🌳 District 3 (Quận 3)

French villas and alley cafés — War Remnants Museum, the Pink Church, pagodas, markets, Saigon Railway Station

What's the area like?

District 3 is an older residential and business area right next to District 1. It's full of tree-lined streets, French-era villas, consulates and schools, with cafés and local eateries packed into its alleys (hẻm). Quieter than District 1, but almost as close to everything downtown.

New ward names: since 1 July 2025 districts (quận) no longer exist, and former District 3 became 3 phường.
- phường Xuân Hòa — all of former Võ Thị Sáu (old Wards 6, 7 and 8) + part of Ward 4. The eastern side, with many museums, churches and consulates
- phường Nhiêu Lộc — former Wards 9, 11, 12 and 14. The Nhiêu Lộc canal and Saigon Station side
- phường Bàn Cờ — former Wards 1, 2, 3 and 5 + part of Ward 4. The old alley neighborhoods in the west
Old names still work: in daily life people still say Quận 3 (District 3), and you'll still see many addresses with old ward numbers (Phường 7, Quận 3, etc.).
Main streets: Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa, Võ Văn Tần, Nguyễn Đình Chiểu, Điện Biên Phủ, Hai Bà Trưng, Trần Quốc Thảo, Lý Chính Thắng, Cách Mạng Tháng 8
Train station: Saigon Station, where the North–South trains depart, is here.

Local tips & warnings

District 3 has no metro station. The nearest is Bến Thành Station in District 1. Use Grab or buses to get around.
Alley (hẻm) addresses use the format 'alley number/house number' (e.g. 242/58 = house 58 inside alley 242). It's easiest to ask the driver to drop you at the alley entrance.
Nguyễn Đình Chiểu, Cách Mạng Tháng 8 and Điện Biên Phủ are big one-way roads that jam badly at evening rush hour (17:00–19:00).
In the rainy season (roughly May–Nov), some alleys and low-lying streets can flood after heavy rain. On rainy days a GrabCar is the easier choice.
Old addresses (Phường 6, Phường Võ Thị Sáu, etc.) and new ones (phường Xuân Hòa) are both in use. Use the new phường name on paperwork.
Emergency numbers: ambulance 115 · police 113

Places to visit

War Remnants Museum (Bảo tàng Chứng tích Chiến tranh)

Museum · Xuân Hòa

Exhibits photos, weapons and Agent Orange records from the Vietnam War. Very popular with foreign visitors.

Daily 07:30–17:30, tickets until 17:00, 40,000 VND for adults (2025 info). The photos can be disturbing, so think ahead before bringing children.

📍 28 Võ Văn Tần, phường Xuân Hòa

checked 2025-04

Tân Định Church · the Pink Church (Nhà thờ Tân Định)

Church · Photo spot · Xuân Hòa

An all-pink church built in the 1870s, one of the oldest in the city.

Visiting hours (per sources): Mon–Fri 08:00–11:30, 14:00–17:00. Keep quiet during Mass and avoid shorts and sleeveless tops.

📍 289 Hai Bà Trưng, phường Xuân Hòa (former Ward 8, District 3)

checked 2026-02

Vĩnh Nghiêm Pagoda (Chùa Vĩnh Nghiêm)

Buddhist pagoda · Xuân Hòa

One of the city's large Buddhist pagodas, with a tall tower and a wide courtyard; many come to pray on holidays.

07:00–21:00 (2026 info). Very crowded during Tết and on full-moon days of the lunar month.

📍 339 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa, phường Xuân Hòa

checked 2026-02

Shopping & food

Vườn Chuối Market (Chợ Vườn Chuối)

Traditional market · Food · Former Ward 4 (Nguyễn Đình Chiểu)

A neighborhood market since 1955, with vegetables, meat and fish plus lots of food stalls selling bánh xèo, bún riêu and more. 05:00–20:00.

Its new ward name isn't in our sources, so check (former Ward 4 was split between Xuân Hòa and Bàn Cờ). Freshest from 6 to 9 a.m.

📍 428 Nguyễn Đình Chiểu

checked 2025-03

Bàn Cờ Market (Chợ Bàn Cờ)

Alley market · Bàn Cờ

An old market held in the alleys with no building — vegetables, meat and seafood through to clothes, shoes, fabric and second-hand brand clothing shops.

Opens around 05:30 and is mostly over by lunch (13:00–13:30). The market alleys branch in several directions, so navigate to 'Chợ Bàn Cờ' on a map.

📍 Alleys around 242/58 Nguyễn Thiện Thuật (former Ward 3)

checked 2025-03

Tân Định Market (Chợ Tân Định) — just over in District 1

Traditional market · Fabric market · Tân Định (on the District 1 border)

Walking distance from Tân Định Church. Famous for its fabric market and long-running food stalls.

📍 336 Hai Bà Trưng, phường Tân Định

checked 2025-03

Clinics & pharmacies

Raffles Medical Clinic HCMC

International clinic · Xuân Hòa

A Singapore-linked international clinic with consultations in English and Japanese. Mon–Fri 08:00–18:00, Sat 08:00–17:00.

For Sunday or night-time emergencies you'll need to go to another hospital.

📍 285B Điện Biên Phủ, phường Xuân Hòa

checked 2026-07

Victoria Healthcare — Đinh Tiên Hoàng (nearby in District 1)

International clinic · Tân Định

A quick Grab ride from eastern District 3, with consultations in English.

📍 20-20Bis-22 Đinh Tiên Hoàng, phường Tân Định

checked 2026-07

Getting around

Saigon Railway Station (Ga Sài Gòn)

Train station (North–South line) · Nhiêu Lộc

North–South trains leave from here for Hanoi, Da Nang, Nha Trang and more. About 1 km from the city center.

Buy tickets at the station counter or on the official app or website. They sell out early before holidays.

📍 01 Nguyễn Thông, phường Nhiêu Lộc

checked 2025-08

Useful phrases for this area

Vietnamese	Meaning	Pronunciation
Cho em tới chùa Vĩnh Nghiêm.	Please take me to Vinh Nghiem Pagoda.	chaw em tuhy choo-uh yin ngee-uhm.
Nhà thờ Tân Định màu hồng ở đường Hai Bà Trưng phải không?	The pink Tan Dinh Church is on Hai Ba Trung Street, right?	nya tuh tuhng din mao hohng uh dew-uhng hai ba chewng fai khohng?
Bảo tàng Chứng tích Chiến tranh mấy giờ mở cửa?	What time does the War Remnants Museum open?	bao tang chewng tiht chee-uhng chan muhy yuh muh kew-uh?
Anh cho em xuống ở đầu hẻm này nha.	Please drop me off at the entrance of this alley.	an chaw em soo-uhng uh duh-oo hem nai nya.
Em muốn đi ga Sài Gòn để đi tàu lửa.	I want to go to Saigon Railway Station to take a train.	em moo-uhng dee ga sai gawng day dee tao lew-uh.
Chị ơi, trái cây này bao nhiêu một ký?	Excuse me, how much is this fruit per kilo?	chee uhy, chai kuhy nai bao nyee-oo mohk kee?
Chợ Vườn Chuối có bán bánh xèo không?	Do they sell banh xeo at Vuon Chuoi Market?	chuh yew-uhng choo-oy kaw bang ban seh-oo khohng?
Gần đây có quán cà phê nào yên tĩnh không?	Is there a quiet café nearby?	guhng duhy kaw wang ka fay nao ee-uhng tin khohng?
Trước đây chỗ này là Quận 3, giờ là phường Xuân Hòa.	This used to be District 3; now it's Xuan Hoa Ward.	chew-uhk duhy choh nai la wuhng ba, yuh la few-uhng swuhng wa.
Cho em tới phòng khám Raffles, 285B Điện Biên Phủ.	Please take me to Raffles Medical, 285B Dien Bien Phu.	chaw em tuhy fawng kham Raffles, hai cham tam mew-ee lam bay dee-uhng bee-uhng foo.

Sources

📱 Open in the app (audio · favorites)