Located next to District 1 – the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, District 4 is a crowded district where you can easily observe the ordinary daily lives of Vietnamese locals. It is also an ideal destination for food-lovers as there is a wide variety of tasty street foods and several wonderful eating streets in District 4.
Map of District 4’s Attractions:
District 4 Overview
With a total area of about 4.2 square km, District 4 is considered the smallest district in Ho Chi Minh City. Located next to District 1 which is the center of Ho Chi Minh City, District 4 is generally an island being surrounded by Saigon River at the northeast, Ben Nghe Canal at the northwest, Te Canal at the South. There are 15 wards in District raging from Ward 1 to Ward 18 except for Ward 7, Ward 11 and Ward 17 as they were merged with other wards.
During the French colonial invasion, District 4 was known by names such as Xom Chieu and Khanh Hoi. These are still familiar to people of old Saigon when it comes to the land of District 4. The name “District 4” has been officially used from 1959.
How to Get to District 4
From Tan Son Nhat International Airport, it would take you about 35 minutes to get to District 4 by taxis with the approximate price from VND 120,000 to VND 150,000. This price could be slightly lower which ranges from VND 70,000 to VND 100,000 if you book a four-seat car with Grab or Uber.
From District 1, it would take you about 15 minutes to get to District 4 by car or motorbike. There are only two bus routes from District 1 to District 4 which are bus number 44 and bus number 46. You can easily get to know bus system in Ho Chi Minh City with the app Ho Chi Minh City Bus Map.
Attractions in District 4
Ho Chi Minh Museum in District 4
District 4 is not a famous tourist district for foreigners. However, you can find it interesting to come and see the way locals work and live on a daily basis. There are two popular types of attractions for you explore in District 4 which are historical attractions and religious sites.
Name | Entrance Fee | Address | Category |
Nha Rong Wharf or Dragon Wharf – Ho Chi Minh Museum | Free | 1 Nguyen Tat Thanh, Ward 12 | Historical attraction |
Giac Nguyen Pagoda | Free | 129F/186/2 Ben Van Don, Ward 6 | Religious site |
Linh Quang Tinh Xa | Free | 40/60 Nguyen Khoai, Ward 2 | Religious site |
Khanh Hoi Church | Free | 98 Le Quoc Hung, Ward 12 | Religious site |
Vinh Hoi Church | Free | 158 Ben Van Don, Ward 6 | Religious site |
Xom Chieu Church | Free | 92B/20 bis Ton That Thuyet, Ward 16 | Religious site |
To have fun trips in Ho Chi Minh City, check out our authentic motorbike tours with professional local guides! |
Eating in District 4
Being famous for several kinds of street eats, especially seafood, District 4 is such a paradise for any food-lovers. You can easily catch a sight of vendors, stalls and small restaurants selling a wide variety of street foods including Banh xeo, Bot chien (fried dough), Xoi (sticky rice), Banh trang nuong (Vietnamese pizza) and Banh mi along almost every street in District 4.
Category | Location |
Seafood | Vinh Khanh street Xom Chieu Street |
Street snacks | Doan Van Bo Street |
Shopping in District 4
Despite being located next to the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, District 4 is not a shopping center compared to District 1. However, there is a pretty big local market where you can buy some Vietnamese food and local souvenirs such as clothes, accessories, and dried foods at reasonable prices.
Xom Chieu Market
Address: Le Quoc Hung, Ward 12
Nightlife in District 4
When the night falls, District 4 becomes lively with several restaurants, food stalls, and vendors selling street foods. It is also a top favorite place for Saigonese youngsters to gather and enjoy beer and food together because it is near the city center and has many low price eateries.
Connecting District 1 to District 4, Mong Bridge is an ideal place for young people to gather together as well as a perfect dating venue for young couples at night. This bridge only serves pedestrians so that you can take a seat and enjoy flavorful food and a wonderful night view.
However, as District 4 used to be a port with people from all walks of life who come to look for better opportunities and conditions in the city, this district is considered to be quite dangerous for foreign tourists. Robbery and snatching are likely to take place frequently in many streets in District 4, especially Ton Dan Street and Mong Bridge. It is advisable that you go out in the daytime, leave your valuable belongings at the hotels or secured with you, and even better if you could go with a local friend during your visit.
Read more on Scam and Annoyances in Vietnam for more information.
Summary of District 4 in Ho Chi Minh City
Despite not being a tourist district, District 4 can bring you a bunch of joy and cheer with various eating streets and beautiful religious sites. Coming to this district, you will have a decent chance to adopt a different view of the daily lives of Vietnamese people as well as explore thoroughly Vietnamese street food culture.
To learn more about other districts, check out our guide Ho Chi Minh City Districts Overview.
If you are looking for a local tour guide to explore these districts with you, check out i Tour Vietnam’s city tour offers or leave your inquiry with us here.