Staying in Binh Thanh: Landmark 81, riverside apartments and the metro

Who should stay in Binh Thanh?

Binh Thanh suits families, groups and longer stays who want a modern apartment with a pool, as well as travellers who like being close to the centre without the noise of District 1. The riverside towers of Vinhomes Central Park and the nearby buildings offer flats with kitchens, washing machines and shared pools and gyms, with a riverside park, malls and restaurants downstairs.

The trade-offs are that Binh Thanh has few historic sights, and much of it is residential; the old neighbourhoods inland are busy and local. District 1 is about 3 to 4 km away, a short metro ride or a 10 to 20-minute drive.

Apartments, aparthotels and hotels in Binh Thanh

The 170 properties listed in this zone are mostly apartments, followed by aparthotels and hotels, with a few homestays and guest houses. Many apartments are in the Vinhomes Central Park and Landmark complex, with river or skyline views from the upper floors, and there is a group of four- and five-star hotels and serviced apartments. Guest ratings are high, with a median of about 8.4 out of 10 on this site.

As a guide for 2026, rooms in Binh Thanh cost about 700,000 to 1,400,000 VND a night, and a ride-hailing car to District 1 costs about 40,000 to 70,000 VND. In apartment listings, check how check-in works, since many flats have no reception, and whether the building's pool is included.

What is there to do in Binh Thanh?

Landmark 81 dominates the skyline with its observation deck and its mall at the base, and the Vinhomes Central Park riverside park, with lawns, paths along the river and play areas, is one of the city's most popular places for an evening walk. The Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden is just across the canal in District 1.

Inland, Ba Chieu Market and the Le Van Duyet Temple are traditional landmarks of the old Gia Dinh area, and the streets around them are full of local eateries. Binh Quoi, on the river in the north of the district, has riverside restaurants and gardens. District 1's sights are a few minutes away by metro.

How do you get to Binh Thanh?

From Tan Son Nhat International Airport, about 3 to 6 km away, the ride takes 20 to 35 minutes depending on traffic. Within the city, Metro Line 1 stops at Van Thanh and Tan Cang, both in Binh Thanh, and reaches Ben Thanh in District 1 in a few minutes, or Thao Dien and Thu Duc in the other direction, for about 7,000 to 20,000 VND a ride, from 05:00 to 22:00.

Ride-hailing cars and motorbike taxis are the usual way to reach the rest of the city; a car to District 1 costs about 40,000 to 70,000 VND and takes 10 to 20 minutes outside the rush hours.

When is Binh Thanh at its best?

The dry season, from about December to April, is the best time for the riverside park and evening walks along the river. During the rainy season, from about May to November, the afternoon showers are short, and the malls and apartment pools offer a break from the heat. Around Tet, the Lunar New Year in late January or February, the riverside park and Landmark 81 host decorations and fireworks.

What is life like in the Vinhomes and Landmark area?

The riverside part of Binh Thanh is a city within the city. Vinhomes Central Park is a complex of residential towers set around a large park on the Saigon River, with paths, lawns, play areas and views across the water, and the Landmark 81 tower at its edge has a mall, restaurants, cafés and a supermarket on its lower floors. Many residents are young professionals and foreign workers, and the area has international restaurants, coffee chains, gyms and convenience stores at the foot of the towers.

For visitors renting an apartment here, daily life is easy: shops and cafés are downstairs, the riverside park is the place for morning runs and evening walks, and the building pools and gyms are usually available to guests. The metro station at Tan Cang is a short walk from much of the complex, so District 1 is quickly reached without dealing with traffic.

The older parts of Binh Thanh, inland around Ba Chieu Market and the Le Van Duyet Temple, are very different: busy, local and full of street food, a short ride from the towers. Combining both gives a good picture of how Saigon is changing, from traditional neighbourhoods to new high-rise districts within a couple of kilometres.