Mai House Saigon is located next to the historic Marie Curie School amid picturesque avenues, charming boutiques and cozy local coffee shops. Beautiful colonial homes shine brightly through the shade of Vietnam’s treasured ancient trees, while some of the city’s most iconic attractions are only a short walk away. Reunification Palace, Notre-Dame Cathedral, the old Central Post Office and Tao Dan Park are right in our neighborhood.
In Sài Gòn, even well-trodden paths can hold elusive secrets. The iconic Bến Thành Market and the streets around it mask a trove of hidden treasures; you just have to know where to look. Here’s a couple of tips to get you started. The jewelry shops on the corner of Nguyễn An Ninh and Phan Chu Trinh give excellent rates on currency exchange. And the hole-in-the-wall restaurants near the south-eastern corner of the market serve really delightful phở. Explore every shop and alley. You’ll be surprised by what you find.
Đồng Khởi is a historic street featuring beautifully restored colonial-era buildings converted to chic restaurants and boutiques. Running parallel to Walking Street (Nguyễn Huệ), Đồng Khởi is one Sài Gòn’s most popular evening haunts for locals – we recommended visiting late in the day if you enjoy a spot of people-watching.
Independence Palace (Dinh Độc Lập) became part of history on 30 April 1975 when a North Vietnamese tank crashed through its main gate, marking the end of a long-running war. The palace is set among beautiful tropical gardens, and you’ll feel as if you’ve wandered into a frozen snapshot of another era exploring its hidden rooms and corridors.
If you’ve always wondered what 'real' Vietnamese cuisine tastes like, join us for an incredible tour of Sài Gòn’s most delicious food. Explore a world of vivid color and exotic produce at a morning market, then stroll through charming side streets as we uncover hidden culinary delights. We’ll bring you to food vendors and market stalls so you can choose from all the iconic favorites, such as phở (pronounced ‘fuh’), bánh mì and gỏi cuốn, plus some specialties you’ve never encountered before.
Chùa Vĩnh Nghiêm is Sài Gòn’s largest and most beautiful Buddhist pagoda, fusing Japanese influences with traditional Vietnamese architecture. If you’re hungry, try the delicious Vietnamese vegetarian food at a lovely little eatery inside the temple complex. If you’re lucky, you may get to speak to some monks and nuns. Admission here is free.
