Old District 1 (Ben Thanh and Sai Gon wards)
The city centre: Nguyen Hue Boulevard, Ben Thanh Market and the main sights. Since July 2025 it's officially the Sai Gon, Ben Thanh, Tan Dinh and Cau Ong Lanh wards, but everyone still calls it District 1.
- Best for
- First-timers, Muslim travellers
- Getting around
- Metro Line 1, opened in December 2024, starts at Ben Thanh; Grab and official taxis cover the rest.
- Muslim-friendly
- The Saigon Central Mosque is at 66 Dong Du, and halal restaurants such as Halal@Saigon are on the same street.
- Keep in mind
- Bui Vien, the backpacker street, is loud late at night, and tourists have been targeted by a card-game scam around Pham Ngu Lao.
Hotels in Old District 1 ↗Old District 3
Next to District 1, historically the residential quarter, with French-era villas and Xa Loi Pagoda, the city's largest. It's now the Ban Co, Xuan Hoa and Nhieu Loc wards.
- Best for
- Families, quieter stays
- Getting around
- Grab or a taxi to District 1 is a short ride.
- Keep in mind
- Fewer big hotels than District 1.
Hotels in Old District 3 ↗Thao Dien
A leafy riverside neighbourhood on a peninsula of the Saigon River, with villas and newer apartment buildings. It was District 2 and is now part of An Khanh ward.
- Best for
- Families, longer stays
- Getting around
- Grab or a taxi into the centre; Metro Line 1 runs from Ben Thanh out towards Thu Duc.
- Keep in mind
- Away from the centre and the Dong Du mosque.
Hotels in Thao Dien ↗Phu Nhuan (towards the airport)
A busy, densely populated area on the road between the city centre and the airport, mixing office towers with older streets.
- Best for
- Short stays, early flights
- Getting around
- Close to Tan Son Nhat airport by taxi or Grab.
- Muslim-friendly
- Bismillah, a Muslim-run Pakistani and Indian restaurant, is at 45 Nguyen Van Troi.
- Keep in mind
- Heavy traffic on the airport road.
Hotels in Phu Nhuan ↗Price levels ($ to $$$) appear only where an official tourism source rates them. Hotel buttons open Klook or Booking.com. We may earn a commission from Klook bookings, at no extra cost to you.
