Which district is best to stay in Ho Chi Minh?

Which district is better in Ho Chi Minh City?

Three a.m. again. Can’t sleep. Thinking about Saigon… District 1’s a whirlwind. Too much, you know? Always buzzing.

District 3 feels quieter. More… manageable. I liked the smaller streets there. I miss the little cafes.

District 2, Thao Dien, is where the money is. Big houses, fancy stuff. Not really my scene. Too sterile. Felt cold.

District 7, Phu My Hung, feels similar. Modern, planned. Feels… impersonal. Everything is new, yet somehow lacks soul.

It’s all relative, I guess. Depends what you’re looking for.

• District 1: Expensive, vibrant, overwhelming. Great for nightlife and work, awful for peace.

• District 3: More affordable, still central, has a better local feel than 1. Best for those who prefer a quieter life.

• District 2 (Thao Dien): Pricy, modern expat community. Very clean and safe.

• District 7 (Phu My Hung): Similar to District 2, but bigger and a bit less charming. Very safe. Feels very isolated from the rest of Saigon to me.

My apartment in District 3 is small, but… it’s mine. It’s home. Even if sometimes, at 3am, it feels very small.

Which district is Ho Chi Minh airport in?

Tan Son Nhat? That’s in Tan Binh District, duh. Like a stubborn gnat clinging to Ho Chi Minh City. Seriously, it’s practically in the city.

Key things to know about SGN (because, let’s be real, everyone needs to know):

• Location: Tan Binh District. Think of it as the airport’s exclusive, high-roller neighborhood. Unlike my apartment, which is… less exclusive.
• Address: That Truong Son Street gig is pretty official, very fancy. Not like my mailbox, which is more a suggestion box.
• Code: SGN. Memorize it, people. It’s way easier than remembering my phone number. (It’s 555-1212…jk).
• Country Code: +84. Useful if you’re calling to complain about the overpriced airport coffee. Which you should. It’s robbery I tell ya, robbery!

Additional random facts, because why not?

• My Uncle Barry once got stuck there for 12 hours due to a rogue flock of pigeons. True story.
• The airport food is… an experience. Let’s just say I prefer my own cooking. My amazing, award-winning Pad Thai.
• Getting a taxi can be like wrestling a greased pig. Fun times.

Seriously though, Tan Binh. Remember that. Unless you want to end up like Uncle Barry.

How far is District 1 from the airport?

District 1 is, like, a hop, skip, and a jump – 6-8 kilometers, maybe (4-5 miles for you Imperial system folks). It’s basically spitting distance from Tan Son Nhat Airport.

Yeah, yeah, but how long does it really take? Forget teleportation, think more like 20-40 minutes in a taxi. That’s if the traffic gods are smilin’.

Traffic’s always a gamble, ain’t it? Could be shorter; could be longer. Depends if it’s rush hour. Rush hour turns into a real parking lot.

Seriously, though. You can take a cab, a Grab (Southeast Asia’s Uber, kinda), or even try braving the bus. Good luck with that, though!

• Distance: 6-8 km (4-5 miles). Easy peasy!
• Travel Time: 20-40 minutes (taxi/Grab, give or take).
• Best Option: Taxi or ride-sharing are usually fastest/easiest. I took the bus once. Never. Again.
• Traffic: Oh, the traffic. It’s an experience.
• Alternatives: Bus (if you are feeling adventurous). Or super broke.

How long is it from airport to District 1?

18 minutes. District 1.

Seven point eight kilometers. Nguyen Van Troi. Nam Ky Khoi Nghia.

It is what it is. Like life. shrugs My old motorbike, maybe longer. Remember Binh Thanh? 25 minutes. Less traffic.

• Distance: 7.8 km, give or take.
• Route: Nguyen Van Troi and Nam Ky Khoi Nghia streets are generally the way. Maybe.
• Time: 18 minutes. Not gospel. Depends on the cyclo situation.

Traffic, ah, the poetry of congestion. Always building. So it goes. Taxes are good.

What city is SGN airport in?

Ugh, SGN? That’s Ho Chi Minh City, duh. Tan Son Nhat. So many flights, always packed. Remember that crazy delay last year? My flight to Bangkok? Total nightmare. I need a vacation, seriously. Maybe Phuket? Or even better, Bali.

Ho Chi Minh City. Got it. Think I saw a cool street food stall near the airport last time. The pho was amazing. I should write that down. Gotta remember to try that new bakery near my apartment too.

• SGN = Ho Chi Minh City
• Crazy airport, always busy
• Phuket or Bali next? Need to book soon!
• Airport food surprisingly good.
• Bakery… croissant!

Seriously though, Ho Chi Minh City is insane. The traffic… the scooters! It’s chaotic but fun. I love it. Best street food ever. Next time, I’m bringing my sister. She’d love it. We could even get a motorbike! Scary but fun. She’d probably freak out about the traffic though. Haha. Maybe not a motorbike then. A taxi. Definitely a taxi.

Which district is better in Ho Chi Minh City?

Okay, District 1… Ugh, memories.

It’s not “better” overall, but District 1 is the heart. Period.

Back in 2021, I was legit stuck there. Like, really stuck because I couldn’t afford District 2 yet, haha.

Living in District 1 felt like being constantly buzzed. Everything is LOUD, 24/7.

Imagine this: my tiny apartment (near Ben Thanh Market – don’t recommend, SO touristy) had paper-thin walls. Motorbikes all night. Construction started at 6 AM every single day. Seriously.

I actually enjoyed the street food at night. Cheap and good, though I did get food poisoning once… okay, maybe twice.

Let’s break down what I learned:

• District 1 is EXPENSIVE. Forget it if you’re on a budget.
• Traffic is insane. Even by Vietnam standards.
• It’s convenient if you work there. But otherwise…meh.
• The vibe is super touristy. So not very “local.”

I later moved to District 2 (Thao Dien). So much better for actual living. It’s way quieter, more green, and has a chill vibe. More expats.

District 7 (Phu My Hung) is similar to D2. It’s basically the suburbs but in Saigon.

Now, District 3 & Binh Thanh? Kinda boring but definitely more affordable. Okay, they are alright.

District 4? Heard it’s got good seafood but never really ventured that way much. Plus, too many stories, you know?

In the end, ‘better’ is what you want. I’m an ex-pat who needs quiet and a pool, so District 1 was never going to be my permanent home.

What is the richest district in Ho Chi Minh City?

Ugh, Thao Dien, yeah, THAT’s the rich zone in Ho Chi Minh City. I remember being stuck in traffic there, like, last Tet holiday – February 2024. It felt like ALL the fancy cars were bumper-to-bumper near Saigon Bridge.

Seriously.

It’s all huge villas and like, gated communities. I was delivering banh tet for my aunt, and even I felt poor! I think I saw some crazy Mercedes Maybach. Whoa.

It is a whole other world. I mean, District 2, right? Now officially part of Thu Duc City, but yeah, Thao Dien.

So, you want reasons? Here’s what sticks out:

• Fancy villas, obviously. Think swimming pools, security, the whole shebang.
• Foreigners Galore: So many expats living there. I heard the rent is insane.
• Schools: I know a few families who wanted to send their kids to like, International School HCMC. Big money.
• Shops: My cousin always wants to go to that An Phu Supermarket. Imported cheese and stuff.
• It’s quiet: Compared to District 1, it’s like a different planet. Less honking. Less chaos. That’s why the “successful businessmen” and whatnot like it.

I’m not jealous… okay maybe a little. But yeah, Thao Dien. Rich town.