Located in the heart of the city, Ho Chi Minh City book street, stretching 100 meters from Hai Ba Trung street to Notre Dame Cathedral, deeply impresses not only book lovers but also regular tourists. Besides immersing yourself in the book world, you can sit down and enjoy a sip of drink in the calming atmosphere. The place is also very close to some must-see destinations in Ho Chi Minh City.
1. About Ho Chi Minh City Book Street (Nguyen Van Binh Book Street)
1.1. Location and opening hours
- Address: Nguyen Van Binh Street, Ben Nghe Sub-District, District 1
- Opening hours: 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM (Monday - Friday); 8:00 AM - 9:30 PM (Saturday - Sunday)
Ho Chi Minh City Book Street is situated on Nguyen Van Binh Avenue, right in the center of the city. As such, it is sometimes also referred to as "Nguyen Van Binh Book Street." Spanning from Hai Ba Trung Street to Notre Dame Cathedral, the book street is opposite to Independence Palace and 2 kilometers to the west of the boisterous Bui Vien Street.
1.2. History
Ho Chi Minh City Book Street is one of the oldest streets in the city. Back in the French colonial period, the road was known as Hong Kong Street. On February 21, 1897, it was renamed Cardis. After that, on October 19, 1955, the street’s name was once again changed to Nguyen Hau. Since July 4, 2000, it has been called Nguyen Van Binh Book Street until today. It was named after Mr. Nguyen Van Binh, a famous intellectual in Vietnamese history. Alternatively, many tourists call the book street Ho Chi Minh to adore the greatest President of Vietnam.
2. Top 3 experiences to try on your visit to Ho Chi Minh City Book Street
Many people who have not visited it may assume that Ho Chi Minh City Book Street is only for reading. In fact, this distinguished Vietnam book street has so much more to offer. Below are some activities that you should try when coming to Book Street Saigon.
2.1. Read books and buy books
Ho Chi Minh City Book Street converges a wide range of major book publishing companies across the country with a view to becoming the first book street complex in Vietnam. Therefore, on this 144-meter-long street, there are 20 different book stalls from many notable publishers such as Alphabooks, Nha Nam, Ho Chi Minh City General Publishing House, Kim Dong, Thai Ha…
On Ho Chi Minh City Book Street, visitors can find a variety of books, ranging from literature, politics, society, to science, culture and foreign languages; comics, novels and billions of other genres. If you are looking for a book to buy but cannot find it anywhere, Ho Chi Minh City Book Street definitely deserves a try.
Along with the book exhibition area, you should also visit the newspaper area, magazine area, stationery, old book exchange, newspapers, or pictures. The books are arranged by topic, creating a true book space connecting books, bookmakers and readers.
2.2. Take photos in front of nice book stalls
Many people, especially the young, consider this special Ho Chi Minh City street not only a place to enjoy reading books but also a unique background for their photos.
In fact, Ho Chi Minh City Book Street attracts book lovers and those with a passion for taking photos. When coming to Ho Chi Minh City Book Street, you will easily come across many young people dressed in pretty clothes and taking pictures. This is because no matter from which angle, you will be able to take beautiful photos with a colorful background of books on Ho Chi Minh City Book Street.
Unlike Hanoi Book Street, each book stall on Ho Chi Minh City Book Street has its own unique design, so when combined, they bring a different charm to Saigon book street. The road is also planted with a lot of trees, so the atmosphere here is very fresh, even in the hot weather of the city.
2.3. Enjoy a cup of coffee in a relaxing space
If you need a space to sit down and slowly read a book while sipping a drink, Ho Chi Minh City Book Street is the perfect spot for you.
There are quite many sidewalk cafes on the street itself and in the surrounding areas to satisfy the book lover's cafe hobby. These cafes are often designed with open spaces so that you can immerse yourself in the peaceful atmosphere of Ho Chi Minh City Book Street. Sometimes, acoustic sessions are also held to serve tourists who come to visit and shop.
Phuong Nam Book Coffee and Ban Coffee are the two most loved coffee shops on Ho Chi Minh City Book Street.
Phuong Nam Book Coffee has a modern space, decorated with good books. There is always a vase of fresh flowers on each table to create a fresh look for the whole restaurant. The café is an ideal place to meet with friends when visiting Ho Chi Minh City Book Street. Every weekend, there will be a fan meeting with young authors or a press conference about books, attracting the attention of many readers when they come to Ho Chi Minh City Book Street. The shop offers delicious drinks and cookies at reasonable prices.
Ban coffee is dearly called a "book paradise" because this place is not simply an ordinary coffee shop but also a place to absorb human knowledge through each page of a book. It stands out from other book cafes on Ho Chi Minh City Book Street thanks to the fancy and creative patterns, which are inspired by Japanese design with the main color brown. Coming to this space, you will feel extremely tranquil and relieved.
3. What are famous tourist attractions near Ho Chi Minh City Book Street?
With its prime location in the city center, Ho Chi Minh City Book Street is within walking distance of some renowned Ho Chi Minh City tourist attractions.
- Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral
Ho Chi Minh City Book Street is just 300 meters away from Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral.
Located at 1 Paris Commune Square in District 1, the Cathedral has a total length of 91 meters and a width of 35.5 meters. Its main dome is 21 meters high while the two bell towers on both sides are nearly 57 meters high.
The famous tourist spot stands out with its ancient French architecture and spacious space from the outside to the inside of the cathedral. This is a place that you should not miss when visiting the magnificent Ho Chi Minh City. In case you want to know more about it, you may have a look at our complete tour guide for a visit to Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral!
- Saigon Central Post Office
This is undoubtedly one of the most unique architectural works in Saigon that every tourist should visit during their trip to the city.
Located opposite Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon Central Post Office’s meticulous Renaissance architecture has been preserved until now, ever since its construction in 1886.
The post office boasts a great combination of royal European style and liberal Asian style. Once visiting it, you will be deeply impressed by the delicate carvings and the system of large arched doorways.
What’s more, on both sides of the post office are images of two historical maps of the city. In the center of the post office is the image of President Ho Chi Minh - the beloved leader of Vietnam.
- Independence Palace
Situated not far from Ho Chi Minh City Book Street is Independence Palace. It is one of the most distinguished architectural works in Ho Chi Minh City, which has existed for more than 150 years.
One of the things that make visitors constantly admire when exploring Independence Palace is its extremely unique architecture. The layout from the overall ground to the building floor is designed according to Eastern philosophy in a profound way, expressed with Chinese characters about wishes for Vietnamese people and the whole nation.
The wishes are Good Luck, Prosperity, Freedom, Loyalty, and National Sovereignty.
>>> Learn more about Independence Palace.
Besides the 3 destinations above, from Ho Chi Minh City Book Street, you can also easily visit many other tourist attractions nearby. Some notable spots include Landmark 81 Vietnam, Jade Emperor Pagoda, War Remnants Museum, etc.
4. Where to park your vehicle when driving to Ho Chi Minh City Book Street?
It is very easy to reach Ho Chi Minh City Book Street. You can travel there by motorbike, bus or car.
If you drive to the book street, there are many parking places to choose from, including:
- Diamond Plaza Parking Lot: Located at 34 Le Duan, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
- Car Parking Street Book - Hai Ba Trung: Located at the corner of Nguyen Van Binh - Hai Ba Trung.
- Parking Lot Nguyen Van Binh Book Street: Located at the corner of Nguyen Van Binh - Paris Commune Square.
- City Post Office Parking Lot: Located next to Saigon Central Post Office. However, this parking lot is relatively small.
- Le Duan Street Parking Lot
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Ho Chi Minh City Book Street is definitely a must-visit destination for every tourist coming to the city. Not only is it a “knowledge paradise” for book addicts, but Ho Chi Minh City Book Street is also an ideal space to slow down and relax in the midst of a fast-paced city.
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