 12, Tan Binh District, HCMC.

Giác Lâm Pagoda
This is one of the oldest historic Buddhist pagodas in the city which is built in 1744. Upon your arrival, you will be amazed immediately by a poetic garden and a giant ancient bodhi tree. The pagoda consists of the seven-storied stupa whose height is 32m, the main pagoda which holds more than 100 historic statues and handicraft relics and stupas of abbots who have presided over the temple. With such solemn, calm, and quiet atmosphere, this place is either to heal your soul or where to learn the art of peacefulness.

Address: #565 Lac Long Quan, ward 10, Tan Binh District, HCMC.

Phổ Quang Pagoda
Pho Quang Pagoda is probably one of the most famous Buddhist pagodas in this city. Lying at the end of a quiet street, the whole pagoda is almost fully separated from the outside world. You can visit here to enjoy the stunning landscape and find some soothing moments or to enroll in some interesting courses that the pagoda offers.

Address: #64 Huynh Lan Khanh, ward 2, Tan Binh District, HCMC.

Hoàng Văn Thụ Park
From above, Hoang Van Thu Park looks like a giant green lung of Saigon. The high tree density here makes the spot extremely fresh and comfortable. You can enjoy your jogging session during noon without being bothered by the sun and the high temperature of the city. This is a great place to take a walk, or just to sit calmly to relax and enjoy the fresh air in the midst of a busy city.

Address: Phan Dinh Giot, Tan Binh District, HCMC.

Bia Hơi Hà Nội Bắc Việt
“Oi! Do you want to have a fresh beer?” One of my friends once said you can find cheap “bia hoi” everywhere in Hanoi but not here, Saigon. Do not worry, this can be our place, beer lovers! One sip of fresh beer, one bite of the tasty steak: this experience must be unforgettable. The restaurant offers various dish choices from common ones to specialties of Hanoi. It is really spacious here. If the day is bright and breezy, you can sit outside to feel the pleasant wind. If you want to escape from the busy and noisy street for a moment, just choose the inside rooms with air conditioners.

Opening hours: 09:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Prices: 300.000 – 500.000 vnd / 2 persons
Address: #20 Truong Son, ward 2, Tan Binh district, HCMC.

Cơm Gà Hồng Phát
This small restaurant has been a favorite spot of local residents for a long time. They offer chicken and char siu (Cantonese roasted pork) rice with reasonable price. The place is often crowded at rush hours but the food is always served quickly and hot. However, there is one complaint which is about ground floor sometimes being quite messy and dirty around these hours. Therefore, you may want to sit at upper floors which have air conditioners.

Opening hours: 09:00 AM to 10:30 PM
Prices: 25.000 VND – 60.000 VND / 1 person
Address: #475 - 477 Hoang Van Thu, ward 4, Tan Binh district, HCMC.

Beefsteak Only
Are you a fan of beefsteak and currently looking for a good restaurant that offers this? Located near the main street, Beefsteak Only is highly recommended. The restaurant opens from morning until bedtime, so whenever you need a quiet, spacious place to relax and enjoy the lavish meal, the spot is at your corner!

Opening hours: 06:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Prices: 30.000 VND – 80.000 VND / 1 person
Address: #80 Xuan Dieu, ward 4, Tan Binh district, HCMC.
Tel: +84 08 3948 5531
Website: http://beefsteakonly.com/

Mì Quảng
Mi Quang is a famous Vietnamese noodle dish which originated from Quang Nam in central Vietnam. A delicious big hot bowl of Mi Quang with shrimp, chicken, pork, and vegetables is surely a powerful way to kick start your day. Although this is just a small local food vendor which lies on a quiet street, the place has never been that quiet since it first got launched about 30 years ago. Come early since they only open for breakfast and lunch!

Opening hours: 06:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Prices: 30.000 VND – 70.000 VND / 1 person
Address: #8 Le Binh, ward 4, Tan Binh District, HCMC.

Sườn Cây Nướng & Beer – Cộng Hòa
This is a good restaurant that you can bring your friends to have fun. All the tables here have their own fire pits so you can cook and roast your food at your seat. They offer various lavish food choices and good quality beers. The service is adequate. In rush hours and at night, the restaurant is always full yet the staff still manages to serve in an attentive and flamboyant manner. A little downside is that sometimes this place is quite noisy but no worries, you and I then can yell out loud without wondering “Hai, Ba, Dô!” (like Cheers)

Opening hours: 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Prices: 200.000 VND – 500.000 VND / 2 persons
Address: #18A Cong Hoa, ward 12, Tan Binh district, HCMC.
Tel: +84 08 62 68 77 33
Website: http://suoncay.com.vn/

ABC Bakery

Asia Bakery & Confectionery Pte Ent (also known as ABC Bakery) is well known for their high-quality range of bakery products such as bread, pastries, cakes and much more such as coconut cookies, blueberry muffins, sweet rolls, and chewy, creamy and fresh slices of cakes. They are absolutely irresistible. The shop bakes their new bread and cakes twice a day. One is in the morning and the other is afternoon. Therefore, whenever you come to get the stuff, they are always fresh. The bakery chain has about 30 outlets around Saigon, take a quick look on the website for the nearest bakery.

Opening hours: 07:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Address: #1029 Cach Mang Thang 8, ward 7, Tan Binh district, HCMC.
Tel: +84 08 39706865
Website: http://abcbakery.co/

San San – Barbecue Chicken Noodle

A tasty bowl of bone broth and hot barbecue chicken dry noodle dish at San San may become one of the best dry noodle dishes that you have ever tried. They also have ginseng tea, a great variety of dumpling dishes to eat with the main dishes. After 6 PM this place is usually loaded with people so you should come early to have the best experience. If not, you can always take away or call for delivery service.

Opening hours: 04:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Prices: 35.000 VND – 60.000 VND/ 1 dish
Address: #1235 Hoang Sa, Tan Binh district, HCMC.

Thuận Kiều Broken Rice

Many years ago, Thuan Kieu first started as a small hole in the wall restaurant in Saigon. The business has run smoothly and that name has become a big one since then. It is popular for tasty high-quality dishes. The restaurant offers many options to eat with broken rice such as grilled pork, caramelized pork and eggs, lap cheong (Chinese dried sausage), skin with Vietnamese egg meatloaf, char siu (Cantonese barbecue pork), spinach with beef and many types of fishes. If you want to try broken rice dishes but you are scared of those street food stalls on the street because they are not so clean, please do not hesitate to try out this place!

Opening hours: 07:00 AM to 09:00 PM
Prices: 40.000 VND – 100.000 VND/ 1 person
Address: #17 Ut Tich, ward 4, Tan Binh district, HCMC.
Website: http://comtamthuankieu.com.vn/