The smallest of Ho Chi Minh City’s urban neighbourhoods, District 4 is an island within the sprawling metropolis. This triangular-shaped district is framed by the Saigon River, the Ben Nghe River and the Te Canal, and was the setting for one of Ho Chi Minh City’s most important historical events.

Things to do

Want to learn about Vietnam’s revolutionary history? Then be sure to visit the Ho Chi Minh Museum at Dragon Wharf in the northernmost corner of District 4. It was from here that Ho Chi Minh departed on the French ship Admiral Latouche Treville on his 30-year expedition around the world.

The headquarters of Dragon Wharf was built by the French in 1862 in a fusion of Vietnamese and French architectural traditions. Today they house photographs and artefacts relating to Ho Chi Minh’s life, including personal belongings and journals documenting his travels.

District 4 is connected to District 1 by the famous Mong Bridge, a mint-coloured pedestrian walkway that was built during French colonial rule. It’s a popular spot for young Vietnamese couples to meet and makes for a photogenic setting with the modern city skyline behind.

If you want to try authentic Vietnamese cuisine, District 4 is packed with small eateries and street-side vendors serving up steaming bowls of pho and refreshing green papaya salad. Look for xoi man, a sticky rice made with dried shrimp, Chinese sausage and pickled vegetables or che dau trang, a sweet glutinous rice with black eyed peas and warm coconut milk.

Getting around

District 4 is well connected to the surrounding neighbourhoods by public buses, moto taxis and regular taxis. It’s an easy area to explore on foot and just a short walk across the Mong Bridge to the sights of District 1.