“What makes District 4 so special?” some ask. District 4 in Ho Chi Minh City is an area brimming with local life. It offers a glimpse into Saigon beyond the usual tourist spots.
District 4 stands as Saigon’s smallest district. Yet it is a dynamic area that is culturally rich. It lies between its complicated past and a hopeful future. Traces of old Saigon slums still exist. High-rise apartments are also starting to appear. District 4 sits between Districts 1 and 7. It differs greatly from its Westernized neighbors.
Historically, District 4 was one of Saigon’s poorest areas. It became a crime hotspot under Nam Cam. He was the infamous gangster also known as the Godfather of Saigon. His mafia ruled the area in the 1980s and 90s. They filled the streets with brothels and gambling dens. Restaurants even refused to deliver food there. They feared their vehicles would be stolen. His reign ended with his arrest in 2003. Today, very little mafia activity is visible in District 4.
District 4 has some lighter history too. It is home to the Dragon Wharf. Here, Ho Chi Minh boarded a steamer to France in 1911. This began his world travels.
If you only do one thing in District 4, it should be to eat. Some of the city’s best seafood is here. Visit Vinh Khanh Road. It is now an official food street. This lively street has no-frills sidewalk restaurants. They have metal tables and Vietnam’s iconic plastic stools. Try local dishes such as frogs’ legs and seafood soup. Hear cries of “mot! Hai! Ba! Dzo!”. It means “One! Two! Three! Cheers!”. Young Vietnamese diners wash down their food with ice-cold beer. Street entertainers sing and dance. They even breathe fire. This intensifies the buzzing atmosphere.
Despite being small, District 4 has two of the best markets in the city. The New District market is a stylish fashion fair. Trendy boutique stalls appear every other weekend. There are photography sets. Young Saigonese snap photos inside a subway carriage or a neon-lit diner. Xom Chieu market is just five minutes away. It is not picturesque. It is a great opportunity to see how Vietnamese people really shop. It is a friendlier alternative to Ben Thanh market.
District 4 is slowly embracing modernization, but not Westernization. Fashion-forward boutiques are emerging in this trendy part of the city. The area’s proximity to the central business district makes it popular. Small business owners and young professionals zip across the Rainbow Bridge on motorbikes. Modern co-working spaces and cafes have started to appear. Yet this district has roots in tradition. There are women in ao ba ba. Teenagers also sport the latest Korean fashion. A few luxury apartment blocks exist. But they are not the norm. Despite its youthful energy, old Saigon remains visible. In a city where Western influence grows, Vietnamese culture lives in District 4.
District 4 offers a raw travel experience. Curious locals wonder what you are doing there. There are many mopeds and storefronts. District 4 remains a vibrantly Vietnamese district. It has some of the best and most affordable food in Ho Chi Minh City. So if you want to be immersed in Vietnamese culture, this is your spot.