Ho Chi Minh City (locally known as Saigon) is the commercial capital in Vietnam. Motorbikes, bicycles, and cars compete with pedestrians while there are lots of street stands spilling into traffic lanes. A city with a many things happening all at once, Ho Chi Minh City has a lot to offer: wonderful shops, fantastic nightlife, delicious food, and plenty of historic sites. Additionally, must see sites include the War Remnants Museum as well as the famous Cu Chi Tunnels and is the gateway to access the Mekong Delta region.

Restaurant Recommendations

Authentic Local Style:

Pho Hòa - Pho noodle soup is synonymous with Vietnamese food and this famous restaurant retains its original recipe handed down the generations serving only beef noodle soup!

Banh Xeo 46A - A small District 3 eatery that has maintained its charm for decades serves the Vietnamese savoury pancake featuring pork, shrimp, sprouts, and spring onions, inside a lightly crisped turmeric rice flower crepe. Top it off with basil, mint, coriander, and cucumber, then give the whole thing a roll. We think it's easily the greatest wrap in Asia.

Ngon restaurant - Always packed with local and tourists alike, the incredibly wide range of menu on offer is adorned by the beautiful interior decoration- food is prepared in front of your eyes. Featuring almost every single street food available in Vietnam, this is the one-stop-shop for pleasuring your street food palette amongst a gorgeous setting.

Propaganda Bistro - Only steps away from the Independence Palace, Propaganda Bistro embodies modern Vietnam. The restaurant is decorated in colourful war-era propaganda art, with the slogans altered to sentiments about healthy eating and lifestyle. The food here is just as fresh and colourful as the décor.

Secret Garden - On the rooftop of an old colonial-era building, lanterns illuminate colorful walls while the backdrop is the entire city skyline. Familiar authentic tasting Vietnamese dishes are found within the menu along with attractive night time views.

Tip: Good with a group.

High Tea:

Villa Royale Antiques & Tearoom - Inside a colonial style villa in the cool expat enclave of Thao Dien lies Villa Royale. The decor in Villa Royale is as eclectic as you’ll ever find - featuring antiques, collectable items and vintage decorative items for sale from both the East and the West. Serving both as a haven away from the hectic pace of the city, it is also where guests find the perfect keepsake of travels through Asia. Villa Royale is famous for their high tea and desserts with a lean towards western comfort lunches and cakes.

Tip: Book in advance with LUXPERIA as seating is limited.

Fine Dining:

Anan - In Ton That Dam street market, sellers have been selling produce, meat, fish, flowers, and several other goods for more than a century. A historic structure with a view of the market was purchased by visionary chef Peter Cuong Franklin, who then transformed it into Anan, a restaurant serving his upscale takes on market favorites made with fresh ingredients sourced directly from the vendor booths. On the rooftop bar, sip on specialty drinks while taking in the lively market below and the Saigon skyline in the distance.

Rose Villa - A 7 year long passion project and built/designed in collaboration with the top 'member only' clubs around the world. LUXPERIA offers our travellers exclusive access to the enchanted world of Rose Villa - Vietnam's premiere private Member-only-club. Housed in a secret villa compound within the expat enclave, guests can choose lunch and spa, dinner or all day private guest passes.

Tip: Exclusive only to LUXPERIA. Enquire here.

Feel-Good Dining:

Noir - This high-end Ho Chi Minh City restaurant has taken on a global foodie trend, becoming the city’s go-to restaurant for dining in the dark. Based on the idea that the sense of taste is heightened when you’re not distracted by other senses, diners eat in darkness and are served by blind or visually impaired staff. Vegetarian, eastern and western inspired menus are served over several courses and are a true treat for the taste buds.

Vegetarian:

Shamballa - The word "Shamballa" has its origins in Sanskrit, where it denotes a place of tranquility, stillness, and delight - A secret kingdom tucked away in a hallowed location where the Buddha attained enlightenment beneath the Bodhi tree. This vegetarian restaurant adapts Buddhist balancing techniques with art both in its interior and menu design. Dishes here are healthy and expertly made with organic ingredients.

International Cuisine:

The Refinery Bar and Restaurant - A French bistro inside, The Refinery has an airy courtyard that serves up classically French dishes.

Tandoor - is among the best Indian restaurants in district 1, which offers truly Indian cuisine in a cozy, Halal-styled interior space. While the majority of dishes served are mainly Indian and Halal, the restaurant is quite vegetarian friendly, so if you have any special diet, you can confirm it with the staff so that they can serve you the best.

Le Jardin - Unquestionably the place to go whether simply seeking a fantastic bargain in Ho Chi Minh City. The location features a lovely garden setting, a welcoming attitude and is the ideal location for simple French cuisine. Funded by the Institute of French Cultural Studies, prices are affordable making it also very popular. Reservations are strongly advised.

Shopping Recommendations

The highest concentration of souvenir vendors are set up shop at Ben Thanh Market during the day, with some moving to the street around 7 pm becoming a small night market. We recommend visiting Ben Thanh during the day for the biggest selection of treasures - don't forget to haggle.

Head to Saigon Square if you’re looking for designer athletic shoes, clothes, or other accessories. Prices here tend to be on the higher side as the vendors claim their products are originals or factory seconds, be very skeptical and check for quality before negotiating. For outerwear, the Russian Market sells jackets, knits and leisurewear.

Saigon also has its fair share of authentic luxury items - shop at malls, Dong Khoi St or Nguyen Hue St for luxury names like Bottega Veneta, Bose, Boss, Hermes, Louis Vuitton and Gucci.

Tip: Bring your passport, keep your Red Invoice and claim the duty when you depart Vietnam for 10% refund on VAT.