Ho Chi Minh City Archives – Page 3 of 4

3 Days in Ho Chi Minh City: Itinerary for First-Timers

The courtyard of the Independence Palace in Ho Chi Minh City, with tourists and two army tanks in the foreground and the palace in the background.

Three days is a great amount of time to spend in Ho Chi Minh City. I’ve spent many years living in HCMC. With three full days, you’ll be ...

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15 Best Hidden Gems in Ho Chi Minh City (By an Expat)

Sunset outside the People's Committee Building in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, showing the yellow French colonial building and some pigeons on the road in front of me

Living in Ho Chi Minh City in 2018, 2019, and again in 2023 and 2024, I discovered many lesser-known places throughout the city. Since riding a motorbike to ...

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5 Best Museums in Ho Chi Minh City: A Local’s Guide

The main and historic building at the History Museum of Ho Chi Minh City in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

There are more than a handful of museums in Ho Chi Minh City, but not all are worth visiting, especially with the consistent city traffic. Thankfully, most of ...

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9 Best Hotels in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City (+ MAP)

The exterior of Hotel des Arts Saigon in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, showing the front entrance, palm trees, and a parked red motorbike

I like District 3 in Ho Chi Minh City enough that it deserves its own list of places to stay. District 1 is the city’s most touristy area, ...

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14 Best Budget Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City (2026 Guide)

The budget Huong Sen Hotel on Dong Khoi Street in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Using my years of experience living in Vietnam, I’ve written several guides on hotels in Ho Chi Minh City. I’ve covered everything from luxury hotels to hotels in ...

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24 Best Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City: A Local’s Picks for 2026

Outside the New World Saigon Hotel in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

I consider several things when recommending a hotel to family or friends visiting Vietnam. Because I’ve lived in Ho Chi Minh City, I know where these hotels are. I know ...

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15 Best 5-Star Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City: A Local’s Guide With Map

The Ho Chi Minh City Opera House on the left and the five-star Caravelle Hotel Saigon on the right in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Five-star hotels in Ho Chi Minh City are reasonably priced compared to their counterparts in the United States. Some of the best five-star luxury hotels can be had ...

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20 Best Hotels in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City: A Local’s Guide With Map

Outside the Hotel Continental Saigon in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, showing the French colonial hotel building, tourists, locals, and a pink Porsche Boxster

I’ve written a few articles on Ho Chi Minh City’s best hotels, using my years of experience living here as a barometer. I know where these hotels are ...

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18 Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City for First-Timers

After living in Da Nang, I moved to Ho Chi Minh City, where I’ve since lived in five different districts. With a population of around 10 million, Ho ...

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Saigon Uncovered: 7 Best Areas to Stay in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City skyline from a coffee shop rooftop in Binh Thanh District, showing the Landmark 81 skyscraper and the City Garden apartment complex

I’m an American expat living in Vietnam. Before living in Phu Nhuan District, I lived in three other districts in Ho Chi Minh City: District 8, which is ...

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