Not Bui Vien or Ta Hien: UK Magazine Names This Ho Chi Minh City Neighborhood Vietnam’s “Coolest”

When it comes to vibrant nightlife in Vietnam, many would think of Bui Vien Street in Ho Chi Minh City or Ta Hien Street in Hanoi. But in a surprise twist, British travel magazine Time Out has ranked another area in central Ho Chi Minh City as Vietnam’s most exciting neighborhood in its “39 Coolest Neighborhoods in the World 2025” list.

Global Survey of the World’s Best Neighborhoods

For eight consecutive years, Time Out has highlighted the world’s most dynamic districts—places where nightlife, food, culture, art, and community thrive together. This year’s ranking was based on surveys of local experts across the globe, assessing factors such as livability, creativity, affordability, dining, and street life.

Among the 39 selected neighborhoods worldwide, Vietnam’s entry came in at No. 11. Surprisingly, it wasn’t the tourist-packed Bui Vien or Ta Hien, but a quieter, more historic area just outside the East Gate of Ben Thanh Market: the Nguyen Thai Binh Ward area.

Nguyen Thai Binh Ward: Hidden Gems Behind Colonial Facades

Now merged into Saigon and Ben Thanh wards, the Nguyen Thai Binh neighborhood includes charming streets like Le Cong Kieu, Nguyen Thi Hong Gam, Ky Con, Yersin, and Pho Duc Chinh.

At first glance, the area seems like any other busy Vietnamese street, lined with workshops, scooters, and steaming bowls of noodle soup. But for those willing to explore, it reveals a vibrant mix of world-class dining, speakeasy bars, and antique shops hidden behind colonial-era facades and rolling shutters.

Highlights include:

• Leonardo, one of Ho Chi Minh City’s top pizza restaurants.

• ÔMM Mixology, praised as one of the city’s best cocktail bars.

• Noriboi Omakase, a renowned Japanese fine-dining restaurant that recently moved from Thao Dien to Nguyen Thai Binh.

A Day in Ho Chi Minh City’s “Coolest Neighborhood”

Time Out recommends visitors start their day with a bowl of bun rieu cua Phan Rang, a crab noodle soup beloved by locals. Then stop by Hoang Thi Cafe, a retro-style coffee shop, before browsing antiques along Le Cong Kieu Street.

For lunch, head to Bep Me In for homestyle Vietnamese dishes, then spend the afternoon at the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts nearby. As evening falls, explore hidden bars, dine at celebrated restaurants, and end the night at The Arth, where live saxophone music creates the perfect nightlife vibe.

Where Does Vietnam Rank Globally?

The top 10 coolest neighborhoods in the world 2025 according to Time Out are:

1. Jimbocho, Tokyo, Japan

2. Borgerhout, Antwerp, Belgium

3. Barra Funda, São Paulo, Brazil

4. Camberwell, London, UK

5. Avondale, Chicago, USA

6. Mullae-dong, Seoul, South Korea

7. Ménilmontant, Paris, France

8. Nakatsu, Osaka, Japan

9. Vallila, Helsinki, Finland

10. Labone, Accra, Ghana

With Nguyen Thai Binh ranked at No. 11, Vietnam has secured a strong spot among the world’s most exciting urban destinations—proof that its charm goes far beyond the country’s well-known party streets.