Pham Ngu Lao Street Tours
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Ho Chi Minh City’s answer to Bangkok’s Khao San Road, Pham Ngu Lao Street boasts dozens of affordable guesthouses, cheap pubs, and backpacker-focused restaurants. In fact, Saigonese know it simply as the backpacker district. Despite the noise, traffic, and chaos, Phạm Ngũ Lão is a mecca for travelers looking to experience Saigon’s unfiltered energy.
The Basics
In the heart of District 1, within walking distance of Ben Thanh Market and the War Remnants Museum, Pham Ngu Lao is a favorite destination for travelers on a budget. Even if you’re not staying here, you might find yourself visiting for the cheap-beer stalls, high-energy backpacker nightclubs, or affordable international fare.
Most Ho Chi Minh City tours eschew the charms of Pham Ngu Lao Street. Thanks to the quantity of accommodation here, however, it’s a stop on HCMC hop-on hop-off bus tours.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Visiting—or staying in—Pham Ngu Lao Street is a great way for younger, solo backpackers to meet other backpackers.
- Drive-by bag snatchings can be an issue on Pham Ngu Lao—don’t use your phone close to the sidewalk edge, and walk holding your bag on the side away from the road.
- The best way to help Saigon’s street kids, who are often trafficked, is to donate to a charity that looks after them, such as Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation.
How to Get There
Pham Ngu Lao Street is in the center of Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1, close to the Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum, and other attractions. The 109 shuttle bus stops at Pham Ngu Lao Street on its way from the airport, about 6 miles (9 kilometers) away. It’s about 2 miles (3 kilometers) from the train station, a journey best made by taxi or motorbike taxi.
When to Get There
Lively street life coupled with pavement cafés and bars give Pham Ngu Lao its energy, so you’re best off visiting during dry season, roughly November through April. That’s particularly true if you’re staying in the street’s budget guesthouses, as Pham Ngu Lao Street accommodation tends to have extremely limited communal space.
The Original Pham Ngu Lao
Pham Ngu Lao may be a byword for backpacker misbehavior and curbside drinking nowadays, but it takes its name from a Vietnamese hero. The original Phạm Ngũ Lão (1255–1320) was a Vietnamese general who beat back the forces of the Mongol and Chinese emperor Kublai Khan. He’s worshipped as a god in some parts of Vietnam, and most cities have a street (or two) named after him.
Address: Pham Ngu Lao Street, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
7 Tours and Activities to Experience Pham Ngu Lao Street
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Hop-on Hop-off Tours24H Ho Chi Minh City HOP-ON HOP-OFF RED BUS TOUR
See the sights of Ho Chi Minh City your way on a hop-on hop-off bus tour that allows you to create your own personalized sightseeing itinerary. Ideal for first-time visitors and travelers with limited time, this flexible tour option means you can disembark the bus whenever an attraction captures your attention. Your ticket also includes an evening bus tour of Ho Chi Minh City, which reveals a different side to attractions when they’re illuminated by night.
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- 1 hour
- Free Cancellation
From
$15.39
Luxury ToursSECRET street FOOD TOUR by locals ( walking and meet new friends )
THE BEST THING IN THIS CITY IS FOOD :))
Our guides will show you around the city to see just the hustle and bustle of this busy city.
It is just a perfect time when everybody has finished their day at work and are ready for the night life.
We are heading to one of Ho Chi Minh city’s very famous streets, to emerge ourself in the crowd of locals. Enjoy a glass of local drinks.
Keep walking around to enjoy the city view stopping at a local resstaurant to taste local food
Food is changing every night, but we will stop around 5 places to try fill food and light food.
We will try 5 of the food below:
- Bo La Lot
- Bun Thit Nuong
- Com tam
- Local milk
- Snack rice Wine
- Banana grill coconut juice
- coconut ice cream
- Doremon cake
- Vietnamese Pizza
- Banh cuon
- Bot chien
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- 2 to 3 hours
- Free Cancellation
From
$12.47
Price varies by group size
Hiking & CampingCity private tour by car
If you really want to spend happy moments exploring beautiful Ho Chi Minh City with your family members or friends on a private space with fully-equipped convenient services and latest amenities, especially when kids are also joining the trip, Ho Chi Minh City Tour by Car is absolutely yours!
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- 4 to 6 minutes
- Free Cancellation
From
$49.04
Price varies by group size
Overnight Tours2 Days Private Non-Touristic Local Homestay in Tra On: Mekong Delta
While a day trip from Ho Chi Minh City to the Mekong Delta is possible, a longer trip is necessary to truly take in everything that the interconnected rivers and islands have to offer. This 2-day luxury tour gives travelers the chance to stay at a riverside cottage while spending their days venturing into nature and enjoying local attractions.
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- 2 days
- Free Cancellation
From
$194.88
Private Sightseeing ToursPrivate Night Tour in Saigon with a Local
Spend an evening out in Ho Chi Minh City on this 2.5-hour tour with a private guide who shows you some of the city's main sights and local hotspots. Join the residents of Saigon as they come out for the night, admiring the city in a different light. You'll visit a cafe, night market, and more. A coffee drink and street food tasting are included.
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- 2 hours 30 minutes
From
$30.59
Price varies by group size
Half-day ToursPrivate Saigon Motorbike City tour
Real local town along Saigon River
Venerable Thich Quang Duc Monument & Saigon oldest building
Saigon Best Flower Market
Central of China town – Temple
Typical expat area, known as Japanese & Korean town.
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- 4 hours
- Free Cancellation
From
$40.00
Bike & Mountain Bike ToursCycling to CuChi tunnels - single track ride along Saigon river.
The single trail cycling along Saigon river brings you back to the old time of LaiThieu and BinhDuong, wandering on dirt track to old terra-cotta villages of LaiThieu and ThuDauMot area. Passing ancient temples, hand made pottery local houses, Chinese pagoda and rural countryside scenery of BinhDuong province. Then we have local ferry crossing Saigon river to visit CuChi tunnels.
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- 6 to 8 hours
- Free Cancellation
From
$107.70
Price varies by group size
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