Other than those who live here, arguably, most locals know very little about Binh Tan District besides the fact that it houses Aeon Mall Binh Tan, 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 is the district with the largest population among all of the 24 districts in Ho Chi Minh City, besides housing the most sizable cemetery in town. Find out what you can do in this emerging and promising district through our local guide!
Binh Tan District Overview
Situated to the west of the city, Binh Tan District covers a massive area of 52 square kilometers, 6 times the size of District 1, and the population is around 600,000 (2010), 3 times that of District 1, and scattered across 10 different wards whose names are interestingly relative: An Lac, An Lac A, Tan Tao, Tan Tao A, Binh Tri Dong, Binh Tri Dong A, Binh Tri Dong B, Binh Hung Hoa, Binh Hung Hoa A, and Binh Hung Hoa B. 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 before the city government split it up in 2003. Now, 15 years after its foundation, it is a rising district with businesses emerging every day and development plans underway to improve the district’s landscape. Among the 10 wards of Binh Tan District, 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 love to 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 western and all-important Mekong Delta via the crucial artery of the country, 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 of this guide, since one of the city’s most popular bus stations, West Station, is here, getting to Binh Tan District is relatively straightforward. 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 the taxi brand you choose and the 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 random local for where to go in Binh Tan District, chances are they’ll show you the way to Aeon Mall Binh Tan, the landmark that may ring a loud bell to you, we guess, because it has been referred to quite a few times in this guide so far. Yes, it is a worthwhile destination in Binh Tan, featuring all the most luxurious fashion brands, the best restaurant chains, trendy coffee shops, and state-of-the-art play zones.
But the real charm of Binh Tan belongs in its extensive range of religious sites, predominantly Buddhist and Christian ones. Among these, the most splendid and extravagant in terms of architecture is Hue Nghiem Pagoda. A harmonious blend of mind-blowing manmade feats and verdant, calming trees, Hue Nghiem Pagoda, is an ideal haven for all who want to seek respite from the hustle and bustle of daily life in big cities and find their peace of mind back.
| 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 |
Hue Nghiem Pagoda
Inside Hue Nghiem Pagoda
Learn more about the best pagodas in Ho Chi Minh City
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. For fancy dining, you should head to Aeon Mall Binh Tan, 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 WardPho 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 WardCom 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 WardLau 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 WardSubo 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 WardAn 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 |
Aeon Mall Binh Tan
Nightlife in Binh Tan District
Although it lies on the outskirts, Binh Tan is not so tedious regarding nightlife activities. Aeon Mall Binh Tan is again a favorite hangout spot for everyone when the sun sets, and numerous coffee shops and karaoke bars are also popular. Binh Tan District offers two cool beer clubs – Phoenix Beer Club on Tran Van Giau Street and Simba Beer Club Buffet on Ho Van Long Street.
Anyway, if these still sound somewhat like a lack of interest, check out the hottest bars and clubs in Ho Chi Minh, where you can let your hair down.
Summary 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.