Special Streets And Alleys In Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City has everything any traveler expects for on a trip to a hustle and bustle city. The city is famous for French architectural works, the heart-broken War Remnants Museum, the historic Independence Palace and Cu Chi tunnels. However, there are many special streets and alleys in Ho Chi Minh City, hidden from most of the tourists. Let me share with you these brilliant gems.

I. Special streets in Ho Chi Minh city

1. Tran Phu street – paintings street

Special Streets And Alleys In Ho Chi Minh City

Photo by Scooter Saigon Tour

Tran Phu street has been a familiar place where people come to buy paintings in Ho Chi Minh city. Still life paintings, portrait paintings, religious paintings, abstract paintings and many others can be found at painting shops on Tran Phu street. You can see all kinds of Vietnamese paintings there: oil paintings, needle paintings, lacquer paintings, silk paintings, woodcuts, Do paper paintings, watercolor paintings, ink wash painting, powder paintings, pastel paintings, gouache paintings, Vietnamese calligraphy… Tran Phu street is 2 kilometers long and full of painting shops. The best painting is put in front of the shop on the pavement. Sometimes you can see artists are drawing in the shop. Locals come there to buy, order paintings or frame, buy painting accessories or only to see beautiful paintings.

Ho Chi Minh City Unseen Tour by Motorbike

2. Nguyen Trai street – shopping street

Special Streets And Alleys In Ho Chi Minh City

Photo by Scooter Saigon Tour

Nguyen Trai street is one of the busiest fashion streets in Ho Chi Minh city. The street is a paradise of clothes, handbags, scarfs, hats, shoes, jewelries… Besides fashion shops with glass windows along the street, vendors sell their goods on the pavements. It’s a place where buyer can find from cheap to luxurious things. And an important thing is that do not forget bargaining for items you want to get.

Ho Chi Minh City Unseen Tour by Motorbike

3. Nguyen Thien Thuat street – musical instrument street

Special Streets And Alleys In Ho Chi Minh City

Photo by Scooter Saigon Tour

There are about 30 music stores on 30 Nguyen Thien Thuat street (District 3) which is considered as musical instrument street. Coming into these stores, you will be lost in world of musical instruments with a wide range of guitars, violin, monochord zither, long zither… For over 40 years, this is the favorite place of artists and music lovers coming to choose, fix musical instruments. Some just walk around to see nice musical instruments and listen to romantic or flamenco songs played by the sellers who also are real artists.

4. Nguyen Dinh Chieu street – wedding decoration street, Ly Thai To – wedding invitation card street

Special Streets And Alleys In Ho Chi Minh City

Photo by Scooter Saigon Tour

Special Streets And Alleys In Ho Chi Minh City

Photo by Scooter Saigon Tour

A small section of Nguyen Dinh Chieu is is one of the most colorful parts of the city with about 30 stores providing wedding services. Flower gates and lots of wedding decorations are arranged in front of the stores. This wedding decoration street has existed for over 20 years and been the place of couples preparing for the most important and happiest day in their life. They will rent cloth. Next to wedding decoration street is wedding invitation card street – Ly Thai To.

5. Nhat Tao street – electrical equipment street

Special Streets And Alleys In Ho Chi Minh City

Photo by Scooter Saigon Tour

Come to Nhat Tao street, you can find all ranges of electronic equipments which are sold on the pavements and in the stores. Driving along the street, you can see old or new telephone, batteries, remote controls, transistors, speakers… with various qualities and prices.

6. Ho Thi Ky street – flower street

visiting-ho-thi-ky-flower-market-on-saigon-sightseeing-tour-and-street-foods

Photo by Scooter Saigon Tour

Although Ho Thi Ky isn’t a long and big street, it has become the biggest wholesale flower market in Ho Chi Minh city. From early morning till late night, the street is always busy with people buy and sell flowers. It’s the most colorful and beautiful street in the city which is decorated by hundreds of different flowers. This is one of must-see attractions in the city that tourists shouldn’t miss.

7. Tran Nhan Ton street – used book street

There are dozens of used book shops next to one another on Tran Nhan Ton street. Come to a used book shop, you can find used magazines, newspaper, comics at 50-70% lower price. Used books are often sold at 50% lower price, but cost of some rare books is very high. Most customers are pupils, students who want to buy books at low prices, researchers and book collectors. The owner would help customers to find the book they want to buy if they couldn’t find it themselves. Walking along the street is the best way to totally relax while enjoying the calm and quiet atmosphere.

8. Le Cong Kieu street – antique street

Located at a hidden corner of District 1, Le Cong Kieu street is a place where visitors can see and buy thousands of antiques. The street is quiet because it’s small and there isn’t a lot of traffic.. Come to the street, you can experience Saigon in a different way. Many locals who live on the street still remember that Bill Clinton walked along the street to see antiques. There delicate Chinese, Western, Japanese and Vietnamese antiques which render history and culture can be found. Over the years, Le Cong Kieu street has been unique and always in the heart of Saigon people.

9. Thanh Thai street – trees street

Thanh Thai Plants And Flowers Street In Saigon

Photo by Scooter Saigon Tour

There’s nothing better to buy a green plant to purify the air in the house naturally, especially in Saigon where it’s extremely hot and dusty. There is a range of choices when you come to Thanh Thai street which is full of flowers, plants and trees. There are also many kinds of pots, trays and vases. Just walk along the street, you will lost into a small botanical garden and enjoy the fresh air.

10. Ngo Gia Tu street – furniture street

Ngo Gia Tu Furniture Street In Saigon

Photo by Scooter Saigon Tour

Ngo Gia Tu is a long street which full of furniture. Sofas, beds, tables, chairs, cupboards… made of various material (wood, metal, glass, inox…). You can choose or order a thing for your home with reasonable price here.

II. Street Food Streets in Ho Chi Minh city

1. To Hien Thanh street, Vinh Khanh street, Thanh Thai street – snail streets

saigon motorbike tour eating 2

Photo by Scooter Saigon Tour

“Eating Snail” is a unique and special part of culture in Ho Chi Minh city. Saigon people usually gather to eat snail dishes and drink beer at night, especially on weekends to spend their free time. Snail stall and restaurants are everywhere in Saigon. Some streets have been become popular places for locals to eat snail dishes. On those streets, snail stalls are next to one another. You can see, smell and hear the vendor cook the dish and others eat, drink and have leisurely chat. To Hien Thanh, Vinh Khanh, Thanh Thai snail streets are popular special streets and alleys in Ho Chi Minh City.

2. Ha Ton Quyen street – won ton street

Ha Ton Quyen is a street in Cholon area which reflects Chinese culture. The street is famous for wonton – a kind of Chinese dumplings with pork and shrimp. There are many wonton shops on the street and all are crowded because customers can find the best wonton there.

3. Nguyen Tri Phuong street – sweet soup street

Sweet soup is one of top foods in Ho Chi Minh city. Sweet soup is easily found around you in the city but Nguyen Tri Phuong street is the place where you find the best sweet soups. Che Thai Y Phuong on Nguyen Tri Phuong street is one of the most famous sweet soup shops.

4. Bui Vien street – sitting plump beer street

Everybody sit on plastic sheets or grass mats to drink beer and eat beef jerky or squid jerky. Everybody is from all over the world and doesn’t know each other but they can talk with each other after saying hello.

5. Nguyen Thuong Hien street – rice paper salad street

Rice paper salad is an addicting snack that wins the heart of Saigon people at all ages. Nguyen Thuong Hien street is famous for rice paper salad. There are more than 10 rice paper salad on the street. All of them have their own recipes to make their rice paper salad special. Chu Vien, Co Long and Co Thao are best rice paper salad stalls…

6. Nguyen Canh Chan street – mixed fruit street

Mixed Fruit In Vietnam

Photo by Scooter Saigon Tour

Mother Nature give Vietnam many kinds of fruits which is top food in our country. Mixed fruits is one of the most popular foods in Ho Chi Minh city. Cubed fresh fruits, ice cream, shaved ice and peanut are mixed in a plate or bowl. The dish is always colorful with many kinds of fruits such as pineapple, rambutan, longan, dragon fruit, star apple, sapodilla, papaya… Nguyen Canh Chan street is the place where you can find the best mix fruits.

III. Special Alleys in Ho Chi Minh city

1. Celeb alley at 59 Nguyen Du

1. Celeb alley at 59 Nguyen Du, District 1

Photo by Scooter Saigon Tour

Celeb alley has a blue wall and that makes it unique. Many Saigon’s famous models, singers… came there to take a shot. The alley is narrow enough for two motorbikes, no more would fit. It’s easily to find the alley because it’s near Notre Dame Cathedral.

2. Lazy alley at 158 Pasteur and 71-73 Mac Thi Buoi

All in one is what locals talk about this alley. There are cafe, restaurant and fashion shop in the alley. Any lazy person can stay there during the day.

4. Pagoda alley at 498 Le Quang Dinh

There are about 10 pagodas in this alley so that it’s calm, quiet and peaceful there. The atmosphere is unique and it’s worth a try to being there.

5. Graffiti alley at 3A Ton Duc Thang

Alley at 3A Ton Duc Thang street is a special alley where you can see many graffiti on the wall. There is also a self-service style cafe with hundreds of various windows, fashion shops, tea shops and art gallery in the alley.

Are you exciting at seeing these special streets and alleys in Ho Chi Minh City. How about zipping Saigon streets on a motorbike with our talented female tour guide? Let’s join our Saigon motorbike tour, you will never regret!

saigon food tour with female guide in ao dai
You may like:

Life in Saigon alley

Top 10 Saigon Food Streets

19 Most Popular Places to Eat The Best Street Food in Ho Chi Minh city

5 Reasons To Choose Motorbike Tour In Ho Chi Minh City

5/5 - (1 vote)

Leave a Reply