Is there another part of Saigon you would consider cooler?
TimeOut, a well-known culture website, recently published a list of what it considers the 40 coolest neighborhoods in the world, and Saigon's own Binh Thanh District made the list.
According to the article, the area "is a standout corner of frenetic Ho Chi Minh City. It's easy to get lost in its maze of alleyways, but that's a good thing: the atmosphere is electric, locals friendly and tourists few."
It pays particular attention to the area around Pham Viet Chanh Street, which has grown in recent years into a smaller, less massage parlor-focused version of District 1's Japanese area. An eclectic range of bars, cafes and restaurants has also appeared there, with shout-outs given to Sushi Nhi, Captain Phook, Birdy, Cafe Tartine and Cafe Co.
The Binh Thanh skyline with Landmark 81 in the distance.
Landmark 81 and Van Thanh Park, an old favorite for green space in the district, receive mentions as well.
Other neighborhoods in Asia that were spotlighted include Sham Shui Po in Hong Kong, Shanghai's Shaanxi Bei Lu, Hannam-dong in Seoul, and Bangkok's Chula-Samyan.
This is not the first time TimeOut has featured a Saigon neighborhood in its ranking. Last year, District 3 placed 18th in its list of the world's top 50 must-visit neighborhoods and landmarks like Turtle Lake and Tan Dinh Church were singled out as the district's most fascinating places of interest.
