Arguably, most locals know very little about Binh Tan District besides the fact that it houses one of the famous shopping centers in Ho Chi Minh City and the West Station (Ben Xe Mien Tay), a central bus station to the west of the city connecting to provinces in the Mekong Delta. Binh Tan has the largest population among the 24 districts in Ho Chi Minh City. Find out what you can do in this emerging and promising district through our local guide!
Binh Tan District Overview
Situated west of the city, Binh Tan District covers a massive area of 52 square kilometers, 6 times the size of District 1. The population is around 600,000 (2010), three times that of District 1. All these names contain a ‘peaceful’ or ‘prosperous’ element in meaning and largely explain the origin of the name “Binh Tan.”
This district was originally a part of the ultimate suburban Binh Chanh District in 2003. 15 years after its foundation, it is a rising district with businesses emerging and development plans underway to improve its landscape. Among the 10 wards, the most familiar name is Binh Tri Dong B since it houses Aeon Mall Binh Tan, the iconic shopping mall where the young in Ho Chi Minh City hang out and eat at the food court.
Similarly to Binh Chanh District, Binh Tan plays a pivotal role in connecting Ho Chi Minh City to the Mekong Delta via Highway 1A (Quoc Lo 1A). Many residents in Binh Tan relocated here from provinces within the Mekong Delta region to work in Tan Tao and Vinh Loc industrial parks.
As within Ho Chi Minh City, bordering Binh Tan Districts are all the lesser-known districts, namely District 6, District 9, Tan Phu District to the east, Binh Chanh District to the west, District 8 to the south, District 12 and Hoc Mon District to the north.
Although Binh Tan’s population is large, the density is low compared to smaller-sized districts. Nevertheless, the eclectic mix of religions and the diversity of ethnic groups here, including Kinh, Chinese, Khmer, Cham, and Muong, promise an intriguing cultural experience.
How to Get to Binh Tan District
As we mentioned at the beginning, getting to Binh Tan District is relatively straightforward since one of the city’s most popular bus stations is here. From Tan Son Nhat Airport, simply take Bus No. 119 straight to the West Station (Mien Tay Station). The distance is 15 km, and the fare is VND 20,000 (US$1). Total travel time: 65 minutes.
See updates on Bus No.119’s stops, fares, and operating hours.
Read more about taking the bus in Ho Chi Minh City
Currently, Bus No. 119 only runs from 4 AM to 8 PM, so if you need to travel outside this time frame, you should consider a taxi or a ride-hailing service. The fare is around US$7, depending on your chosen taxi brand and traffic conditions.
If you happen to be in District 5, District 7, or Long An province, you can opt-in to take the free bus operated by Aeon Mall Binh Tan.
Attractions in Binh Tan District
If you ask for recommendations from a local for where to go in Binh Tan District, chances are they’ll show you the way to Aeon Mall Binh Tan. It is a worthwhile destination featuring all the most luxurious fashion brands, the best restaurant chains, trendy coffee shops, and state-of-the-art play zones.
However, Binh Tan’s real charm is in its extensive range of religious sites, predominantly Buddhist and Christian. Among these, Hue Nghiem Pagoda has the most splendid and extravagant architecture. A harmonious blend of mind-blowing manmade feats and verdant, calming trees, it is an ideal haven for all who want to seek respite from the hustle and bustle of daily life in big cities.
| Name | Entrance Fee | Address | Category |
| Aeon Mall Binh Tan | Free | 1 Street No. 17A, Binh Tri Dong B Ward | Entertainment complex building |
| Hue Nghiem Pagoda | Free | 220/110/1 Do Nang Te Street, An Lac A Ward | Religious site |
| Theravada Temple (Chua Nam Tong) | Free | 220/110/166/1, Street No. 5, An Lac A Ward | Religious site |
| St. Paul’s Cathedral | Free | 280 Vanh Dai Trong Street, Binh Tri Dong B Ward | Religious site |
| Binh Thuan Church | Free | 722 Tan Ky Tan Quy Street, Binh Hung Hoa Ward | Religious site |
Eating in Binh Tan District
Restaurants, eateries, and street food establishments are diverse and ubiquitous across the 52-square-kilometer area of Binh Tan District. You should head to Aeon Mall Binh Tan for fancy dining, but foreign dining brands overshadow local ones. Therefore, if you want something more “indigenous,” browse the streets of Binh Tri Dong B Ward and Tan Tao Ward to sample Vietnamese hotpot (especially goat hotpot and street-side BBQ), grills, and other southern delicacies like bun mam (fish sauce noodles) and com tam (broken rice).
| Category | Location |
| Vietnamese Noodles | Bun Cha Ho Guom – 317 Street No. 7, Binh Tri Dong B Ward, Pho 99 – 239 Vanh Dai Trong Street, Binh Tri Dong B Ward Bun Mam Thu Thao – 607 Tinh Lo 10 Street, Binh Tri Dong B Ward |
| Vietnamese Rice Dishes | Com tam (broken rice) at Food Zone – 250 – 252 Vanh Dai Trong Street, Binh Tri Dong B Ward Com chay (vegan rice) at Com chay Huu Duyen – 332 Street No. 7, Tan Tao Ward Com ga Hao Nguyen – 32- 34 Street No. 57, Tan Tao Ward |
| Hotpot and Grill Bars | Nam Lua 3 – 34 – 35 Street No. 5, Tan Tao WardmLau de Tam Hy (Goat hotpot Tam Hy) – 547A – 547B Le Van Quoi Street, Binh Tri Dong A Ward Lau de Tu Xuyen – 283 Street No. 7, Binh Tri Dong B Ward Lang nuong Dong Que – 666 Le Trong Tan Street, Binh Hung Hoa Ward |
| Coffee shops and smoothie bars | Che (Vietnamese desserts made of beans) and smoothies – 34 Go Xoai Street, Binh Hung Hoa A WardmSubo Coffee – 121 Street No. 6, Binh Tri Dong Ward |
Shopping in Binh Tan District
Other than Aeon Mall Binh Tan, if you wish to have an authentic insight into Vietnamese local open-air markets, there are various decent options, such as An Lac Market and Binh Hung Hoa Market. Refer to the chart below.
| Category | Address | What to Buy |
| Shopping Malls | Aeon Mall Binh Tan – 1 Street No. 17A, Binh Tri Dong B Ward | Clothes, Groceries, Fruits, and Cosmetics |
| Local Markets | Binh Hung Hoa Market – Tan Ky Tan Quy Street, Binh Hung Hoa Ward An Lac Market – 383 Kinh Duong Vuong Street, An Lac Ward Binh Long Market – Street No.3, Binh Hung Hoa A Ward *Note: Opening hours are typically until 6 PM only. | Clothes, Groceries, Fruits, Arts and Crafts |
Nightlife in Binh Tan District
Although it lies on the outskirts, Binh Tan is not so tedious in terms of nightlife activities. Aeon Mall Binh Tan is again a favorite hangout spot for everyone when the sun sets. Binh Tan District also offers cool beer clubs, such as the Phoenix Beer Club on Tran Van Giau Street and the Simba Beer Club Buffet on Ho Van Long Street.
Check out more fun things to do in Ho Chi Minh City:
Klook.comSummary of Binh Tan District in Ho Chi Minh City
An up-and-coming district with a rapid rate of development, Binh Tan harbors great potential amid some unrest that needs addressing. Explore the religious havens in Binh Tan or get a feel of Vietnamese local markets across its 10 wards if you happen to drop by. An eccentric but promising approach to Ho Chi Minh City travel.
Find accommodations around the Binh Tan District area:
I didn’t know there is a huge mall in this district. Lots of my friends are living here, will definitely go to the mall to hang out once in a while
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