Saigon: Exploring Food, Accommodation, and Transportation in 2025
I visited Saigon in April this year, spending a total of seven nights spread out, using it as a base to explore Dalat, Hanoi, and Thailand.
This post doesn't focus on the main tourist attractions in Saigon, as I've covered those in previous posts from 2017, 2019, and 2022!
Instead, it's all about food, accommodation, and getting around. (I've included some photos of Saigon from previous years below, featuring the Notre Dame Cathedral, Tan Dinh Church, the book street, and the Saigon Central Post Office.)
Where to Stay
For accommodation, I once again chose Paradise Boutique Hotel and Spa at 288 Le Thanh Ton Street, District 1. I like this hotel because of its great location (safe, close to Ben Thanh Market – about a 3-minute walk, and near a 24/7 convenience store like 7-Eleven selling drinks, fruit, and other essentials, very secure). The rooms aren't luxurious, but they're well-equipped, with comfortable beds and reasonable prices. If you enjoy swimming, they have a small but lovely rooftop pool with city views (just avoid eating or drinking there, as it's quite expensive).
I usually book a Premier twin beds room with a city view (shower or bathtub, your choice, same price) on floors 6, 7, or 8 to avoid noise, typically costing between $85 and $87 depending on the time of year. On my last night, April 25th, I had to pay a higher price of $103 including taxes due to the upcoming major holiday (this year, the government organized a huge celebration for the 50th anniversary of April 30th). The price includes a buffet breakfast, which is average but clean, with a good selection of Vietnamese and Western dishes. The dining room staff, including the manager, are very attentive and welcoming.
I researched many other hotels in District 1 and found that while some were cheaper (some as low as $50 or less), reviews from other guests revealed issues like noisy or ineffective air conditioning, water leaking onto the bathroom floor, uncomfortable beds, and so on.
Now that I'm older, I spend more time relaxing in the hotel, and having lived in America for over 40 years, I appreciate comfort and convenience.
As for hotels costing over $100, I find them a bit extravagant for a longer stay, though fine for a night or two! I consider myself middle class; I'm not rich, but I travel every year to many places so I can't overspend.
The hotel doesn't have laundry facilities, but there are several convenient laundry services nearby. Last year, I used "Dan's Wash & Stay" at 185/10 Pham Ngu Lao Street (self-service laundry). It's about a 10-15 minute walk from the hotel, or a Grab ride costing just over $1.
However, this time I discovered a much better laundry service that picks up and delivers laundry to my hotel for free within a 3 km radius. The prices are very reasonable. If I remember correctly, they picked up my laundry around 9 am and delivered it back around 5 pm. They sent me a photo of the weight (2 kg) via WhatsApp (phone on WhatsApp is 84-906-830-166; regular phone is 096830166). The name is T&H Laundry, located at 174/13 Ly Tu Trong Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1. When they delivered the laundry, I was very impressed with the service. Each item was folded individually, including underwear, placed in small plastic bags, and then put into a larger bag – extremely clean and organized. I've used laundry services in many countries around the world, including Italy, Spain, and Turkey (the most expensive, even though other costs like food and accommodation were cheap!), but I've never experienced such affordable prices and thorough service as here!
Washing and folding takes 24 hours at 45,000 VND/kg, or 8 hours at 65,000 VND/kg. They delivered my laundry earlier than expected, probably because they weren't busy that day. So, I only paid about $3, which was much easier and cheaper than doing it myself at Dan & Wash, as I wouldn't need to take four Grab rides to drop off and pick up my clothes after they were washed and dried (as I couldn't wait at the shop). Dan & Wash doesn't have air conditioning, and washing takes an hour, then drying another hour. Washing or drying costs 30,000 VND per load (about 2-3 kg). Because I'm cautious, I washed and dried three loads to be sure. I tipped the attendant 30,000 VND to put my clothes in the dryer and returned to the hotel immediately after dropping off the laundry. However, four Grab rides would cost about $6, and I'd still have to fold the clothes myself. Every time I leave the hotel, I'm sweating and want to change clothes! In short, T&H Laundry is cheaper and much more convenient! (However, they don't offer free pickup and delivery for orders under 2 kg.)
Where to Eat
I ate at the following places:
- Com Tam Ba Ghien: 84 Dang Van Ngu Street, Ward 10, Phu Nhuan District. This was the only place I found truly appetizing this time in Saigon (I've been experiencing a loss of appetite for a few months now, and am waiting for lab tests to see why!). Many friends in the group recommended other broken rice restaurants, but I was happy with this one and didn't try any others. I ate it so quickly that I didn't take a photo, so I'm posting a photo from last year instead. (The reason is that I couldn't find a Grab or taxi at Tan Son Nhat Airport because the day I returned from Thailand was April 25, 2025, close to the April 30th anniversary, so the rehearsals in District 1 blocked many roads. I had to take a Grab to my sister-in-law's house in Tan Binh District to stay temporarily. After eating com tam near my relative's house, I couldn't get a car back to the hotel in District 1 until 8:45 pm. Lesson learned: avoid returning to Saigon during major holidays!) The pork chop was very moist, tender, and delicious, grilled without being dry, but the portion was large, so it's better to share with two people. Order extra shredded pork skin and a small plate of rice.
- Thanh Giong Express: Serves Hue-style fresh shrimp banh beo, banh bot loc, and banh nam. Open from 9 am to 9:30 pm. Located at 2D Nguyen Huy Tu, Dakao, District 1. This new restaurant has the advantage that, upon request, they'll provide a dipping sauce without MSG. After eating there, my blood pressure wasn't high! I didn't particularly like the banh beo, but I thought the banh bot loc was delicious. They sell frozen banh to take away, but after checking the regulations on food allowed into the US, I didn't buy any.
- Hu Tieu Hong Phat: 391 Vo Van Tan Street, District 3. I ate here last year and found it clean, quite tasty, air-conditioned, and reasonably priced. It's been recommended by Michelin, so I ate here again.
- Banh Khot Co Ba Vung Tau: 40B Tran Cao Van, District 3. The restaurant is clean, but the banh khot wasn't as good as the Co Ba Vung Tau restaurant in Vung Tau that I ate at last year.
- Khai Phat: A noodle and wonton soup restaurant at 83 Yersin, Cau Ong Lanh Ward, District 1. The wontons are delicious, but the broth is salty and contains a lot of MSG. They said that if you want it less salty, you should mention it beforehand, and they won't add extra MSG!
- "Crab Noodle Soup with Crab Spring Rolls": Located at 94 Dinh Tien Hoang, District 1. Air-conditioned upstairs. Recommended by Michelin 2024. The crab noodle soup contains a lot of crab. The crab spring rolls and crab soup weren't good! They also have salted crab, tamarind crab, etc., but I didn't order any because my husband is having dental work done!
- Nam Giao Restaurant: At 139 Le Thanh Ton, Ben Thanh Ward. I ordered Hue cakes and banh it Tran. Drank coconut juice. The restaurant was crowded, and two hours after eating, I had diarrhea on the way to the airport! It was scary!
- Quan Bui: Located on Le Thanh Ton Street, District 1, very close to my hotel. The restaurant is clean, beautiful, and upscale, but the prices are a bit high. (Most of the customers are foreigners, and they give very little vegetables.) The bun cha Hanoi came with only two lettuce leaves; when I asked for more, they said one more leaf was okay, but more would cost extra! I told them that if they were selling to Vietnamese people, they shouldn't skimp on the vegetables, as fresh vegetables are cheap in Vietnam! When I threatened to write a review on Google Maps and travel websites to inform overseas Vietnamese, they gave me four more lettuce leaves for free!
- Pho Hoa: 260C Pasteur Street, District 3. The broth contains a lot of MSG. The spring rolls and fresh spring rolls weren't good.
Getting Around
I still use Grab to get around everywhere in Saigon. However, if you're flying into Tan Son Nhat Airport from another city, booking a Grab can be a bit complicated due to the new terminal (Terminal 3, I believe). You have to walk quite a distance to get outside, where the new electric green cars are located. That day, I was flying from Hanoi, and it was the first day they switched terminals, so there weren't clear instructions. I heard that in the near future, international flights will arrive at a new airport, which is much farther from Tan Son Nhat Airport!
Speaking of Tan Son Nhat Airport, this time the customs officers were efficient and didn't cause any problems for anyone. However, the lines are still long because the airport is always crowded!
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