Tan Binh District has one of the biggest Vietnam international airports, Tan Son Nhat International Airport, welcoming most overseas travelers and gives them the first impression of Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City. Therefore, there are plenty of interesting things to do and eat, such as traditional cuisine and recreational activities. This district is not as urbanized as the central area of Ho Chi Minh City – District 1, and thus, you can both enjoy the modern side and experience the authentic local side of the city.
Map of Tan Binh District’s Attractions:
Tan Binh District Overview
Tan Binh District is located in the northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, adjacent to Go Vap District and District 12 in the north while sharing a border with Phu Nhuan District, District 3, and District 10 in the east. This district also shares the border with District 11 in the south and Tan Phu District in the east.
Before 2003, the total area of Tan Binh District was much bigger, but after that, a part of Tan Binh District was separated and formed a new area, known as Tan Phu District.
Tan Binh District consists of 15 wards, from Ward 1 to Ward 15. It occupies 22 km². In June 2005, there were approximately 411,000 recorded as living here.
How to Get to Tan Binh District
As an airport district, Tan Binh District is the most accessible place for air travelers. In case you are in famous tourist attractions like Ben Thanh Market, it will take you about 30 minutes for an 8-kilometer route. You can use a taxi or the airport bus 109 (from Ham Nghi Station) or 119 (from Mien Tay Station, Binh Tan District, going through District 5).
Attractions in Tan Binh District
Tan Binh District does not have many famous historical sites. In fact, it has a few museums and they are not well preserved. However, Tan Binh District is the home of many large famous pagodas like Giac Lam Pagoda, built in 1744, one of the oldest pagodas in Ho Chi Minh City. These pagodas play an important role in the religious life of the citizens.
Other than pagodas, Tan Binh District is also featured with a park and a water channel. Hoang Van Thu Park contributes a large green space for this area with many old trees, which helps cool down the temperature significantly. One thing that gives a strong impression to many people about this park is Phan Thuc Duyen Street. This street is designed through the park, with shady trees on the two sides. People come here to relieve their souls with immense nature, to enjoy the fresh air right in the city.
Phan Thuc Duyen Street with large shady trees
Moreover, the Nhieu Loc channel makes this district look more peaceful and charming. In the late afternoon or evening, riding a motorbike on Hoang Sa Street or Truong Sa Street (the streets on two sides of the channel), you can experience another aspect of Ho Chi Minh City. People here are not as rushed as in other places. Instead, the elderly take a slow walk with their friends or children while the youth do some exercises and children play around the area.
Nhieu Loc – Thi Nghe Channel
More attractions in Tan Binh District are listed below:
| Name | Entrance Fee | Address | Category |
| Giac Lam Pagoda | Free | 565 Lac Long Quan, Ward 10 | Religious site |
| Pho Quang Pagoda | Free | 64 Huynh Lan Khanh, Ward 2 | Religious site |
| Phat Bao Pagoda | Free | 673/3 Lac Long Quan, Ward 10 | Religious site |
| Hai An Pagoda | Free | 1/21 Au Co, Ward 14 | Religious site |
| Hai Quang Pagoda | Free | 405 Pham Van Hai, Ward 3 | Religious site |
| Duc Lam Pagoda | Free | 111 Lac Long Quan, Ward 10 | Religious site |
| Vien Giac Pagoda | Free | 193 Bui Thi Xuan, Ward 1 | Religious site |
| Chi Hoa Church | Free | 149 Banh Van Tran, Ward 7 | Religious site |
| Southeastern Armed Forces Museum | Free | 247 Hoang Van Thu, Ward 1 | Historical site |
| Southern Air Force Museum | Free entrance for individuals and open tours VND 5,000 for group | 87 Thang Long, Ward 4 | Historical site |
| Phan Chu Trinh Memorial Tomb | Free | 9 Phan Thuc Duyen, Ward 4 | Historical site |
| Hoang Van Thu Park | Free | Hoang Van Thu Street This area is a triangle made of Hoang Van Thu Street, Nguyen Van Troi Street, and Phan Dinh Giot Street | Public park |
| Tan Son Nhat Golf | VND 1,000,000 – VND 4,500,000/day | 6 Tan Son, Ward 12 | Golf court |
Eating in Tan Binh District
When it comes to food, we can give you an endless list of restaurants because food vendors are found in every corner of Ho Chi Minh City, including Tan Binh District. The area inside and near the Tan Son Nhat Airport is the home of many well-known franchise brands, widely varied from international to domestic brands. Situated further are many excellent Vietnamese restaurants. Some of them are really famous and worth trying restaurants like Pho Phu Vuong or Bun Cha Xuan Tu.
As a result, being in Tan Binh District, you can easily indulge yourself with Western dishes such as pizza or fried chicken or experience mouth-watering traditional Vietnamese dishes. Below are our suggested locations for your preference.
Noted that there are so many restaurants that we could not list them all down here. So we give you some streets that gather many eateries, including the signature ones. When coming here, you can see them all and make your own decisions.
| Category | Location |
| Franchises | International: King BBQ, Papa’s Chicken, Texas Chicken, Bread Talk, Sukiya Beef Rice, Tokyo Deli, Al Frescos, Popeyes, Gogi House, King BBQ, Sumo BBQ, KFC, Lotteria. Kichi Kichi, Jollibee, Domino Pizza, Pizza Hut, Dunkin’s Donut Local: Bun Dau Homemade, Huong Cau Restaurant |
| Vietnamese Cuisine | Le Van Sy Street, Cong Hoa Street, Cach Mang Thang 8 Street, Pham Van Hai Street |
| Street Eats | Hoang Sa Street, Pham Van Hai Street, Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Cach Mang Thang 8 Street, Nguyen Trong Tuyen Street, Truong Sa Street, Hoang Sa Street |
| Bars and clubs | Super Bowl Center on Truong Son Street |
Pho Phu Vuong is very famous among locals and foreigners
Bun Cha Xuan Tu, is the famous local restaurant for Bun cha, a Vietnamese dish of grilled pork and noodle
Shopping in Tan Binh District
Tan Binh District could be heaven for shopping lovers because there are plenty of shopping malls as well as markets. Shopping malls are also a great choice for a layover in Ho Chi Minh City.
| Category | Address | What to Buy |
| Shopping Malls | Super Bowl – A43 Truong Son, Ward 4 Pico Plaza – 20 Cong Hoa, Ward 12 Parkson CT Plaza – 60A Truong Son, Ward 2 Saigon Airport Plaza – 1 Bach Dang, Ward 2 | Clothes, accessories, cosmetics, coffee, and tea |
| Local Markets | Tan Binh Market – 172-174M Ly Thuong Kiet, Ward 8 Bau Cat Market – 205 Nguyen Hong Dao, Ward 13 Hoang Hoa Tham Market – 19 Hoang Hoa Tham, Ward 13 Pham Van Hai Market – 128 Pham Van Hai, Ward 3 Tan Tru Market – 30 Nguyen Si Sach, Ward 15 Nghia Hoa Secondhand Market – Nghia Hoa Street, Ward 7 | Second-hand clothes, new clothes, local dishes, fruits |
Pham Van Hai Market and Tan Binh Market have a reputation for offering a wide variety of clothes, shoes, and accessories at incredibly cheap prices. Therefore, these markets attract many teenage girls and women shoppers. However, the vendors here often increase the price much more than it is supposed to be. You can challenge yourself by trying to make a bargain.
Other than clothes, these markets also offer very flavorful dishes, and of course at very affordable prices. You can experience the unique feeling of sitting on small plastic stools in the middle of the market and being surrounded by a constant flow of shoppers while enjoying your meals.
Pham Van Hai Market in Tan Binh District
Street food at Pham Van Hai Market
Nightlife in Tan Binh District
Similar to other districts in Ho Chi Minh City, the nightlife in Tan Binh District is very vibrant with numerous food stalls and restaurants. More than that, if you want to make full use of the night, there are also some beer clubs and bars with high-quality and good beer.
A night at a beer club in Tan Binh District
A night at Hoang Van Thu Park
Summary of Tan Binh District in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City is a metropolitan, and thus, there are many different aspects hidden in local markets and the outskirts like Tan Binh District. The whole city is waiting for you to discover. If you are new to this city, check out Saigon’s other side tour to see the unseen city.