Chinatown is always fascinating to travelers with its cuisine and its colorful lights at night. District 5 in Ho Chi Minh City, a part of Chinatown, won’t disappoint you with a lot of delicious foods and shopping centers.
Map of District 5’s Attractions:
District 5 Overview
District 5 has been a part of Cho Lon or Chinatown in Ho Chi Minh City since Chinese immigrants had just moved and settled in Saigon (former name of Ho Chi Minh City). The Cho Lon area includes District 5, District 6, and a part of District 10 and District 11. Most Chinese ethnics in Ho Chi Minh City are still living, influencing, and enriching the culture of the community.
District 5 was officially established in 1976, one year after the Vietnam Reunification. The district has been divided into 15 wards since 1986 until now, and share borders with others like District 1, District 6, District 8, District 10, and District 11.
District 5 is known as a busy commercial and trading place of Ho Chi Minh City because most of the main roads connecting the north and the south, the east and the west of the city pass through the district. Most of the wholesalers are located in District 5 and distribute goods to other markets across the city. Besides the trading centers and local markets, many legal, financial, tourist, and medical services are also gathered here.
How to Get to District 5
If you want to go to District 5 straight from Tan Son Nhat International Airport, you can take the bus route 119 (65 minutes, VND 20,000, stops at Mien Tay (Western) Station) and route 159 (65 minutes, VND 10,000, stops at An Suong Station). Read more on How to take shuttle buses from Tan Son Nhat International Airport. You can shorten the travel time by traveling by taxi to 30 minutes, but they will cost you about 150,000 VND.
If you are in District 1, it will take you about 15-20 minutes to District 5. You can grab a taxi or opt for a motorbike so that you can make more stops and visit more places in District 5.
Get your bus ticket online:
Attractions in District 5
In District 5, there are many cultural sites that allow you to understand more about the Chinese daily life in Vietnam and how the Chinese culture mixed, influenced, and adapted to the Vietnamese beliefs.
| Name | Entrance Fee | Address | Category |
| Nhi Phu Temple | Free | 264 Hai Thuong Lan Ong, Ward 14 | Religious site |
| Thien Hau Temple | Free | 710 Nguyen Trai, Ward 11 | Religious site |
| Quan De Temple | Free | 676 – 678 Nguyen Trai, Ward 11 | Religious site |
| Le Chau Assembly Hall | Free | 586 Tran Hung Dao B, Ward 14 | Religious site |
| Quan Am Pagoda | Free | 12 Lao Tu, Ward 11 | Religious site |
| Jeanne d’Arc Church (Nga Sau Church) | Free | 116A Hung Vuong Street, Ward 9 | Religious site |
| Cha Tam Church | Free | 25 Hoc Lac, Ward 14 | Religious site |
| Cho Quan Church | Free | 120 Tran Binh Trong, Ward 2 | Religious site |
| Cholon Jamail Mosque | Free | 641 Nguyen Trai, Ward 11 | Religious site |
| Caodaism Saigon Worship Place | Free | 891 Tran Hung Dao, Ward 1 | Religious site |
| Pétrus Ký Mausoleum and Memorial House | Free | 118 Tran Binh Trong, Ward 2 | Historical attraction |
| Memorial House of Ho Chi Minh | Free | 5 Chau Van Liem, Ward 14 | Historical attraction |
| Hao Sy Phuong Alley | Free | 206 Tran Hung Dao B, Ward 10 | Architecture |
| Van Lang Public Parks | Free | Corner of Hung Vuong and An Duong Vuong Street | Park |
| Dai The Gioi Waterpark | VND 85,000/adult over 1.4 meter VND 65,000/child under 1.4 meter Free for child under 0.8 meter | 1106 Vo Van Kiet, Ward 6 | Park |
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Eating in District 5
When coming to District 5, you will find in many streets offering a variety of foods from different countries and in different kinds of eateries. Here are some options for street foods, Vietnamese foods, and of course delicious Chinese cuisine.
| Category | Location |
| Street Foods | Den 5 Ngon (5 Lights) at the intersection of Tran Hung Dao and Phung Hung Nguyen Kim Street |
| Chinese Cuisine | Hu tieu Sa te Quang Ky (Rice noodle) Hong Kong Street Foods Le Gia Minh Ky Dimsum Mi Vit Tiem Hai Ky (Duck Noodle Soup) |
| Vietnamese cuisine | Chay Bep Xanh An Duyen Com Tam An Duong Vuong (Broken rice) Pho Le (Pho) Banh canh cua 14 (Crab noodle soup) Bun cha Ho Guom (Northern style of vermicelli with BBQ) |
Shopping in District 5
Even though in District 5, there are not many glamorous shopping centers like those in District 1, most of these trading centers are for wholesales, reflecting the local style and always busy.
| Category | Address | What to Buy |
| Shopping Centers | Parkson Hung Vuong The Garden Mall (formerly known as Thuan Kieu Plaza) An Dong Plaza | Clothing and Accessories |
| Markets | An Dong Market Hoa Binh Market Xa Tay Market | Clothing, Accessories, Dried Foods, and Textiles |
| Trading Centers | Dong Khanh Trade Center Dai Quang Minh Trade Center | Textiles and Materials for sewing |
| Street | Nguyen Trai Street | Clothing |
Nightlife in District 5
When night falls, the street food stalls get crowded with locals, especially young people. The foods in District 5 attracts a lot of people because of the diverse options for cuisine, eateries, and price. Snails, BBQ, and sweet soups are one of the most popular with the locals.
People also go to the malls in District 5 like Parkson Hung Vuong and Garden Mall for shopping, window-shopping, watching movies, or playing in games centers.
Summary of District 5 in Ho Chi Minh City
If you love Chinatown, District 5 in Ho Chi Minh City is the place you should visit with many old Chinese temples as well as delicious Chinese dishes. However, you will not find any clear distinction between the district and the rest of the city but see for yourself how the Chinese ethnics have blended in with the Vietnamese lifestyle over the past 300 years since its first establishment in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City).
Join our Saigon’s Other Side tour on a motorbike with our local guides and uncover off-the-beaten-path adventure in District 5 and other districts in Ho Chi Minh City.
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