Nguyen Hue Walking Street: What to Do Day and Night

Nguyen Hue Walking Street is the pedestrian boulevard at the heart of downtown Ho Chi Minh City, in the area long known as District 1 and, since the July 2025 ward merger, part of Saigon Ward. It runs from the People’s Committee Building (City Hall) down towards the Saigon River. Locals gather here on warm evenings, the city celebrates its biggest holidays here, and it is the easiest place to start exploring things to do near Nguyen Hue. This guide covers its history, the stops worth making along the street, what to do nearby, and where to stay within walking distance.

1. A short history of Nguyen Hue Boulevard

Nguyen Hue Boulevard started life as Kinh Lon, the Grand Canal that linked the old Saigon Citadel to the Saigon River. After the French took Saigon in the 19th century, the quays along the canal were named after Léonard Charner, the French admiral who commanded the naval forces in the Far East in 1860–1861. The canal was filled in during 1886–1887 and became Boulevard Charner.

Through the late 19th and early 20th centuries the boulevard filled up with landmark buildings, and in the mid-1950s it was renamed Nguyen Hue Boulevard. In April 2015 its central strip reopened as Ho Chi Minh City’s first pedestrian street, roughly 670 metres long and 64 metres wide, with traffic lanes still running along both sides. On some weekend evenings and major holidays those side lanes are closed to vehicles too, which widens the space and draws even bigger crowds.

2. Nguyen Hue Walking Street today

From a canal to a boulevard, and now a pedestrian zone in the heart of the city, Nguyen Hue walking street offers a unique blend of history, culture, and modernity. What truly sets the pedestrian street apart from other nightlife destinations in Ho Chi Minh City is its unique ambience. The street is kept alive with many different types of street performers, from pop-art to B-boy, acoustic bands or magicians. 

Many restaurants and cafés line the street. Coffee is not just a drink in Vietnam but part of daily culture, so you will find coffee shops on both sides, from upscale venues to street vendors, each serving cà phê sữa đá in its own style.

Nguyen Hue Walking Street is also where the city comes together for public events. Visit when the Vietnam national football team plays a big match, or on holidays such as Reunification Day (30 April), National Day (2 September) and New Year’s Eve, and you will feel the energy of the city at its loudest.

During the Lunar New Year festival, the street turns into Nguyen Hue Flower Street (Đường hoa Nguyễn Huệ). For about a week around Tết it is decorated with large flower displays and open only to pedestrians, a tradition that began in 2004.

3. Must-visit spots on Nguyen Hue Walking Street

3.1 People’s Committee Building (City Hall)

Lonely Planet calls the People’s Committee Building “one of the city’s most prominent landmarks”, and it is the natural place to start exploring Nguyen Hue Walking Street from its northwestern end. Known as City Hall, the building was constructed between 1902 and 1908 and was originally called the Hôtel de Ville.

Visitor note (updated October 2026): the guided tours of the interior that the city introduced in late 2023 were suspended in January 2025 for renovation work, and no regular reopening schedule has been announced. The building has occasionally opened its doors around Reunification Day (29–30 April), so check local news before you go. Otherwise, admire the façade from the square in front, especially after dark when it is lit up.

3.2 Café Apartment Building

The Café Apartment Building at 42 Nguyen Hue is a unique blend of modern and retro styles. Built in the 1960s, this nine-storey apartment block has gone through many transformations over the years.

Today, it houses a vibrant array of independent cafes, workshops, boutique fashion stores, and co-working spaces. Nestled along Nguyen Hue Walking Street, it has become a popular destination for visitors seeking a lively atmosphere and creative experiences.

Because the building was originally an apartment block, the layout is not what you would expect from a commercial venue. The entrance to the upper floors is a narrow doorway to the left of the Fahasa bookstore. You can take the stairs to every floor, or pay a small fee (around VND 3,000–5,000) to use the lift; many cafés deduct it from your bill if you show the ticket. For a floor-by-floor guide, see our Café Apartment guide to 42 Nguyen Hue.

3.3 Saigon Garden

Opposite the Café Apartment, at 99 Nguyen Hue, Saigon Garden calls itself “a little piece of garden in the city’s heart” and is easy to spot from afar thanks to its hanging greenery set against an industrial-style structure.

The small complex mixes cafés, restaurants and shops in an open, green setting, which makes it a pleasant place to sit down between stops. Tenants change from time to time, so check what is open before planning a meal here.

3.4 Ho Chi Minh City’s State Treasury  

Many works on Nguyen Hue walking street still maintain their ancient and modern features, confirming the historical value of old Saigon. In addition to the City Hall building, the municipal State Treasury is the second building that still preserves basic features of French colonial architecture.

Historically, Saigon’s first central market stood on this stretch of the canal bank, where the State Treasury and the Bitexco Financial Tower behind it stand today. The market closed in 1914 when the new Ben Thanh market opened, and the treasury building later took over the site.

The building is not open to the public, however, visitors can observe its architecture from outside, and feel the French colonial period still lives in the city until now.

3.5 Bach Dang Wharf Park and the Saigon River

Nguyen Hue Walking Street runs from City Hall down towards the Saigon River. At the river end, cross Ton Duc Thang Street carefully at the pedestrian crossing to reach Bach Dang Wharf Park on the riverbank.

Bach Dang Wharf Park covers about 18,600 square metres and is divided into two areas: the Thu Ngu flagpole area and the rest of the park. The Thu Ngu flagpole was first built in October 1865 at the meeting point of the Ben Nghe canal and the Saigon River, opposite Nha Rong wharf. It worked as a signal for ships entering and leaving Nha Rong port, and told vessels travelling on the river where to stop so they would not drift on towards Can Gio or Vung Tau.

The park’s layout is inspired by the lotus flower, with soft petal-shaped lawns and grey stone walkways. Lined with cafés, it is a popular hangout place for local families and a romantic meeting point for couples.

If the river is what draws you, Silverland Jolie Hotel on Thi Sach Street makes a convenient base: it is about 700 m on foot from Nguyen Hue Walking Street, and its 10th-floor Rooftop Garden Bar looks out over the Saigon River.

4. Things to do near Nguyen Hue Walking Street

Nguyen Hue sits in the middle of Saigon’s most walkable area, so it is easy to combine with other sights on the same evening. Some of the best things to do near Nguyen Hue:

• Stroll Dong Khoi Street, the colonial-era shopping street one block east, lined with boutiques, galleries and cafés between the Saigon Opera House and the river.
• See the Saigon Opera House at the top of Dong Khoi Street, a short walk from City Hall.
• Shop and snack at Ben Thanh Market, reached by walking down Le Loi Boulevard.
• Eat your way along Ho Tung Mau, Mac Thi Buoi, Ngo Duc Ke and Nguyen Thiep, small streets packed with restaurants. See our guide on where to eat in District 1.
• Watch the sunset over the Saigon River from Bach Dang Wharf Park or a riverside rooftop bar.
• Climb the Café Apartment at 42 Nguyen Hue for coffee with a view down the walking street.

Want more ideas? Browse our list of the top things to do in Ho Chi Minh City.

5. Visiting tips: when to go

In the daytime the wide paved street has little shade and gets very hot, so it is fairly quiet. It comes alive after sunset, when families, students and street performers fill the promenade.

To enjoy the atmosphere and see the buildings lit up, visit Nguyen Hue Walking Street in the evening. Weekend nights and public holidays are the busiest, so keep your phone and wallet close in the crowds.

6. Where to stay near Nguyen Hue Walking Street

All four hotels below belong to Silverland Hospitality and are within walking distance of the street. Choose by what you want closest: Dong Khoi and five-star service, the Saigon River, Ben Thanh Market, or a big rooftop pool.

The Myst Dong Khoi Hotel

The Myst Dong Khoi is a 5-star, 108-room hotel at 6–8 Ho Huan Nghiep Street, just off Dong Khoi Street and about 150 m from Nguyen Hue Walking Street. Step inside and you enter a timeless space, where ylang-ylang-scented air cools your skin and stained-glass details, wrought-iron roses and cherished local artefacts recall Saigon’s storied past. In 2025 it was named the global winner in the Luxury Cultural Hotel category of the World Luxury Hotel Awards.

Silverland Jolie Hotel

Silverland Jolie Hotel is a 4-star, French Colonial-style boutique hotel at 4D Thi Sach Street, Saigon Ward, close to the Saigon River and about 700 m on foot from Nguyen Hue Walking Street (400 m from the Saigon Opera House). Around 15 of its 66 rooms look out over the river, including Flow Executive rooms from the 4th floor up, and the Jolie Rooftop Garden Bar on the 10th floor overlooks the water (open 10:00–23:00). Afternoon tea with live piano is served from 14:00 to 16:00. The rooftop has an outdoor jacuzzi, not a swimming pool. Jolie won two World Luxury Hotel Awards in 2025.

Silverland Ben Thanh Hotel

Silverland Ben Thanh Hotel is a 4-star, 109-room boutique hotel 50 m from Ben Thanh Market, with an infinity pool on the 12th floor. Its design avoids showy luxury: think breezy corridors, asymmetric shapes, tall windows and fabric-patchwork artworks inspired by the outfits of the women who work in the market stalls next door. Nguyen Hue Walking Street is an easy walk away along Le Loi Boulevard.

Silverland Mây Hotel

Silverland Mây Hotel is a 4-star, 144-room boutique hotel in Saigon’s Japan Town, made for couples on a mid-range budget. Taking its name from the Vietnamese word for cloud, it pairs modern architecture with soft natural accents, and its Maya rooftop pool (150 m², open 08:00–23:00) is the largest pool among Silverland Hospitality hotels.

As the vibrant energy of Nguyen Hue Walking Street fades into the night, the memories of its captivating sights, sounds, and experiences will linger long after your visit. From its rich historical past to its dynamic present, this iconic promenade has become the heart and soul of Ho Chi Minh City, pulsating with the rhythm of a city that never sleeps.

7. FAQs about Nguyen Hue Walking Street

Where is Nguyen Hue Walking Street?

It is in downtown Ho Chi Minh City, in Saigon Ward (formerly part of District 1). The pedestrian street runs from the People’s Committee Building (City Hall) towards the Saigon River, parallel to Dong Khoi Street.

When is the best time to visit Nguyen Hue Walking Street?

After sunset. During the day the street has little shade and is very hot; in the evening it fills with families, street performers and lights, and weekend nights and public holidays are the liveliest.

What are the best things to do near Nguyen Hue?

Walk Dong Khoi Street and see the Saigon Opera House, have coffee in the Café Apartment at 42 Nguyen Hue, watch the river from Bach Dang Wharf Park, eat along Ho Tung Mau and Ngo Duc Ke, and visit Ben Thanh Market via Le Loi Boulevard.

Which hotels are closest to Nguyen Hue Walking Street?

The Myst Dong Khoi (5-star) at 6–8 Ho Huan Nghiep Street is about 150 m away, just off Dong Khoi Street. Silverland Jolie Hotel (4-star) at 4D Thi Sach Street is about 700 m away, close to the Saigon River, with around 15 river-view rooms.