Ho Chi Minh City’s long-awaited metro line opens up new ways to explore the vibrant streets, hidden gems, and culinary treasures of Saigon.

After seventeen years of construction Ho Chi Minh’s Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien Metro, offers a whole new opportunity to discover hidden parts of this vibrant city. Covering nearly 20 kilometers, with three underground and eleven elevated stations it’s expected to not only alleviate severe traffic congestion and make commuting within the city easier, but also introduce Saigonese and visitors to an array of new places.

Delve into some of the attractions, dining, and shopping opportunities when traversing Saigon via this transformative metro line. Simply tap your contactless card or smartphone—and go.

Ben Thanh Station

Ginkgo Concept Store Interior. — Ginkgo Concept Store interior.

Named after Saigon’s most iconic market, Ben Thanh is the first station on Ho Chi Minh City Metro Line 1. Close to the Museum of Fine Arts, the Independent Palace, and the War Remnant Museum. The underground station has a distinctive roof that brilliantly captures the image of a blooming lotus: Vietnam’s national flower.

While there, check out the Ginkgo Concept Store, just steps from the market, for comfortable and organic cotton clothing, featuring graphics that reflect the dynamic vibe of Saigon and Vietnam.

Waa Exterior. — Waa sells contemporary leatherware.

In the opposite direction, you can find another Saigon-born boutique: Waa. Studio, a white-washed shop focusing on contemporary leatherware created by local artisans, such as stylish sandals and bags. At the corner is Marou Flagship Store—one of the best places to savor locally crafted chocolate and chocolatey treats from premium cacao beans grown in Vietnam.

Bánh mì served fresh at Anan Saigon. — Banh mi served fresh at Anan Saigon.

Feeling hungry? Enjoy a culinary tour in An An – the first restaurant in Vietnam to achieve a Michelin Star. Chef Cuong Franklin, a Cordon Bleu alumni, has elevated street food to a fine dining experience using fresh local ingredients and French techniques. Think foie gras spring rolls, banh mi with A5 wagyu beef, a wide variety of pho, and the peculiar fish sauce ice cream. The restaurant stands in one of the city’s oldest and most popular wet markets and has an effortlessly cool and modern ambiance that you might associate with any brasserie in Paris.

Opera House Station

The Opera House Station is an ideal stop to explore the most popular French colonial architecture in Saigon, right in front of the Opera House, and just a short walk to City Hall, Notre Dame, and the Central Post.

As the most prestigious neighborhood in the city, big-box luxury brands re on almost every corner. There are local gems tucked away too. Lam Boutique offers a curated selection of relaxed women’s clothing. Hanoia, famous for its handcrafted lacquerware and ceramics, while Mekong Quilts is an NGO that promotes handmade quilts and other fabric products crafted by underprivileged artisans in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta and Cambodia.

*Left to right*: Flaky croissants from Ivoire; Lam Boutique interior.

Handcrafted charm awaits upstairs at Mekong Quilts. — Handcrafted charms await upstairs at Mekong Quilts.

Need to refuel? Walk over to Ivoire Pastry, a ‘sweet’ oasis behind the Opera House. Nothing can beat the sense of wonderment at how minuscule this patisserie is from the outside; and just how many delights it packs inside. Don’t leave without trying the Black Mandarin – a symphony of dark chocolate mousse and refreshing mandarin.

Hungry for more? Pay a visit to Monkey Gallery Dining. The chefs, or rather the artists, were all born in the Year of Monkey (1992), hence the name. Guests can enjoy a gastronomic journey in a minimalist lofty dining room. A central open kitchen serves as the heart of the gallery, where the artists imagine their creations.

Ba Son Station

Open kitchen action at Akuna Restaurant, Le Méridien’s culinary heart. — The open kitchen action at Akuna Restaurant, Le Méridien’s culinary heart.

Disembark at the Ba Son Station at the city’s old harbor, right by the Saigon River. From there, take a leisurely walk along the river back to the city center or cross the futuristic bridge for a stunning view of downtown. For history enthusiasts, the nearby History Museum offers a chance to delve into the roots and culture of Saigon and Vietnam.

Pizza 4P’s Le Thanh Ton Pizza with Burrata.

Hungry walkers will find plenty of options in nearby Little Japanese Town: a network of alleys lined with izakayas, ramen bars, and the first outpost of Pizza 4P. This Saigon-born pizzeria is known for its unique recipes using fresh local ingredients, including homemade cheese. Spend the evening watching the sun go down on the Saigon River at the Michelin-starred Akuna Restaurant at Le Meridien. Here, chef Sam Aisbett creates European dishes with Vietnamese influences. The nearby newly-opened Hilton Saigon also offers a spectacular view from its bar and restaurants.

Tan Cang Station

Breezy vibes and skyline views at Blank Sky Lounge’s alfresco terrace.

Tan Cang Station is below Vietnam’s highest skyscraper, the Landmark 81. The complex houses a range of shops and restaurants and sweeping views over the entire city. Among the delicacies offered here, Ussina on the 77th floor is the go-to for high-quality, flavorful aged beef cuts, including the premium snow aged wagyu from Japan. Climb a floor higher to Blank Sky: a lofty cafe and bar with a comprehensive menu of cocktails highlighting the flavors of Vietnamese herbs and ingredients.

Thao Dien Station

Immersive installations at Dogma Collection’s Radial System exhibition.

Shops, restaurants, art galleries, Thao Dien has it all. With the opening of the MRT, locals and visitors alike can access this area, which exudes a bohemian flair not visible in other districts.

Discover the quirky and curious, like Dogma: a private collection and exhibition space dedicated to visual arts collected from the years before and immediately after Vietnam’s unification in 1975. Check out OHQUAO (pronounced oh-wow)—a stationery brand run by a creative husband-wife duo who share a passion for paper goods.

When hunger strikes, venture along a path lined with bamboo trees to Tre Dining (tre means bamboo). The team cook a delicious feast over the charcoal grill and complement it with east-meets-west condiments. Meals are served in an elegant bamboo-clad room or an alfresco dining area covered by a beautiful bamboo roof.

A Metro-Fueled Guide to Discovering Hidden Saigon

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