Where to Stay in Ho Chi Minh City – A Local Expert’s Guide

Ho Chi Minh City is by far the most sprawling and, quite frankly, overwhelming city to explore as a tourist in Vietnam. It makes Hanoi look small, with over 5,000 listings on Booking.com (and even more on Agoda.com, a competitor specializing in Southeast Asian hotels) stretching over a wider area than any other Vietnamese city.

I’ve been living in Ho Chi Minh City for 11 years, though, and I’ve spent countless hours exploring every neighbourhood of the city, even those that you won’t find in the guidebooks. I like to pay special attention to the tourist experience in each neighbourhood.

In this guide, I’ll specify 6 distinct neighbourhoods in Ho Chi Minh City, each of them with distinct strengths and weaknesses that will appeal to different types of travellers. I’ll also suggest the best accommodations in each of those neighbourhoods. Before we wrap up, I’ll give you my picks for the best hotels in the city in each of seven categories, from “best luxury hotel” to “best for local culture.

All neighbourhoods and hotels mentioned are shown in this map:

6 Best neighbourhoods to stay in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh is a very big city with very different “feels” to different urban areas. Because of it, the area you choose to start each morning and end each night in will have a huge effect on the tone of your stay in Saigon.

Below, I’ve provided recommendations of six Ho Chi Minh City neighbourhoods that provide great stays for different types of tourists.

I’ve specified what type of traveller I think each neighbourhood will appeal to, provided a pros/cons list for staying in each, and recommended a few great hotel options if the neighbourhood sounds right for your travel style.

Experienced traveller protip: consider staying in different neighbourhoods for variety!

23/9 Park Area (for first-time travellers & backpackers)

Distance from city by car/motorbike: You’re already there!

23/9 Park isn’t the city’s nicest park (partly because it’s flanked by busy roads on 3 sides without much barrier), but it’s definitely the most central. While here, you’re within easy walking distance of Bui Vien, Benh Thanh Market (and its metro station), the bustling CMT8 intersection, and countless smaller streets that are bustling with Saigon culture but also have decent pedestrian walkways.

It’s also just a short taxi ride in any direction to pretty much any part of the city, be it North, East, South, or West Saigon.

This neighbourhood is extremely tourist-friendly, but it doesn’t feel sleazy or overcrowded like the hotels directly abutting most of the premier tourist attractions in the city.

Best Hotels in 23/9 Park Area

Overall: Lantern Hotel ($27/night)

Luxury: La Siesta Premium Saigon Central ($118/night)

Budget: Saigon Europe Hotel ($15/night)

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Riverside/Nguyen Hue (for upscale stays)

Distance from city center by car/motorbike: 7 minutes

The promenade running down the center of Nguyen Hue street and the riverfront walk along Bach Dang Pier are perhaps the two most pedestrian-friendly stretches of Saigon, and having them both right outside your hotel’s door is a huge plus to your vacation experience.

When the French were in Saigon, they used Nguyen Hue as a sort of “prestige avenue” to showcase French urban planning at its finest. The avenue was renovated a decade ago to project a more distinctly Vietnamese image (the bronze Ho Chi Minh statue at one end is a good example), but the heritage architecture and the wide-open feel remain.

Families of locals and tourists alike spend time on the promenade throughout the day, and it becomes a veritable carnival midway at sunset with vendors selling street food and toys.

Bach Dang is the nicest part of Saigon’s riverfront, with several beautiful cafes and restaurants overlooking the clean waters and, on the opposite bank, the Thu Them area of District 2. It’s also home to a pretty park and the Saigon Water Ferry station.

Best Hotels in Riverside/Nguyen Hue

Overall: The Cafe Apartment – 6even ($31/night)

Luxury: Hotel Majestic ($102/night), The Reverie Saigon ($210/night)

Budget: Saigonnais Homestay (Maison de Tran Le) ($10/night)

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Thao Dien (for families or peace and quiet)

Distance from city center by car/motorbike: 25 minutes

Thao Dien is a more recently developed part of the city, and its modern urban design and amenities reflect that fact. It’s got wide, walkable streets, well-maintained sidewalks and foliage, and lots of hipster-ish cafes or international restaurants that are very much meant for 21st century citizens.

It’s also nice and quiet, especially in the further-back part near the river, which is not an easy thing to find in Saigon. The mellow, easily accessible local atmosphere makes it a great place for kids or parents who want to de-stress.

Thao Dien’s comfortable and modern yet vibrant and friendly feel has made it one of the city’s expat hotspots. It’s still fairly unknown to most tourists since it’s a bit out of the way, but those who do travel to Thao Dien generally love it and wish they had known about it when booking a hotel. 

Best Hotels in Thao Dien

Overall: Notre Maison 5 ($33/night)

Luxury: Amanaki Thao Dien Hotel ($108/night)

Budget: The Cozy Nest ($19/night)

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Binh Tay Market Area (for cultural immersion)

Distance from city center by car/motorbike: 20 minutes

This area, past the overcrowded center of District 5/Chinatown, is a clearer window into the “authentic Saigon” than most tourists (or even many expats who have lived here for years) will ever get. It doesn’t have much tourist infrastructure, so don’t expect to be talking to shop owners in English or using your Visa card at street food stalls while you’re here. In short, COMFORT is in short supply in this area – at least, by the Western definition of the word.

If you’d rather feel the pulse of community and stumble upon everyday occurrences that teach you about the lives led by locals, though, this neighbourhood is for you.

I’ll always remember my visit to this neighbourhood when I was new to living in Saigon. I was just wandering around the tiny alleys that weave through this neighbourhood like veins and arteries, seeing what I could see. I remember passing things I wouldn’t understand until later, when I described them to a local friend – things like rice crackers drying out on the sidewalk, groups of men on plastic stools hunched over nylon gridpaper, or teenagers washing oddly-shaped metal instruments in bright plastic buckets.

At one point, I turned a corner and stumbled upon a cockfight. It was gritty, gross, and almost certainly illegal, and I’m certainly not endorsing cockfighting, but these kinds of utterly foreign sights are what make staying in an area like Binh Tay an unforgettable experience.

Binh Tay Market itself is the biggest market in the city, and not at all touristy like Ben Thanh Market. Those who stay here should definitely check out the market and all the surrounding businesses in the early morning. The Vietnamese Chinese temples and street food shops nearby are huge bonuses, too.

Best Hotels in Binh Tay Market Area

Overall: Golda Hotel ($24/night) – Windsor Plaza Hotel ($77/night)

Luxury: no luxury hotels in this neighbourhood

Budget: Xuan Loc Hotel ($11/night)

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Phu My Hung/Koreatown (for mellow nightlife)

Distance from city center by car/motorbike: 25 minutes

Even more so than Thao Dien, this planned neighbourhood in District 7 was designed with wide boulevards, organized blocks, ultra-modern shopping malls, and lots of the nicest parks in Ho Chi Minh City. There’s a distinct calmness here that makes it stand out from the city’s nonstop energy.

A large Korean expat community has shaped much of the nightlife, dining, and shopping here, giving it a relaxed but cosmopolitan vibe. Think mellow pubs with Korean bar food, karaoke lounges, dessert cafes, and open-air barbecues that stay buzzing late into the night.

You won’t find the backpacker debauchery of Bui Vien here—just a more laid-back, comfortable style of nightlife that still offers plenty of fun. The grid of streets that make up the main Koreatown is lively but very walkable and has a ton of nice mid-range hotels too.

It’s an ideal spot to retreat to and unwind after busy days exploring the city center without feeling cut off from good food and entertainment options.

Best Hotels in Phu My Hung

Overall: Hotel L’Odeon ($34/night)

Luxury: Oakwood Residence Saigon ($71/night)

Budget: Diamond Boutique ($20/night), Collection O Emerald Luxury ($13/night)

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Hoang Van Thu Park Area (for airport transfers & parks)

Distance from city center by car/motorbike: 10-15 minute

Hoang Van Thu is one of my favorite parks in the city, with tall trees, open lawns, and paved paths that locals use for jogging or group aerobics sessions in the early mornings and evenings.

The streets around it have a homey “local Saigon” feel; you’ll see lots of sidewalk shops where sellers hawk goods from tarps, milk tea shops, and families eating together at casual restaurants. It’s not a sightseeing hotspot, but that’s the point: the Hoang Van Thu area is a neighbourhood of convenience.

Amazingly, though, it’s also right next to Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Getting beauty and easy airport access in one neighbourhood is a rare thing, and I encourage you to take advantage of it if you’ve got an early morning flight. Staying here gives you peace of mind on travel days, spares you from sitting in an anxious taxi ride across town to make a flight, and still experience the mundane excitement of everyday Saigon.

Hoang Van Thu is also just a 10 minute drive from Gia Dinh Park, the biggest park in the city.

Best Hotels in Hoang Van Thu

Overall: Thanh Long Hotel, Tra Khuc Location ($33/night)

Luxury: Holiday Inn & Suites ($109/night)

Budget: Yoko Airport Saigon Hotel ($12/night)

The 7 Best Ho Chi Minh City Hotels

Time to pick the best Ho Chi Minh City hotels for 7 popular categories.

👑 Best Luxury Hotel: The Reverie Saigon ($210/night)

The Reverie offers the kind of ultra-luxury I thought was reserved for the richest 1% – it’s the kind of place where hotel staff are able to address guests by name, the items in the mini-bar are free and restocked daily, and you can call the front desk to bring you a random item only to have it delivered to your door in 10 minutes. Everyone should experience luxury like this at least once in their life, and this is the place to do it since it’s not too prohibitively expensive if you’re ready to splurge for a night or two.

The rooms are decked out with Italian marble, custom furnishings, and some of the softest bedding of all time. And the view that looks over Nguyen Hue promenade and the riverfront, especially from the upper floors, is so beautiful that I kept just sitting at the glass and staring out for minutes on end when I stayed there.

The hotel has a spa, outdoor pool, and a polished breakfast spread. It’s also in an unbeatable location for upper-crust sightseeing, evening strolls on Nguyen Hue, or shopping at DongKhoi, HCMC’s answer to Rodeo Drive.

💸 Best Budget Hotel: Diamond Boutique Hotel ($20/night for private room)

Diamond Hotel is a $20 accommodation that feels like a $50 one. Rooms are simple but clean, with good AC and memorably comfy beds. It’s just steps away from Korean eateries, dessert cafés, and mellow nightlife, but it’s also near a lot of really inexpensive restaurants – a rarity in this neighbourhood.

The staff is super helpful, too. My friend who stayed there for a week said the Vietnamese girl working there addressed any issues quickly and gave him local tips for cheap eats and nice walks, which made it feasible to travel ultra-cheaply in this ordinarily pricey area.

🧳 Best for Solo Travellers: Saigon Authentic Alley Hostel ($11/dorm bed)

This hostel strikes a sweet spot: social without being a total party zone. It’s got a warm, family-run vibe, free breakfast, and helpful staff who organize tips and little extras that make solo travel smoother.

Dorms and facilities are kept clean, and so are the common areas that make it easy to meet people after a day exploring the fantastic food streets in District 4. It’s the “best for solo travellers” because it’s welcoming, safe, and located in a lively-yet-inexpensive area that’s great for grabbing a drink with new friends.

👩‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families: Landmark 81 Royal Vista Suite ($105/night for a family room)

These nightly rental serviced apartments in Landmark 81, Vietnam’s tallest building, each have separate bedrooms, kitchens, and a laundry room. The park at the base of the tower is also the second nicest green space in the city, with maricured lawns, clean walking paths along the river, and multiple playgrounds for kids.

The only nicer park in HCMC is Binh Quoi, which is just a 15 minute drive. Thao Dien, another great area for families, is even closer. And so is the HCMC Zoo & Botanical Garden, another kid-favorite destination.

Staff at Landmark 81 Royal Vista Suite are very attentive towards guests and welcome children. You’ve got dining and a mall on site; the SkyView deck is a built-in family activity with city-wide views. It’s “best for families” because it has so many amenities and it’s near a lot of family-friendly attractions.

🤫 Best for Peace & Quiet: Nexus House Retreat Lang Bao Chi ($36/night)

Nexus House is in a small network of streets in eastern Thao Dien that’s backed up against the river on one side. It’s also just far enough from the gentle buzz of Xuan Thuy Street to feel like a retreat, but with tiny cafes still right outside your door. The location is the quietest you can find in HCMC without going to the outskirts. You can actually hear birds chorusing in the morning, which is unheard of in this city.

The rooms are minimalist and spotless, with greenery, balconies, and a soothing, homestay vibe. It’s run by two kind, responsive hosts who go out of their way with check-ins and local pointers.

🇻🇳 Best for Local Culture: Golda Hotel ($24/night)

Golda is located near the border of Districts 5 and 6, which I’d argue is the real cultural heart of Chinatown that tourists barely ever hear about.

The hotel is quite nice, with spotless rooms and attentive front desk staff, which is really difficult to find in a neighbourhood as “raw” as this one. It doesn’t have a pool or 40” smart TVs in the rooms like luxury hotels on Nguyen Hue, but that’s not why you’re staying here anyway.

✈️ Best Airport Hotel: Thanh Long Hotel, Tra Khuc Location ($33/night)

Thanh Long Hotel is less than 2km from the door of Tan Son Nhat’s international terminal, and it’s even closer to the gorgeous Hoang Van Thu Park. Having this kind of access to the airport in a neighbourhood with greenery and lively street life is reason enough for this pick.

Rooms are new-feeling and clean, with strong AC and good showers. And efficient, friendly reception and smooth airport logistics make it great value for money. Ultimately, Thanh Long wins the airport category because it’s reliable and convenient without feeling dreary or isolated like many airport hotels.

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Now that you’ve found the perfect place to stay, be sure to check our travel guide to Ho Chi Minh City to plan your activities. We also have the ultimate list of hidden gems in Saigon! Up for an excursion into authentic Vietnam starting in HCMC? Then you should definitely check out the Mekong Delta.