THE CHINATOWN IN SAIGON

China Town, or Chinatown in District 5 has brought a unique color to the magnificent land of Saigon. If you are planning to travel to Sai Gon, surely you have heard about Chinatown - the Chinese area of District 5. After hundreds of years, this is still a place that preserves the beauty of architectural culture, cuisine, beliefs of the Chinese in Saigon.

1. Introduction to China Town

China Town (or Chinatown) is a noun used to refer to an area where Chinese people concentrate. Therefore, Chinatown is also called Chinatown. This place has characteristics of architecture, culture, beliefs, history, activities,... of the Chinese people.

China Town is present in almost every country in the world, including Chinatown Bangkok (Thailand), Chinatown New York (USA), Chinatown San Francisco (USA), Chinatown Singapore (Singapore) and even Chinatown in Saigon (Vietnam). Chinatown is considered by Chinese people to be their second home in a foreign land.

Where is China Town?

In Saigon, Chinese people live mainly in Districts 5, 6 and 11. However, when mentioning China Town Ho Chi Minh, everyone thinks of Cho Lon neighborhood in District 5 (5.4km from Ben Thanh market).

Chinese people (mainly Chaozhou and Fujian people) have lived in China Town, District 5 since the 18th century until now. In the 1950s, up to 90% of the population here were Chinese. Up to now, only about 60% of Chinese people continue to settle here. Most Chinese people in District 5 speak Vietnamese as well as native Saigon people.

Coming to this place, visitors will admire architectural works such as assembly halls, pagodas,... with Chinese characteristics. In front of every house, people often hang red Chinese lanterns. As for businesses, the shop's signs all have two unique Vietnamese and Chinese characters. This is the point to know whether you have stepped into Chinatown or not!

2. What is interesting about Chinatown in Saigon China Town?

Coming to Chinatown, visitors can visit attractive places such as:

2.1. Thien Hau pagoda

Address: 710 Nguyen Trai, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City.

Unlike Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, which represents traditional Vietnamese architecture, Ba Thien Hau Pagoda has unique Chinese architecture. The pagoda was built in 1760, and despite many years of sun and rain, it still retains its beauty from centuries ago. This temple is famous for being sacred, crowded with visitors wishing to pray for love, peace, fortune,...

2.2. Ha Chuong Assembly Hall in China Town

Address: 802 Nguyen Trai, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City.

This is a unique project in China Town Saigon that visitors should not miss. Ha Chuong Assembly Hall is also known as Chuong Chau Assembly Hall or Ong Huoc Pagoda, Ba Ha Chuong Pagoda. This project has Chinese temple-style architecture with unique and elaborate wood, stone and tile sculptures.

2.3. Luong Nhu Hoc lantern street

Address: Luong Nhu Hoc Street, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City.

This place is considered a prosperous place with luxury shops that have a Hong Kong look similar to the nearby Hao Si Phuong alley. On major holidays such as Lunar New Year, Lunar New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival,... both sides of the street will be filled with colorful lanterns, making the space more jubilant and magical.

2.4. Binh Tay market 

Binh Tay Wholesale Market is located in the Cho Lon area, so it is also unofficially called Cho Lon (China Town). This is one of the oldest markets in Saigon and has a history of nearly 100 years.

This Market is located on an area of 25,000 m2 between 4 routes: Thap Muoi - Le Tan Ke - Phan Van Khoe - Tran Binh (District 6), with 12 gates, eight trigram-shaped architecture, built in 1928 by a Chinese businessman and completed in 1930. In 2015, the market was recognized as an architectural and artistic relic in Ho Chi Minh City. The market has been renovated many times and given new clothes.

3. Suggest delicious dishes and delicious restaurants in China Town

If you are wondering what to eat in Sai Gon, especially in Chinatown, you can refer to the following suggestions:

3.1. Dong Nguyen China Town chicken rice

This is a famous chicken rice restaurant in District 5, where many Chinese people come to eat. The restaurant's chicken rice dish is made from chicken, so the meat is chewy and the skin is crispy, not as friable as industrial chicken. Other dishes here such as pha lau rice, char siu rice, evil chicken soup with five fruits,... are also very delicious.

Address:

801 Nguyen Trai, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City

53 Ha Huy Tap, Tan Phong Ward, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City

Reference opening hours: 9:00 - 20:30;

Reference price: 45,000 - 250,000 VND/dish.

3.2. Che Hoa - Ha Ky sweet soup shop

Chinese tea has ingredients and flavors that are very different from Vietnamese tea. Anyone who comes to China Town and doesn't try Chinese desserts will be making a huge mistake. Types of sweet soup you must try here include: chicken seed sweet soup, tonic ginseng, high linseed,... The snacks in Sai Gon are all mildly sweet, cool and good for health.

Address: 136 - 138 Chau Van Liem, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City;

Reference opening hours: 10:00 - 22:30;

Reference price: 25,000 - 45,000 VND/dish.

3.3. Dimsum Baoz China Town

This cute little breakfast dish is no longer strange to Chinese food lovers. Coming to Chinatown, of course you should not miss this dish. Visitors can visit Baoz Dimsum Restaurant to enjoy delicious dishes such as black vinegar wontons, Sichuan fish heads, glass dumplings, crab brick shumai, crab claws,...

Address:

82 - 88 Nguyen Tri Phuong, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City

299 Le Dai Hanh, Ward 13, District 11, Ho Chi Minh City

190 Hong Bang, Ward 12, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City

Reference opening hours: 6:30 - 22:30;

Reference price: 60,000 - 350,000 VND/dish.

Chinatown is not simply an attractive tourist destination but also a place for visitors to better understand the culture and history of Saigon, and the harmony between Vietnamese and Chinese colors. Come here to discover a different cultural color right in the land of Vietnam!