Where to Go in the Festive Season? Stay Near Japan Town and Choose Silverland Sil

The end-of-year festive season of 2026 and Tet 2027 bring many events to central Saigon. This guide suggests an easier way to travel: stay near Japan Town for convenient dining and getting around, and choose Silverland Sil, a 78-room, 4-star hotel near Japan Town Saigon, at 20-22-24 Thai Van Lung Street.

Where to travel in the festive season

During the holidays, many of Saigon’s best-known places are very busy. According to VOH, during the 2025 Christmas season Nguyen Hue Walking Street and the Dong Khoi, Le Duan and Hai Ba Trung routes recorded large numbers of locals and visitors. The New Year 2027 countdown is planned from 28 to 31 December 2026 at Nguyen Hue, according to Thanh Nien. The official Tet holiday for civil servants and public employees runs from 4 to 10 February 2027, according to Notice 11483/TB-BNV. More detail is in Silverland Sil at Year-End 2026, New Year 2027 and Tet 2027.

For that reason, rather than staying in the busiest spot itself, you may want to consider an area close to the centre but easier to get around. There are three criteria worth considering: restaurants within easy reach so you do not have to go far, a neighbourhood you can explore on foot, and easy onward travel to the festive attractions when you want it. Japan Town meets all three.

Japan Town: easy dining and a familiar Asian atmosphere

Japan Town sits in the alleys between Le Thanh Ton Street and Thai Van Lung Street in District 1, and is less than 2 km long, according to VnExpress. The article mentions around 70 shops, including restaurants, spas and other businesses, with dishes such as ramen, takoyaki, sashimi, sushi and mochi. It was published in 2017, so the figures may have changed. VnExpress describes the atmosphere of the area as cosy, small and quiet.

Vietnam Airlines points to entrances at alley 15B Le Thanh Ton and alley 8 Thai Van Lung, and mentions relaxed izakaya for winding down in the evening, along with chochin lanterns. For travellers who love food and an Asian atmosphere, this is a place where it is easy to choose a dish and to eat right in the neighbourhood without going far.

Exploring the area: a few suggestions

On your first evening, you can wander the alleys of Japan Town and pick a small restaurant for dinner. On another early evening, you can visit Notre-Dame Cathedral of Saigon to see the Christmas lights. In 2025, Tuoi Tre reported that the cathedral was lit with LED lighting, open from 18:45 every day until late.

Nguyen Hue Walking Street suits you if you want to feel the festive atmosphere, especially during the countdown from 28 to 31 December 2026 and the Tet Dinh Mui 2027 flower street. So far, only the concept design for the flower street has been approved, and no opening date has been announced. Check a map to choose the route that suits your group.

Getting around: staying in the area keeps everything closer

Sil is on Thai Van Lung Street, Sai Gon Ward, in the former District 1 city centre. This is the city’s well-known Japan Town, where you can walk to small Japanese restaurants in the evening without booking a car.

When you want to go further, you can book a ride-hailing car from the hotel entrance or walk, depending on the distance. During the holidays, roads around festive attractions can be busier than usual, so check a map beforehand and choose a time that avoids the peak hours.

Why choose Silverland Sil as your hotel near Japan Town Saigon

Sil is a 4-star hotel with 78 rooms, located right in Japan Town. The hotel focuses on what matters for a longer trip: an early breakfast from 05:30, a relaxation area that opens at midday, and a location that lets you explore on foot. Sil does not have a swimming pool; instead, it has an onsen jacuzzi.

On cost, Sil aims to keep prices affordable, even during the year-end and early-year period when room rates rise. The exact rate depends on your travel dates and the room category, so please contact the hotel directly for the rate for your stay. There are three things you can count on at Sil: dining (SILK Restaurant is open from 05:30 to 20:30), getting around (a location in Japan Town, easy to walk and to book rides from) and exploring (the suggestions above). The sections below cover relaxation, dining and rooms in more detail.

Relaxing at Sil: onsen jacuzzi, sauna, hydrotherapy and KL Spa

The biggest difference at Sil is the relaxation area on the 6th floor of Block B. It includes an onsen jacuzzi, sauna and hydrotherapy, open from 12:00 to 22:00. KL Spa is also on the 6th floor of Block B and keeps the same hours, 12:00 to 22:00.

Because the relaxation area opens at midday, you can check in at 14:00, rest for a while, then head up to unwind before dinner. After a day of walking, this is a gentle way to rest without going out again.

One note, so you can choose the right place: Sil does not have a swimming pool. Instead there is an onsen jacuzzi, which suits guests who would rather soak and relax than swim. If a pool is a priority for your group, please consider this before booking.

A soak and a massage are a familiar way to rest after a long day. You can ask the front desk about the KL Spa schedule when you check in, especially during busy periods such as the end of the year and Tet.

Dining: an early breakfast and a rooftop bar

SILK Restaurant on the ground floor serves from 05:30 to 20:30. Breakfast is from 05:30 to 09:30, the all-day menu from 06:00 to 20:30 and afternoon tea from 15:00 to 17:00. A breakfast that starts at 05:30 is convenient for guests with early flights or early tour departures.

Sil Rooftop Bar on the 6th floor of Block B is open from 10:00 to 22:00, a pleasant spot for a light drink before you turn in. Room service runs from 06:00 to 20:30, with last orders at 20:00.

If you return after 20:30, plan to have dinner out beforehand or ask the front desk about options near the hotel.

Rooms: how to choose a category

Sil has 78 rooms in 7 categories: Superior (No Window), Deluxe Twin (No Window), Boutique Double, Executive Double, Signature, The Gallery Suite and Family Triple. Check-in is at 14:00 and check-out is at 12:00.

To avoid any surprise, please note that the Superior and Deluxe Twin categories are rooms without windows. If natural light is important to you, choose another category and confirm with the hotel when you book.

Rooms come with a minibar, air conditioning, a 40-inch IPTV, cable television, an in-room safe, housekeeping, premium bathroom amenities and high-speed internet. The gym on the 8th floor of Block A is open from 06:00 to 22:00.

According to the hotel’s official page, Family Triple (37 to 40 m2) accommodates 2 to 3 guests, while Boutique Double (16 m2) and The Gallery Suite (29 m2) are for 2 guests. Please tell the hotel the number of guests and your bed requirements when you book.

Booking direct and preparing for the holidays

You can contact the reservations team at [email protected] or call (+84) 28 3823 9922. For payment support and VAT invoices, please email [email protected].

When you get in touch, let the hotel know your arrival date, departure date, flight time, number of guests and preferred room category. This helps the hotel arrange things properly, especially during busy periods.

If you are planning for Christmas, the countdown from 28 to 31 December 2026 or Tet 2027, read more in Silverland Sil at Year-End 2026, New Year 2027 and Tet 2027. It covers the Tet holiday calendar and year-end events to help you choose the right arrival date.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• VnExpress, Japan Town in the heart of Saigon, 21 July 2017
• Vietnam Airlines, Saigon Japan Town guide
• Tuoi Tre, churches sparkling in the Christmas season, 18 December 2025
• VOH, Warm Noel in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, 25 December 2025
• Silverland Sil, hotel page
• Thanh Nien, countdown 28 to 31 December, 9 November 2026
• Ha Tinh Province Portal, Notice 11483/TB-BNV, 9 October 2026