District 1 is the easiest base: you can walk to Ben Thanh Market, Notre-Dame Cathedral and Nguyen Hue walking street.
- District 1, around Nguyen Hue – Dong Khoi: central, mid-range to luxury hotels.
- Bui Vien backpacker street (District 1): cheap and lively, very loud at night.
- District 3: quieter, lots of local eateries, still close to the centre.
- Thao Dien: green, café-filled, good for longer stays or families; further from the centre.
Note: stay near Ben Thanh metro station if you want to take Metro Line 1 to Thao Dien.