Spend a day on busy Dong Khoi Street and hunt for luxury items in grand department stores, eat in classy cafés and marvel at beautiful examples of 19th-century architecture.
Get ready for a day of retail delights and explore the plazas, department stores and high-end chains of this thriving commercial district. Hunt for bargains on the latest electronic items or update your wardrobe in the fashion stores. Find global brands as well as stylish pieces by a number of local designers. Don’t miss the smaller, boutique stores tucked into the side streets where you can shop for unique souvenirs such as gorgeous silk embroidery.
As you make your way along the street, be sure to take time to appreciate the impressive array of beautiful architecture. At the southern end you’ll see the grand, arched entrance of the Opera House. The tall columns and pretty statues look especially impressive when lit up at night.
Find more cultural delights at the other end of the street adjacent to the government quarter. The Saigon Central Post Office was designed by the French architect Gustave Eiffel and the interior features painted maps of southern Vietnam. Examine the colourful mosaic that depicts that city in detail. Just across the road you will see the towering spires of the Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica.
When you get hungry, stop for lunch or a coffee in one of the many cafés. Return in the evening to sample modern interpretations of Vietnamese cuisine in the fashionable restaurants.
Dong Khoi Street is in District One in downtown Ho Chi Minh City. It runs approximately 0.6 miles (1 kilometre) from the crossroads at Nguyen Du Street to Ton Duc Thang Street. Use public buses to reach the area. Taxis are also reasonably priced. If you want to base yourself in the area, you’ll find many luxury hotels along the street.
