District 1 is a vibrant neighbourhood in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. It’s a cultural melting pot where luxury hotels and upscale restaurants stand alongside backpacker-friendly hostels, bars and street food stalls. Admire beautiful French colonial architecture, visit local history museums and fill up on delicious street food.
Things to do in District 1
Notre Dame Cathedral towers over District 1 and recalls the city’s French heritage. It was built in the 1880s from red bricks imported from Toulouse. Next door is Saigon Central Post Office, another French colonial gem with an impressive barrel-vaulted ceiling.
Learn about local history, culture and traditions at Ho Chi Minh City Museum. It’s housed in a beautiful Neoclassical building and showcases ancient artefacts, centuries-old ceramics and historic maps. The gardens are dotted with enormous tanks and jets used in the Vietnam War.
Admire Vietnamese masterpieces at the Fine Arts Museum. The walls of the grand colonial-era building are hung with paintings, silk tapestries and lacquer art, and you’ll also see centuries-old ceramics and Champa sculptures on display. The building itself is beautiful and features gleaming marble floors, high ceilings and colourful stained-glass windows.
Follow your nose to Ben Thanh Market. It’s a great place to try local street food like “pho” rice noodle soup and “banh mi” Vietnamese sandwiches stuffed with marinated meat, pickled vegetables and fresh coriander. Handicraft stalls will tempt you with jewellery, carved keepsakes and colourful textiles. Lively Phạm Ngu Lao Street is lined with bars, hostels and cafes geared towards backpackers. It’s a great place to meet fellow travellers, sip Saigon beer and listen to live music.
Getting around District 1
District 1 is pedestrian-friendly and easy to get around on foot. Cabs and motorbike taxis are a fast and affordable way to cover longer distances, while local buses also run across District 1. Tan Son Nhat International Airport is a 30-minute drive away.