Ho Chi Minh City Book Street is a pedestrian-only walkway next to the Saigon Central Post Office and the Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon. This central area is one of the more popular places to visit in Ho Chi Minh City.
The street is closed off to cars and scooters and is lined with dozens of cafes, bookstores, and souvenir shops. Large trees are hanging over much of the street, which provides good shade and a nice atmosphere. It’s also a no-smoking zone.
I came to Book Street the other day for up-to-date information. Since Book Street is free to explore, it’s definitely worth visiting when you’re in Ho Chi Minh City. Even if you don’t plan to buy any books or souvenirs, there are several shaded coffee shops where you can relax.
About Ho Chi Minh City Book Street
- Hours: 8 AM to 9 PM daily
- Location: Google Maps
- Cost to visit: FREE
- No smoking/no vaping
- Indoor/outdoor cafes
- Souvenir shops/stands
- Several bookstores
- International titles/multiple languages
- Friendly and helpful staff
Ho Chi Minh City Book Street Location
Ho Chi Minh City Book Street is conveniently located in District 1. If you’re going to visit the Saigon Central Post Office or the Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon, you’ll be right next to it. And since it’s free to visit (so is the Post Office), it’s 100% worth checking out.
The Cathedral has been undergoing repairs since 2017 and isn’t expected to finish until 2027. It has had scaffolding since I first came to Ho Chi Minh City in 2018.
If you’re staying in most areas of District 1 or District 3, you’ll be able to walk here. I’ve covered the best areas to stay in HCMC here. The entire center city area around Book Street is very walkable. If you’re a bit further out, you can hire a Grab taxi and have it drop you off at the Cathedral. Read more about getting around HCMC.
The JW Marriott Saigon (Agoda / Booking) is a nice hotel at one end of Book Street (the Cathedral is at the other end). The Au Lac Legend (Agoda / Booking) is a good nearby four-star hotel, though not as close as the JW Marriott. Here’s my article covering more great hotels in HCMC.
Visiting Ho Chi Minh City Book Street
Book Street is free to wander and easy to access on foot. There are lots of shops with books, souvenirs, and coffee. Overall, it’s a pretty peaceful experience. When I visited recently, there weren’t any street hawkers or pushy salespeople.
There are also vendors with tables in the middle of the street. Staff members from the various bookstores are wandering about, and in my experience, have been very helpful with finding books — even from other stores. Some vendors may only accept cash, but I was able to pay with a credit card at one of the bookstores.
I bought some English-language books by Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese monk who was born in Hue, Vietnam.
There are a lot of Vietnamese language books, but also other languages. You’ll have to browse around a bit because it varies from store to store. Don’t hesitate to ask a staff member or two if you’re looking for something specific.
Book Street is a great place to buy souvenirs (so is the Saigon Central Post Office next door). But these aren’t the places to negotiate or haggle on pricing. You can do that at Ben Thanh Market or Saigon Square. Learn more in my guide covering tips for visiting Ho Chi Minh City.
There was a vendor on Book Street when I visited doing hand drawings of real pictures and then turning them into postcards.
Learn about more things to do in Ho Chi Minh City here.
