Ho Chi Minh City Districts Overview

Ho Chi Minh City is a popular destination for many visitors from all over the world. But most people only travel and stay in the city center of District 1 and have missed out on many rare attractions and beauty that scatter in other lesser-known districts of the city. The below are the Ho Chi Minh City districts overview with our suggestions of places to visit.

Ho Chi Minh City Districts Map

There are a total of 24 districts in Ho Chi Minh City: 19 central districts and 5 suburban districts.

District 1, District 2, District 3, District 4, District 5, District 6, District 7, District 8, District 9, District 10, District 11, District 12, Binh Tan District, Binh Thanh District, Go Vap District, Phu Nhuan District, Tan Binh District, Tan Phu District, Thu Duc City

Suburban Districts: Cu Chi District, Hoc Mon District, Binh Chanh District, Nha Be District, Can Gio District

Update: From January 1st, 2021, Thu Duc District will merge with District 2 and 9 to establish Thu Duc City as part of the industrialization plan of Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City Districts

CENTRAL DISTRICTS (Called “Quận” in Vietnamese)

District 1

District 1 is both the tourist center and economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City 
(In picture: the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City)

Location: 8 km from Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN)

Read more on Travel Time and Taxi Fares from Major Airports in Vietnam to the City Centers and How to Take Shuttle Buses from Tan Son Nhat International Airport to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) Center.

In 1859, the French government in Indochina established District 1 as the center for the Governor with government office buildings, some of which remain until today. At the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, District 1, approximately 7.8 square km of total area, is the busiest area of the city and where many commerce and trading happen. It is also the most visited district in Ho Chi Minh City because of its historical and cultural attractions.

Places to visit in District 1:

• Attractions: Reunification Palace, Saigon Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, Ho Chi Minh City Hall, Jade Emperor Pagoda, Hung Kings’ Temple, Municipal Theater, Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Vietnamese History (Ho Chi Minh City), Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Bach Dang Wharf, and Saigon River Tunnel (Thu Thiem Tunnel).
• Shopping: Ben Thanh Market, Vincom, Bitexco Financial Tower, and Takashimaya.

Interested in a walking tour? Check out our itinerary.

District 2

District 2 is home to many prestigious real-estate projects in the city

Location: about 10 km from District 1
Neighboring Ho Chi Minh City districts: Thu Duc District, Binh Thanh District, Binh Thanh District, District 4, District 1, District 7, District 9, and Dong Nai Provinces.

District 2 is now part of Thu Duc City. The area has only been modified recently with new residential buildings and natural landscapes - making it home to the majority of expats in Ho Chi Minh City. At the same time, the district itself also has a lot to offer for visitors, especially those who are interested in the modern Vietnamese lifestyle.

Places to visit in District 2:

• Attractions: Hue Nghiem Pagoda, Minh Dang Quang Buddhism Institute, and Kim Cuong Island (Diamond Island).
• Entertainment: Factory of Contemporary Arts Centre and Saigon Outcast.

District 3

Turtle Lake in District 3

Location: about 3 km from District 1 and about 5 km from Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN)
Neighboring Ho Chi Minh City districts: Phu Nhuan District, Tan Binh District, District 1, and District 10.

Located near District 1, District 3 is the second most visited district in Ho Chi Minh City with many attractions, food streets, as well as areas for Vietnamese young people to gather.

Places to visit in District 3:

• Attractions: War Remnant Museum, Xa Loi Pagoda, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, Phap Hoa Pagoda, Tan Dinh Church, Southern Vietnam Women Museum, and The Venerable Thich Quang Duc Monument.
• Shopping and entertainment: Turtle Lake and Saigon Square.

District 4

Ho Chi Minh Museum

Location: about 3 km from District 1
Neighboring Ho Chi Minh City districts: District 1, District 2, District 4, and District 7.

District 4 is the district with the smallest area, about 4.2 square km so there are only a few attractions. However, District 4 local authority has planned for modification over the years and making it a better place for both Vietnamese and foreign visitors.

Places to visit in District 4:

• Attractions: Dragon Wharf, Mong Bridge (Cau Mong), and Hung Long Pagoda.
• Entertainment: Ton That Thuyet - Xom Chieu Food Streets and Fresco Alley (Pho Bich Hoa - New).

District 5

Nhi Phu Temple

Location: about 6 km from District 1
Neighboring Ho Chi Minh City districts: District 1, District 6, District 8, District 10, and District 11.

District 5 is considered as a part of Chinatown in Ho Chi Minh due to the large population of Chinese who had immigrated to Vietnam around the 19th and 20th centuries. There are a lot of temples, pagodas, and assembly halls in this district.

Places to visit in District 5:

• Attractions: Thien Hau Temple, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, Uncle Ho’s memorial house, and Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street.
• Shopping: An Dong Plaza and the Garden Mall.

To have fun trips in Ho Chi Minh City, check out our authentic motorbike tours with professional local guides!

District 6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Location: in the Southwest of Ho Chi Minh City
Neighboring Ho Chi Minh City districts: District 5, District 8, District 11, Tan Phu District, and Binh Tan District.

Located near District 5, District 6 also has a large number of Chinese living in the district. There are both cultural and historical attractions around the place.

Places to visit in District 6:

Giac Hai Pagoda, Ho Ban Base, Vietnamese Soldiers’ hideouts in the Vietnam War, and Binh Tay Market (Cho Lon).

District 7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The difference between the highly developed expat areas and the local "slums" in District 7

Location: in the south of Ho Chi Minh City
Neighboring Ho Chi Minh City districts: District 2, District 4, and District 8.

District 7 is one of the new areas with luxury residential apartments and shopping centers. There are many Korean living in this area, and there are also Vietnamese young people gathering here, enjoying their leisure time or taking wedding photoshoots.

Places to visit in District 7:

• Attractions: Uncle Ho’s Memorial House.
• Shopping and entertainment: Crescent Mall, Crescent Lake, Starlight Bridge, SC Vivo City, Parkson Paragon, and Nam Sai Gon Park.

District 8

Binh Dien Fish Market

Location: in the South of Ho Chi Minh City
Neighboring Ho Chi Minh City districts: District 4, District 5, District 5, District 7, Binh Tan District and Binh Chanh District.

Even though District 8 is not as busy as other central districts, the place still offers great attractions.

Places to visit in District 8:

• Attractions: Binh Dong Wharf and Hung Loi Pottery Kiln.
• Shopping: Nhi Thien Duong Market and Binh Dien Seafood Market.

District 9

Buu Long Pagoda

Location: about 7 km from Ho Chi Minh City's center
Neighboring Ho Chi Minh City districts: District 2, Thu Duc District, Dong Nai Province, and Binh Duong Province.

District 9 is now part of Thu Duc City. It is quite far from the city center and nearer to industrial zones in Binh Duong Province and Dong Nai Province, so there are not many luxury shopping areas. However, there are still a lot of places you can visit to understand the Vietnam War and Vietnamese culture as well as spacious areas for recreational parks.

Places to visit in District 9:

• Attractions: Bot Day Thep (Steel Wire Police Station), Ao dai Museum, Buu Long Temple, and Hoi Son Pagoda.
• Entertainment: Suoi Tien Theme Park, Mo Spring, and BCR Paintball.

District 10

Viet Nam Quoc Tu Pagoda

Location: in the Southwest of Ho Chi Minh City
Neighboring Ho Chi Minh City districts: District 3, District 5, District 6, District 11, and Tan Binh District.

District 10 is where many local small businesses grow and where food streets are gathered.

Places to visit in District 10: 

• Attractions: Tran Phu Monument, Weapon Basement in Vietnam War, An Quang Pagoda, and Vietnam Quoc Tu Pagoda.
• Shopping and entertainment: Ho Thi Ky Flower Market, Cambodian Market, Nguyen Tri Phuong Food Streets, Le Thi Rieng Park, and Ky Hoa Park.

District 11

Location: in the Southwest of Ho Chi Minh City
Neighboring Ho Chi Minh City districts: District 5, District 6, District 10, Tan Binh District, and Tan Phu District.

District 11 is located a bit far west of the city center, but Vietnamese people still visit here quite often, especially during the summer, for its massive water park at Dam Sen.

Places to visit in District 11:

Giac Vien Pagoda, Dam Sen Water Park, and Lanh Binh Thang Park.

District 12

Location: in the Northwest of Ho Chi Minh City
Neighboring Ho Chi Minh City districts: Hoc Mon District, Thu Duc District, Tan Binh District, Go Vap District, Binh Thanh District, Binh Tan District, Binh Duong Province.

When coming to District 12, you could see the difference between hustling centers, like District 1 and District 3, and peaceful areas. All coexist in harmony in one city.

Places to visit in District 12:

Cay Queo Pagoda, Vuon Cau Do Monument, recreational fishing spots, and a kite-flying field near An Suong Apartment.

Binh Tan District

Location: in the West of Ho Chi Minh City, connecting with the Mekong Delta via 1A Highway
Neighboring Ho Chi Minh City districts: District 6, District 8, District 12, Tan Phu District, Binh Chanh District, and Hoc Mon District.

Like other districts outside of the center zone, Binh Tan District is not as crowded and a great place to observe the local's daily life in less busy areas.

Places to visit in Binh Tan District:

St. Paul’s Cathedral, Go May Church, and AEON Mall Binh Tan.

Binh Thanh District

Location: in the East of Ho Chi Minh City
Neighboring Ho Chi Minh City districts: District 1, District 2, District 3, Phu Nhuan District, Go Vap District, and Thu Duc District.

Binh Thanh District has a complex system of many rivers such as Thi Nghe, Van Thanh, Thanh Da, Cau Bong, Ho Tau, and Thu Tac, which makes the place full of recreational spots.

Places to visit in Binh Thanh District:

• Attractions: Tomb of the Le Van Duyet Marshal in Ba Chieu (Lang Ong Ba Chieu) and Phuoc Vien Pagoda.
• Shopping and entertainment: Ba Chieu Market, Vinhomes Central Park, Saigon Central Park, and Cactus Contemporary Art Gallery.

Go Vap District

Location: in the Northwest of Ho Chi Minh City
Neighboring Ho Chi Minh City districts: District 12, Phu Nhuan District, Tan Binh District, and Binh Thanh District.

Go Vap District is on its way to development and is where many unique attractions can be seen.

Places to visit in Go Vap District:

Hanh Thong Tay Church, Mieu Noi (Floating Temple), and Long Hue Pagoda.

Phu Nhuan District

Location: about 5 km from District 1
Neighboring Ho Chi Minh City districts: District 1, District 3, Binh Thanh District, Tan Binh District, and Go Vap District.

Phu Nhuan District 10 years ago was still a place with poor development, but anyone who comes back to visit the district would be amazed by how fast things have changed. Office buildings, restaurants, and luxury apartments are built aside from its old cultural attractions.

Places to visit in Phu Nhuan District:

• Attractions: Tu Van Temple, Quang The Am Temple, Van Hanh Monastery, and Jamiul Muslimin.
• Entertainment: Dang Van Ngu Food Street and Gia Dinh Park.

Tan Binh District

Location: in the Northeast of Ho Chi Minh City
Neighboring Ho Chi Minh City districts: District 3, District 10, District 11, District 12, Phu Nhuan District, Go Vap District, and Tan Phu District.

Tan Binh District is where Tan Son Nhat International Airport is located, and thus, the traffic here is always busy. There are several places you can visit before making your way to the city center in this district.

Places to visit in Tan Binh District:

Vietnam People's Air Force Museum, Phan Chu Trinh Memorial Tomb, Giac Lam Pagoda, Pho Quang Pagoda, Chi Hoa Church, and Hoang Van Thu Park.

Tan Phu District

Location: in the West of Ho Chi Minh City
Neighboring Ho Chi Minh City districts: District 6, District 11, District 12, Tan Binh District, and Binh Tan District.

Tan Phu District is on the edge of the city center area with a lot of temples and pagodas as well as historical landmarks of the Vietnam War.

Places to visit in Tan Phu District:

Phu Tho Hoa Tunnel, Memorial Monuments of Soldiers Killed in Mau Than Battle, Tran Hung Dao Memorial, Quan Am Temple, and Tan Quy Temple.

Thu Duc District

The river bus from District 1 to Thu Duc

Location: in the Northeast of Ho Chi Minh City
Neighboring Ho Chi Minh City districts: District 2, District 9, District 12, Binh Thanh District, and Binh Duong Provinces.

Thu Duc District has now become Thu Duc City. It is a large area of 48 square km and is in the city industrial zone. However, nature is still mostly in its raw beauty.

Places to visit in Thu Duc City:

Nam Thien One Pillar Temple, Van Duc Temple, Saigon Water Park, and Stork Field.

SUBURBAN HO CHI MINH CITY DISTRICTS (called “Huyện” in Vietnamese)

Binh Chanh District

Location: in the West of Ho Chi Minh City
Neighboring Ho Chi Minh City districts: District 8, Binh Tan District, Hoc Mon District, Nha Be District, and Long An Province.

Binh Chanh, one of the 5 suburban districts of Ho Chi Minh City with a vast area and raw nature, is a beautiful place for anyone who wants to leave out the noise and hustling in the city center.

Places to visit in Binh Chanh District:

Phat Co Don (the Lonely Buddha) Temple, Lang Le Bau Co Historical Landmarks, and Lang Le Cultural Park.

Can Gio District

Travelers from Ho Chi Minh's city center needs to take a ferry to travel to Can Gio

Location: in the Southeast of Ho Chi Minh City
Neighboring Ho Chi Minh City districts: Nha Be District, Long An Province, Tien Giang Province, Dong Nai Province, Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province, and southeast China Sea.

Can Gio is a special district because its area is completely separated by rivers and sea, making it the only island district of Ho Chi Minh City. It is also the largest district of Ho Chi Minh City, 704 square km. The place is blessed with diverse nature and marine life.

Places to visit in Can Gio District:

Monkey Island, Thanh An Island, Thieng Lieng Island, Can Gio Beach, Vam Sat Ecological Tourism Area, Ca Ong Tomb, Can Thanh Town, and Hang Duong Market.

Cu Chi District

Location: in the furthest Northwest of Ho Chi Minh City
Neighboring Ho Chi Minh City districts: Hoc Mon District, Tay Ninh Province, Binh Duong Province, Long An Province.

Cu Chi has one of the most favorite attractions to both local and foreign visitors, but it is also where you can have a glimpse of Vietnam's countryside.

Places to visit in Cu Chi District:

Cu Chi Tunnels, Ethnic - Minority Cultural Village, Linh Son Temple, and Trung An Fruits Garden.

Hoc Mon District

Location: in the Northwest of Ho Chi Minh City
Neighboring Ho Chi Minh City districts: District 12, Cu Chi District, Binh Chanh District, Binh Tan District, Long An Province, and Binh Duong Province.

Hoc Mon got its name from the fact that there are many “mon” plants (green-leaf caladium) in the area. The district is not as developed as the city center, but it is blessed with a vast open natural landscape.

Places to visit in Hoc Mon District:

Hoc Mon Produces Market, Rin Rin Koi Fish Park, and Nga Ba Giong Martyr’s Monument.

Nha Be District

Location: in the South of Ho Chi Minh City
Neighboring Ho Chi Minh City districts: District 7, Binh Chanh District, Can Gio District, Dong Nai Province, and Long An Province.

Nha Be District is next to the new District 7, and still on its way to developing and has many vast areas unexploited.

Places to visit in Nha Be District:

Phap Vo Pagoda, Long Khanh Pagoda, Nha Be's Traditional Center.

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