Where to Stay in Ho Chi Minh City: Areas and Hotel Prices

For a first visit, the former District 1 is where walking is practical, with mid-range doubles at VND 1,200,000 to 2,000,000 a night. The former District 3 costs VND 800,000 to 1,500,000 and sits 10 to 20 minutes on foot from it. Binh Thanh and Phu Nhuan run VND 700,000 to 1,400,000.

By Vincent Nguyen

The choice for most visitors is the former District 1 at VND 1,200,000 to 2,000,000 a night or the former District 3 at VND 800,000 to 1,500,000. District names no longer exist as units, so hotel addresses show ward names.

Where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City: areas and hotel prices

The table lists mid-range room prices from a travel guide updated 29 August 2026.

Hotel prices in the former District 1 run 30-50% higher than equivalent rooms in neighbouring districts. Dorm beds there cost VND 150,000 to 300,000.

Sai Gon ward merged the former Ben Nghe ward with parts of Da Kao and Nguyen Thai Binh. Ben Thanh ward merged the former Ben Thanh and Pham Ngu Lao wards.

Who each area suits (and who should skip it)

If walking to the sights matters: the former District 1

Walking is only practical within the former District 1 and parts of the former District 3. The area sits at 0 minutes from the centre on foot.

• Good for visitors who want to walk: walking is practical here.
• Skip it if price matters most: rooms run 30-50% above neighbouring districts.
• Skip the Bui Vien streets if you want sleep: street noise is constant there.

If you want this location with less noise, book north of Le Loi Boulevard or near the Saigon River.

If price matters: the former District 3

Mid-range rooms run VND 800,000 to 1,500,000. The motorbike ride to the centre is 10 minutes. On foot, the walk into the former District 1 takes 10 to 20 minutes, depending on where you stay.

Xuan Hoa ward merged the former Vo Thi Sau ward with the rest of Ward 4 of District 3. Ban Co ward merged former Wards 1, 2, 3 and 5 of District 3 and part of Ward 4. Nhieu Loc ward merged former Wards 9, 11, 12 and 14 of District 3.

If you stay a week or more: Thao Dien or Binh Thanh

Thao Dien is described as an expat hub across the river with international schools and western restaurants. Mid-range rooms there run VND 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 a night. Thao Dien addresses now read An Khanh ward.

Binh Thanh rooms run VND 700,000 to 1,400,000. The former Binh Thanh wards became Binh Thanh, Thanh My Tay and Binh Quoi wards. Landmark 81 SkyView is in Thanh My Tay ward.

• Skip Thao Dien if you want to walk to the sights: the Grab trip to the former District 1 takes 20 to 30 minutes.
• Skip Binh Thanh for walking too: a Grab ride takes 15 to 25 minutes.

If the budget is tight: the former District 4

Rooms run VND 400,000 to 900,000 a night in the former District 4. Watch for pickpocketing on crowded streets, especially around the markets.

Which areas to avoid

Flooding in tide season

From 20 to 25 October 2025 the city recorded flooding at the Binh Quoi - Thanh Da road and four other points. A Department of Construction official said the Thanh Da peninsula flooded because the land is low against a 1.82 m tide peak.

Binh Quoi ward merged former Wards 27 and 28 of Binh Thanh. The tide season runs from the 8th to the 12th lunar month.

Snatching and pickpocketing

On 21 February 2026 a handbag snatch at the Luong Dinh Cua - Tran Nao roundabout was solved within hours by An Khanh ward police. In July 2026 a man on a motorbike snatched a tourist’s handbag in Tan Hung Ward. The bag held VND 12 million in cash and a phone. Police arrested the suspect within about three hours.

During the nine days of Tet 2026 city police recorded social-order crime down 58.5% on the adjacent period. In Phu Nhuan ward the first half of 2026 showed a 37.5% fall on the same period a year earlier.

Overcharging and booking scams

The deputy director of the city tourism department said aggressive solicitation and overcharging of tourists continued at some locations. Scams involving online hotel bookings have become increasingly sophisticated. See Ho Chi Minh City Safety and Scams.

How to get around from each area

Ben Thanh Metro Station is in the Ben Thanh area. See Metro Line 1 for stations and fares.

• From Binh Thanh or Phu Nhuan, a Grab ride into the former District 1 costs VND 40,000 to 70,000 and takes 15 to 25 minutes.
• From Thao Dien, a Grab car costs VND 80,000 to 120,000 and takes 20 to 30 minutes, longer with bridge traffic.
• The airport is a 30 to 45 minute drive from most central areas, depending on traffic.

Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)

When to go and how long

Hotel prices spike dramatically around Tet and national holidays. Book at least 2 to 3 weeks ahead for those periods. The tide season runs from the 8th to the 12th lunar month. For month-by-month weather, see Best Time to Visit Ho Chi Minh City.

Nearby and how to combine it

Ben Thanh Market sits in the Ben Thanh area. Ho Chi Minh City in 3 Days sets out the sights by opening hours. The Mekong Delta day trip and Cu Chi Tunnels each take a day from the city. A longer move is covered in Where to Live in Ho Chi Minh City.

Before you go

• Book 2 to 3 weeks ahead for Tet or a national holiday.
• Check an online hotel booking carefully: scams involving online hotel bookings have become increasingly sophisticated.
• Ask for a room away from Bui Vien if noise matters: partying there continues until 4 AM.
• Plan 30 to 45 minutes for the airport transfer.
• Keep phones and wallets secured on crowded streets in the former District 4.

Photos and clips uploaded to Google Maps (Nguyen Hue Walking Street on Google Maps (opens in a new tab), War Remnants Museum on Google Maps (opens in a new tab), Landmark 81 on Google Maps (opens in a new tab), Ben Thanh Metro Station on Google Maps (opens in a new tab), Ben Thanh Market on Google Maps (opens in a new tab)) by yuichi sasaki, Brian Loh, Jeffrey Marrs, Soko 37 (Soko37), pixel vietnam, Tuan Kiet, Gemma Cope, Thuan Vu.

↑ Contents

Not confirmed: Hotel ranges come from one travel guide updated 29 August 2026, not a live booking page, so check rates for your dates. Prices spike around Tet and national holidays.

General information checked against the sources listed above, not legal advice for your situation. Rules and office practice change; confirm with the immigration office or a licensed adviser before you act. See how guides are checked.

Spotted an error? Report it.