Along these streets, you’ll find a variety of Western-style eateries, coffee shops, international bars, numerous tour operators, budget motels, hostels, and guesthouses. Additionally, there are many ‘mini-hotels’ with six to seven floors that typically lack elevators, alongside internet cafés, pharmacies, and souvenir and craft stores.

Pham Ngu Lao Street caters not only to budget-conscious travelers but also attracts a diverse crowd due to its proximity to major attractions in Ho Chi Minh City. With a lively atmosphere, many visitors enjoy indulging in local street food or people-watching while sipping on the incredibly affordable bia hoi draught beer available at roadside stalls.

Pham Ngu Lao Attractions

While Pham Ngu Lao has experienced rapid growth over the last ten years, it still retains many delightful colonial-era structures, as local families have resided there for generations. The street atmosphere can be quite hectic, with vendors offering a wide array of products, from cigarettes to massage services.

Budget travelers frequently choose to stay in hotels located in Pham Ngu Lao because of its prime location near various city landmarks and attractions. The well-known Ben Thanh Market and Ho Chi Minh Fine Arts Museum are just a 10-minute walk from the backpacker area, while Reunification Palace and Mariamman Hindu Temple are less than a 10-minute taxi ride away.

Dining in Pham Ngu Lao Street

For first-time visitors to Saigon, experiencing the street food culture is essential. Here, one can indulge in local specialties such as banh mi sandwiches loaded with various toppings, banh xeo (savory pancakes), pho (the quintessential rice noodle soup), and bun bo hue (a heartier rice noodle soup compared to pho), along with traditional Vietnamese coffee. It is advisable to explore the dining options in the Pham Ngu Lao Area, renowned for its delectable yet affordable cuisine. Additionally, numerous cafes offering robust Vietnamese coffee are common in the area, typically equipped with high-speed Wi-Fi.

Shopping in Pham Ngu Lao Street

When it comes to your shopping itinerary in Vietnam, if you’re on the lookout for iconic conical hats—considered the unofficial emblem of the country—as well as a variety of handicrafts, vibrant paintings, luxurious silk items, trendy tee-shirts, delicate rice paper, aromatic tea, rich coffee, stylish coffee containers, delectable coconut candies, and exotic tropical fruits, then Pham Ngu Lao Street is the place to be. You are sure to discover all these treasures here.

This bustling area boasts a plethora of lively street markets and contemporary shopping malls, along with charming boutique shops and captivating art galleries tucked away in its narrow alleys. While shopping in this vibrant locale can be an exhilarating experience, especially due to the appealing prices, it’s advisable to take the time to compare prices and engage in some bargaining before finalizing any purchases.

Activities in Pham Ngu Lao Street

For those seeking to engage deeply with the local culture, we strongly recommend rising early to explore the area’s parks. Observing, or even participating alongside, the elders in their Tai Chi-like exercise sessions can be a fascinating experience. Additionally, visiting morning markets such as Ben Thanh Market is highly recommended, where local vendors offer a diverse selection of fresh produce, household items, and authentic Vietnamese street food at competitive prices.

Given that Pham Ngu Lao is a relatively small area, it serves as an ideal location for exploration on foot—early morning and late afternoon are the most pleasant times for this, as midday temperatures can be quite high. For those seeking a bit of adventure, numerous travel agencies are available to assist with organizing day trips both within the city and to surrounding areas.

Map of Pham Ngu Lao Street

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Inside, this richly decorated shrine is comprised of three areas: the ceremonial hall, the chanting hall and the refectory. This large and sprawling establishment houses beautifully rendered images of Buddha in various incarnations, along with numerous Taoist deities, each with own altar. All the wooden pillars are decorated with red-and-gold Chinese characters.

The ceremonial hall is dominated by the large statue of Amitabha Buddha, who is surrounded by five smaller Buddha images. Also in the main hall is the ‘nine dragon altar’ depicting the birth of Prince Sidharta, the future Buddha Gotama.

Outside, a new addition, the 32-metre tall stupa dominates the temple grounds. This seven-story high, hexagonal structure contains a Buddha relic housed on the top floor. Visitors can climb up to the top floor for panoramic views of the city. In front of the stupa stands the white statue of Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy on an open lotus flower, a symbol of purity.

Opening Hours: 05:00 – 12:00 and 14:00 – 20:00 daily
Location: 118 Lac Long Quan, District 3

Map of Giac Lam Pagoda

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Map of Binh Quoi Tourist Village

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Thien Hau Temple was built in 1760 to honour Mazu the ‘Lady of the Sea’ and when you enter through the iron gate you will see massive stone incense burners in front of the entrance of Mazu’s altar. The exterior is beautifully designed with the traditional curvy roof on which small porcelain figures are standing symbol for themes from Chinese religion and legends.

The interior has colourful dioramas decorating the roof by representing scenes from the nineteenth century in a Chinese city. Besides this, the most prominent visible interior design items are the three statues of the ‘Lady of the Sea’ that dominate the main altar. When visiting make sure you take your time to look at all the small corners this temple has, as there are many sculptures, statues and artworks to discover.

Opening Hours: 08:00 – 16:30
Location: 710 Nguyen Trai Street, Ward 11, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Map of Thien Hau Temple

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You will be amazed by all the optical illusions on display and surely have the chance of taking many pictures which will blow your friends’ minds. You can be trapped in a bottle, fight with a dragon and much more. Among the nine zones are the wildlife world, ancient Egypt, Renaissance art, Oceans and, of course, Vietnam. The Artinus 3D Art Museum is not overcrowded and therefore gives its visitors the time to enjoy the art and take pictures at their leisure.

To have enough time to see and experience the whole museum, you should typically allow yourself around two or three hours. The entrance fee is VND 260,000 (US$ 11.50) on weekdays and VND 300,000 (US$ 13.50) during the weekend. Access is free for children under 90cm, while those over that height are respectively charged VND 200,000 (US$ 9) or VND 260,000 (US$ 11.50).

Opening Hours: 09:00 – 18:00
Address: 02-04, Đường số 9, Tân Hưng, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: +84 8 6298 3767

Map of Artinus 3D Art Museum Saigon

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The exterior has the appearance of polished pearl and makes a great place to photograph – especially at night when bathed in a soft, orange light. The entrance is through a vaulted archway that is kept in immaculate condition; inside, expect swathes of red velvet, classical friezes and hardwood floors. Although the official name of the building is The Municipal Theatre of Ho Chi Minh it is by far more commonly known as the Saigon Opera House and after the restoration work in 1995, the building is just as it was at the turn of the 19th Century.

Location: 7 Lam Son Square, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: +84 (08) 3823 7419

Map of Saigon Opera House

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In 1962, the Vatican conferred the Cathedral status as a basilica and gave it the official name of Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica. Measuring almost 60 metres in height, the cathedral’s distinctive neo-Romanesque features include the all-red brick façade (which were imported from Marseille), stained glass windows, two bell towers containing six bronze bells that still ring to this day, and a peaceful garden setting in the middle of downtown Ho Chi Minh City District 1.

A Virgin Mary statue also stands in front of Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, which locals claimed to have shed tears in October 2005. While this incident was refuted by the Catholic Church of Vietnam, thousands of visitors still flock to this statue in hopes of witnessing a miracle.

Aside from its status as one of Ho Chi Minh City’s most prominent attractions, Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral still serves as a religious institution for the local population. The best time to visit is during Sunday mass at 09:30. As with any holy places around the world, do dress appropriately and refrain from disturbing the worshippers when you’re exploring (and photographing) Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral.

Opening Hours: Daily 08:00 – 17:00
Address: 1 Cong Xa Paris, Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Phone: 08 3822 0477
Architectural style: Romanesque architecture

Map of Notre Dame Cathedral

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The Central Post Office in Ho Chi Minh was constructed between 1886 and 1891 and once inside, the looping arches, intricately designed marble floors and antiquated telephone boxes all serve as a reminder of the importance the post office played in days before email and mobile phones. Although the architecture is distinctly French, the large portrait of Ho Chi Minh hanging high above everyone at the far end of the building reminds everyone we are definitely in Vietnam. Painted onto walls overhead are two maps of the region; one of them showing the telegraph lines that crisscross Vietnam and Cambodia and the other displaying a map of the Saigon region in 1892.

Although the experience is a fascinating glimpse into history, the fact that this is still a functioning post office makes the experience even sweeter, and we encourage everyone to send a letter or postcard from here – it’s a piece of living history where even the old fashioned glue pots are still in use for sticking stamps to letters. There are two wings branching out from the main office, selling souvenirs, postcards and lacquerware but the prices are inflated and the same products can probably be found elsewhere for a better price.

Opening Hours: Daily 07:00 – 19:00
Location: 2 Cong Xa Paris, Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: +84 83 822 1677

Map of Central Post Office

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Also known as Cholon Chinatown Market, Binh Tay Market occupies a two-storey building along Thap Moui Street. Travellers can also find an assortment of handicrafts, lacquerware, and textiles that are sold in bulk, though goods are not varied compared to other (more touristy) markets in downtown Hanoi. Along with the interesting historical and cultural aspect of Cholon, Binh Tay Market is great for experiencing the local lifestyle and sampling unique Vietnamese-Chinese delicacies.

A popular breakfast spot amongst locals, there are plenty of food stalls selling Vietnamese staples in the market including pho noodles, goi cuon (spring rolls), and com tam (broken rice) as well as Chinese-influenced delicacies such as banh bao, which are steamed buns filled with pork or chicken, onions, eggs, mushrooms, and vegetables. A courtyard is set the middle of the marketplace, where you can find a stone altar commemorating Guangdong-born philanthropist Quach Dam.

Binh Tay Market is accessible within a 15-minute xe om (motorcycle taxi) ride from downtown Ho Chi Minh City. The best time to visit is in the morning as that’s when the locals come for breakfast and shop for fresh produce and household supplies.

Opening Hours: Daily 08:00 – 17:00
Address: 57A Thap Moui, District 6, Ho Chi Minh City

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The palace is like a time capsule frozen in 1975 with two of the original tanks used in the capture of the palace parked in the grounds. Originally the site of the Nordom Palace also known as the Governor’s Palace its first role was as a home and workplace for the then French Governor of Cochinchina. The Reunification Palace is a landmark not to be missed by any tourist visiting Ho Chi Minh City. Surrounded by lush tropical gardens, the palace hides secret rooms, antique furniture and a command bunker within its eerie corridors. The Reunification Palace is still in use to host occasions including APEC summits and national events of significant importance.

Reunification Palace Highlights

The Reunification Palace is a five-storey building with the basement housing a warren of tunnels, a war room and telecommunications centre. The war command room still has maps on its walls and period telecommunications equipment on display, whilst adjoining basement rooms feature war propaganda materials. Other areas of interest are the third floor featuring a card playing room, a fourth floor which once had a casino and was used for entertaining guests and a rooftop terrace with a heliport.

The Reunification Palace entered the world history books in 1975 when a Vietnamese Air Force pilot (who was also a communist spy) flew an aircraft over the palace with an attempt to bomb it. Although no real damage was caused this was a significant step towards the fall of Saigon and the ending of the Vietnamese War.

On 30th April in 1975 at 10:45 a North Vietnamese Army Tank rammed the main gates and entered the palace grounds before hanging its flag on the balcony to declare victory for the communist party and thus ending the Vietnam War. Meanwhile staff escaped from the rooftop minutes before the palace was overrun, known as Operation Frequent Wind this was part of history’s biggest ever helicopter evacuation and included the departure of General Thieu.

Reunification Palace

The Reunification Palace is open from 07:30-12:00 then 13:00-16:00. Tickets are purchased at the main gate and visitors will be checked for security reasons. Free guided tours are available in English, French, Japanese and Chinese (invaluable as there are not many signboards inside). The palace is situated on Man Ky Khoi Nghia Street close to the Ben Thanh Market with the main gate located on the east side of the palace gardens.
Opening Hours: Daily 08:00 – 11:00 & 13:00 – 16:00
Address: 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Ben Thanh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Map of Reunification Palace

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