Saigon district among world’s 40 ‘coolest neighborhoods’

U.K.-based Time Out has listed HCMC’s Binh Thanh District, home to Landmark 81, Vietnam’s tallest building, among the 40 ‘coolest neighborhoods’ in the world.

Binh Thanh District was placed 32nd on the Time Out list, which surveyed over 38,000 city-dwellers around the world based on their experiences.

Time Out, a U.K.-based global magazine, described the district as “a standout corner of frenetic Ho Chi Minh City.”

“On Phan Van Han Street, established street-food stalls rub up against higher-end spots such as SuShi Nhí, Captain Phook, and Here and Now. Similarly, the Saigonese culture of streetside coffee shares space with upper-end options like Café Tartine, Café Co, and Nha Saigon,” Time Out wrote.

It also mentioned Landmark 81, which opened for business in 2018, as “Vietnam’s tallest skyscraper.” The mixed-use building includes hotels, apartments, offices, a shopping mall, restaurants, and bars.

“Don’t forget to head to the seventy-fifth floor to hang out at café-bar Blank Lounge inside the 81-floor building.”

For the morning, Van Thanh Tourist Site on Dien Bien Phu Street is a welcome green oasis, it recommended.

Binh Thanh, just a few kilometers from downtown Saigon, is home to 500,000 residents and a major transportation hub linking the city center with neighboring provinces to the south.

Other Asian neighborhoods that made the list include Sham Shui Po in Hong Kong, Hannam-dong in Seoul, Chula-Samyan in Bangkok, Bugis in Singapore, Gongguan in Taipei, and Kabutocho in Tokyo.