More about hotels in District 1
District 1 is Ho Chi Minh City's beating heart — the most central, most walkable, and most expensive district in the city, and the base most first-time visitors from Australia choose. Nearly every major landmark sits within a 10 to 15 minute walk of the next: Ben Thanh Market, with its thousands of stalls of souvenirs and street food, the red-brick, twin-towered Notre-Dame Cathedral Saigon (built in the 1880s), the elegant Central Post Office next door, and the sobering War Remnants Museum, one of the city's most-visited historical sites.
At night, District 1 splits into two very different scenes. Bui Vien Street is the backpacker strip, loud and lively with bars and street stalls open late. A few blocks over, Nguyen Hue is a wide, pedestrian-only boulevard lined with fountains and flanked by City Hall, popular for an evening stroll before heading up to one of the district's many rooftop bars for river views over the Saigon River.
Where to Stay in District 1
District 1 has the densest concentration of international hotel brands in Ho Chi Minh City. Park Hyatt Saigon and Hotel Continental Saigon are two of the city's most storied luxury addresses, both steps from the Opera House and Notre-Dame Cathedral. Rex Hotel Saigon is a long-running favourite known for its rooftop bar, while The Myst Dong Khoi offers a stylish, more contemporary option in the same central pocket.
Staying in District 1 means you can see most of the city's headline sights on foot, but expect to pay a premium for that convenience compared with neighbouring districts like Phu Nhuan or District 5.
