Staying in Binh Tan: west Saigon and the gateway to the Mekong Delta

Who should stay in Binh Tan?

Binh Tan suits travellers heading to or coming back from the Mekong Delta who want to be close to the Western Bus Station, budget travellers, visitors staying with family in the west of the city, and business travellers with work in its industrial areas. Prices are among the lowest in the city.

The trade-offs are distance and atmosphere: District 1 is about 10 km away, 30 to 50 minutes by car depending on traffic, the district has no tourist sights, and its main roads are busy with trucks and buses. For sightseeing, the centre or Cho Lon is a better base.

Hotels and other places to stay in Binh Tan

The 32 properties listed in this zone are mostly hotels, with a few apartments. Most are simple one- to three-star hotels on the main roads, aimed at domestic travellers and business visitors, with a couple of four-star properties. Each listing gives the distance to the bus station and the airport, which is useful because the district is large.

Some small hotels do not serve breakfast, but street-food stalls and cafés are close by on every main street.

What is there to do in Binh Tan?

Binh Tan is a practical rather than a tourist district. The Western Bus Station is the busiest place, with buses leaving throughout the day for the provinces of the Mekong Delta. Aeon Mall Binh Tan, one of the large shopping centres of the west of the city, has a supermarket, restaurants, cinemas and play areas, and the district's markets offer cheap local food.

For sightseeing, the temples and markets of Cho Lon are 20 to 30 minutes away by car, and the centre 30 to 50 minutes.

How do you get to Binh Tan?

From Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Binh Tan is about 4 to 8 km away, a 20 to 40-minute ride depending on traffic. Ride-hailing cars and motorbike taxis are the usual way to get around, and city buses link the Western Bus Station with Cho Lon and the centre.

Metro Line 1 does not serve Binh Tan. For the Mekong Delta, buses leave from the Western Bus Station; check the departure times with the bus company the day before.

When is Binh Tan at its best?

Binh Tan is a year-round base for trips to the Mekong Delta. The dry season, from about December to April, is the best time for the Delta itself, while during the rainy season, from about May to November, heavy afternoon showers can slow traffic. Around Tet, the Lunar New Year in late January or February, the Western Bus Station is at its busiest as people travel to their home provinces: book tickets early.

Is Binh Tan a good base for the Mekong Delta?

Yes, if your plan starts with a bus. The Western Bus Station handles most public buses to the provinces south and west of Saigon, and staying nearby means you can catch an early departure without crossing the city at dawn. Buses to My Tho and Ben Tre take around two hours, and longer routes reach Can Tho, Chau Doc and Rach Gia; journey times depend heavily on traffic leaving the city, which is worst on Friday afternoons, at the start of public holidays and before Tet.

Many travellers prefer an organised day trip or a private car, which usually picks up in District 1, so Binh Tan makes most sense for independent travellers using public buses, for those arriving late from the Delta, and for visitors with family or business in the west of the city. The streets around the bus station are busy and commercial, with cheap eateries open from early morning, small shops selling snacks for the journey and plenty of motorbike taxis waiting for arriving passengers.

For a night before a long bus ride, look for a hotel within a short taxi ride of the station rather than on the busiest main road, and check in each listing whether the hotel has a 24-hour front desk, which helps with early departures and late arrivals. Keep valuables close in the crowds around the station, especially at peak times, and buy your ticket from the bus company's own counter rather than from touts.