Exploring Saigon's alleyways, Vietnam

Walking Saigon’s Alleyways

Last updated June 2016 | Words, photos and film by Vietnam Coracle

This post was last updated 7 years ago. Please check the comments section for possible updates, or read more on my Updates & Accuracy page.

PREAMBLE | GUIDE | MAP | VIDEO | RELATED POSTS

Saigon is a fascinating, vibrant and youthful city, but it’s not one that’s full of must-see tourist sights. To experience the best of Saigon, focus on its minutiae; the little details of this big city. There’s no better place to do this than in the tangled network of narrow alleyways that fill in the gaps between the city’s major roads. Saigon’s thousands of alleyways – sometimes no more than a few feet wide – are where the majority of Vietnamese live, and it’s here that you’ll find the ‘real’ Saigon. What’s more, the alleyways offer far more charm and interest than the central area of District 1, where most travellers spend their time. Getting lost on foot in the web of alleyways brings you into contact with friendly local people, great street food, intriguing architecture, and, best of all, local life. And this particular ‘attraction’ is free! In this guide I’ve mapped and written about five of my favourite areas for alley walks in Saigon.

Walking & Exploring Saigon's alleyways, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Exploring Saigon’s alleyways is a lot of fun and it gives you a chance to see real, local life….and it’s free!

Alley life is a completely different (and much more pleasant) world to the one you experience on the main streets of Saigon. Walk a few metres down any alleyway and all city noises disappear, as does all traffic. The rhythm of life is slower, calmer, and on a more human scale. It’s cool and quiet, but there’s no shortage of things to see and do: colourful fruit markets, pagodas, hidden cafes, street food vendors, shrines and even tombs. Smells are a big part of the alleyways: all sorts of cooking scents the air, especially during early mornings and late afternoons, as does the perfume of washing detergent from laundry hanging out in the sun. People live in such close proximity that there’s an intimacy to alley life: you get the feeling that life is shared; children play, do homework together; families cook, eat and drink together. All this happens either in the open-air or in ground-floor rooms with the doors wide open, so that you really get to see life happening.

Walking and exploring Saigon's alleyways, Vietnam

At night, Saigon’s alleyways are strung with lamps, creating an eerie but enchanting atmosphere

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 GUIDE: WALKING SAIGON’S ALLEYS

Below are five of my favourite areas for alley walks in Saigon. I’ve given a brief description of each one, including some suggestions of places to eat, drink and see. All the alley areas are plotted on my map. However, because many alleyways are too small to show up on Google Maps, I’ve simply shaded the general area. I haven’t plotted any particular route as this would defeat the point: the best way to experience Saigon’s alleyways is to wander aimlessly; eating and drinking anything that looks good, stopping to look at little bits and pieces of architecture that catch your eye; until you’re either completely lost or reach a dead end. But don’t worry, you can never really get lost because, eventually, every alleyway ends up at a busy main road, where you can hail a taxi back to your place.

Selected Resources What’s this?

Click on a name from the list below to read more about the alleys in that area:

           1. PHAN XICH LONG ALLEYWAYS: Phu Nhuan District

           2. LE VAN SY ALLEYWAYS: Phu Nhuan District

           3. HO THI KY ALLEYWAYS: District 10

           4. DOAN VAN BO ALLEYWAYS: District 4

           5. TRAN HUNG DAO ALLEYWAYS: District 1

Get lost: wander through the alleys

Get lost in Saigon’s tangled network of narrow alleyways, and see another side of this city

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MAP:

My favourite areas for Exploring Alleyways in Saigon


View in a LARGER MAP

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VIDEO:

A short look around Saigon’s Alleyways:


View on YouTube HERE

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1. PHAN XICH LONG ALLEYS:

Between Phan Xich Long & Phan Dinh Phung streets, Phu Nhuan District [MAP]

This collection of alleyways and small streets is hemmed in on three sides by some of Saigon’s busiest main roads, which makes the quiet refuge of shady alleys all the more appealing. Phan Dang Luu street to the north, Phan Xich Long street to the east, and Phan Dinh Phung street to the west enclose this network of affluent-looking alleyways. A good place to enter the alleys is on Đoàn Thị Điểm Street: there are two entrances: one from Phan Xich Long and the other from Phan Dang Luu. Weave your way past markets and food vendors until the alleys get smaller. Particularly narrow and atmospheric are the routes between Cô Bắc and Cô Giang streets.

Phan Xich Long alleyways, Saigon, Vietnam

The alleyways between Cô Giang & Cô Bắc are extremely narrow: it feels like a medieval European town

There are a lot of pagodas and temples hidden in these alleyways. You can often find your way to them by following the red lanterns lining the narrow passageways. One pagoda in particular is worth searching for: Tổ Đình Phổ Quang (127/25/13 Cô Giang) is a classic melange of old and new religious architectural styles, but it’s the walk there – strung with lanterns hanging from electrical cables – that’s most impressive. When wandering through these alleyways, don’t forget to look up so that you can see the myriad ways in which Vietnam’s middle class choose to decorate their new homes: no two houses are the same. For an iced drink or a caffeine pick-me-up after all the walking, try the Coffee House, on a corner on Đoàn Thị Điểm street.

Selected Resources What’s this?
Hanging lanterns in Saigon alleyways, Vietnam

Some of the Phan Xich Long alleyways are hung with red lanterns, leading to hidden pagodas

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2. LE VAN SY ALLEYS:

Between Huynh Van Banh & Truong Sa streets, Phu Nhuan District [MAP]

These alleyways are in the same district as the Phan Xich Long alleys, but in a very different area. Here, there’s a more suburban, village-like atmosphere: it feels as though these alleyways are a self-contained world; an autonomous quarter within the city limits. Bounded by the railway to the east, the Thi Nghe Channel to the south, and Huynh Van Banh street to the north and west, you’ll find little cafes, informal eateries, Buddhist pagodas, Catholic shrines, and small local markets. Many of the alleys have recently been repaved, leading to the construction of some large, chateau-like houses, which loom over the poorer, concrete-box dwellings of less fortunate residents. Every hour or so, you’ll hear the horn of the train blaring out as it passes behind the alleys. The narrow passageway on the east side of the tracks is home to some good shellfish and (if you’re feeling adventurous) dog meat restaurants. Alley 115, on the west side of the tracks, offers a couple of trendy cafes which are good for an iced coffee while watching the trains go by: try Cafe Nhỏ and Creative Station.

Walking the rail track in Saigon, Vietnam

The Le Van Sy alleys are bisected by the railway, which is treated by locals as just another alleyway

Deeper inside the tangle of alleyways, don’t miss the grease feast at Quán Lệ Hồng (489/27/39), which specializes in bò né – thin-cut beefsteaks, served on a sizzling, cow-shaped plate with various accoutrements. Another good place to eat is the Chinese noodle shop on the corner of Le Van Sy and alley 137 (also known as Trần Hữu Trang street). I have a sentimental attachment to this alleyway, because my old house is located here. (Alley 137 is also a good point at which to enter the alleyways.) As you wander further west, there are several large and small temples and shrines, most of which are Catholic but some of which are Buddhist. You might also pass by Na Na Pet Coffee: a cafe where pet owners can bring their pets to ‘mingle’ with other animals. There’s lots of street food fun to be had on and around alley 541, particularly at the popular shellfish eatery, Ốc Luộc.

Selected Resources What’s this?
Le Van Sy alleyways, Saigon, Vietnam

The Le Van Sy alleys are affluent, shady and quiet for the most part: a refuge from the busy streets

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3. HO THI KY ALLEYS:

Between Ly Thai To & Le Hong Phong streets, District 10 [MAP]

The alleyways around Hồ Thị Kỷ street in Distirct 10 feel less affluent than the previous two areas, but they are alive with food, people and, thanks to a night flower market, colour. Trapped in a triangle between three main roads – Le Hong Phong to the west, Hung Vuong to the south, and Ly Thai To to the north – these alleys are best visited at night, when street food, families, fluorescent lights and flowers are everywhere. The grid of alleyways is easy to navigate: the main focus is Hồ Thị Kỷ street and two smaller lanes running parallel either side of it. One of these, Trần Bình Trọng street (east of Hồ Thị Kỷ), is where thousands of colourful flowers arrive on small trucks from the mountain town of Dalat, at around 11pm and into the small hours of dawn. This is a great time to visit, as roses and lilies scent the air and you can buy flowers cheaply straight off the trucks.

Night flower market, Ho Thi Ky Street, District 10, Saigon

Colour, food and flowers make the Ho Thi Ky alleyways, in District 10, particularly good at night-time

The narrow lane to the west of Hồ Thị Kỷ is packed with interesting street food. There’s a large Cambodian community here so many of the food vendors offer Khmer dishes. The most famous of these is Chè Cô Huôi (57/21A), which specializes in Cambodian desserts, or chè in Vietnamese. These include fascinating combinations of fruits, jellies, candies, beans and all the other weird and wonderful ingredients that go into creating chè (read more about chè here). At the northern end of Hồ Thị Kỷ is ‘Beef Hotpot Alley’, a bustling corner where locals gather to eat, drink and talk around big pots of beef stew: try Lẩu Bò Hoàng Thu at 84/1 Hồ Thị Kỷ. To the south of the street there are plenty of shellfish eateries.

Selected Resources What’s this?
Street food vendor, Ho Thi Ky alleyways, Saigon, Vietnam

The Ho Thi Ky alleyways are excellent for street food, especially Cambodian specialities

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4. DOAN VAN BO ALLEYS:

Between Hoang Dieu & Vinh Khanh streets, District 4 [MAP]

Bound by some of the best street food streets in the city, this geometric network of tight alleyways are some of the liveliest and ‘tastiest’ in Saigon. A series of narrow concrete channels runs from Hoang Dieu, Vinh Khanh, Doan Van Bo streets and Xom Chieu Market. Enter the alleys from any of these busy streets with the express purpose of getting lost! The alleyways get progressively tighter as you wind your way deeper into the maze. Homes, shops and food stalls are punctuated by small Buddhist temples.

Buddhist temple, Doan Van Bo alleys, Saigon, Vietnam

Small Buddhist temples are squeezed between homes & shops in the Doan Van Bo alleyways

Life is lived is very close quarters here: opposing living rooms are sometimes no more that two metres apart, and most houses have all their doors and windows wide open. Residents are noticeably of the older generation: men and women in their 70s and 80s sit in their open doorways at dusk, watching alley life unfold. Particularly good for food, Cầu Chông Street offers dozens of street food stalls: try the hủ tíu (rice vermiceli noodle soup) at 458 Lô Q. Or Bà Hai Bánh Xèo at 119 Lê Văn Linh street is a popular local place for bánh xèo (crispy, filled, savoury crepes).

Shellfish vendor, District 4 alleys, Saigon, Vietnam

The Doan Van Bo alleyways are strong on street food: from shellfish to soups, you’ll find it all here

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5. TRAN HUNG DAO ALLEYS:

Between Vo Van Kiet & Tran Hung Dao streets, District 1 [MAP]

Squeezed between Tran Hung Dao boulevard and Vo Van Kiet street along the Ben Nghe Channel, this large grid of alleyways is very residential. The grid layout means that these alleys are much easier to navigate compared to the others in this list. As they are located on the border of District 5 and District 1, this network of alleyways is pretty close to downtown Saigon; within walking distance of the backpacker area around Pham Ngu Lao. Narrow channels of asphalt lead between four-storey family homes. During the day, there are plenty of local soup and rice eateries that operate out of the front rooms of some of the homes. At night, the alleyways are lit by a mixture of attractive street lamps and fluorescent strip light-bulbs.

Tran Hung Dao alleyways, Saigon, Vietnam

The Tran Hung Dao alleys, within walking distance of downtown, are narrow, dark & spooky

Although these alleys are quieter than the others in this list, there are still several cafes, pagodas and snack bars hidden in the unlikeliest of corners. The Chai Vintage Cafe (393/6 Tran Hung Dao) is an atmospheric little place to stop for a drink. There’s lots of food on Nguyễn Cảnh Chân street and, thanks to the presence of a mosque on Tran Hung Dao street, you can dine at Phở Muslim on alleyway 457, which is definitely worth a try.

Tran Hung Dao alleyways, Saigon, Vietnam

Even late at night, alley life continues in the narrow passages off Tran Hung Dao street


Disclosure: I never receive payment for anything I write my content is always free & independent. I’ve written this guide because I want to: I like Saigon’s alleyways & I want my readers to know about them. For more details, see my Disclosure & Disclaimer statements here

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Questions, updates and trip reports are all welcome. However, please keep comments polite and on-topic. See commenting etiquette for details.

  1. Carina Ulander says:
    January 2, 2024 at 3:17 AM

    Hi

    Yesterday we went walking around in Doan Van Bo Alleys (number 4.). Thank you Tom for sharing this information. We had a great time wandering around and it was so interesting, really the best part of the whole day. We also had a fantastic encounter with a group of men eating lunch outside. They waved so inviting to us so we went to speak with them. They shared some of their seafood and cheered with us. The were just delighted when they discovered we could say “cheers” in Vietnamese.
    I really recommend everybody to walk around in any of the areas you have indicated. Thank you again.
    Brgds,
    Carina

    1. Tom says:
      January 2, 2024 at 6:15 AM

      Hi Carina,

      I’m really glad to hear you enjoyed strolling the alleyways in that neighbourhood and that you had positive interactions along the way – that is exactly why it’s such a great thing to do and such a great way of experiencing the city.

      Best,

      Tom

  2. Bob Bokor says:
    November 12, 2023 at 10:27 PM

    I’ve been to Vietnam 3 times, but not since 2019.
    This sounds like an excellent walking tour.
    Has anyone done this tour in the last year and are all addresses still current?

    1. Tom says:
      November 13, 2023 at 1:00 AM

      Hi Bob,

      Yes, most of the alleys highlighted in this guide are still good for walking, but some of the specific businesses – such as cafes, restaurants, etc. – will have changed.

      Best,

      Tom

      1. Bob Bokor says:
        November 13, 2023 at 1:17 AM

        Hi Tom!
        Thanks for the quick response.
        Is your reply an assumption, or do you know for a fact most alleys exist? I presume with modernization and lots of building in HCMC, it is possible some or many may be gone.
        Do you know. excluding stopping, how long it takes to do your walk?
        Can you walk from one area to the other, or do you need to take a Grab once finished with the alleys in some locations?
        Thanks for your help!
        Bob

        1. Tom says:
          November 13, 2023 at 3:34 AM

          Hi Bob,

          Yes, all these alley areas are still there.

          It’s better to take a Grab between each area rather than walking from one to the other.

          Saigon is still full of great alley neighbourhoods to explore on foot – the ones in this guide are just suggestions. The best way to enjoy the alleys ways is to go to one of the areas are just wander around.

          You might also be interested in this guide.

          Best,

          Tom

      2. Bob Bokor says:
        November 14, 2023 at 4:17 PM

        Hi Tom!

        Thanks for your reply. Note these questions were missed:

        Do you know. excluding stopping, how long it takes to do your walk?

        Can you walk from one area to the other, or do you need to take a Grab once finished with the alleys in some locations?
        Thanks for your help!
        Bob

        1. Tom says:
          November 15, 2023 at 1:59 AM

          Hi Bob,

          I have answered your questions about taking a Grab in the previous reply – please refer to that.

          As for how long it takes, since there is no specific route on my map – just highlighted areas – you can take a long or as little as you like. Personally, I would say an hour in each of the 5 alleyway areas is good.

          Best,

          Tom

          1. Carina Ulander says:
            January 3, 2024 at 12:30 PM

            Reply to Bob Bokor

            Hi Bob, I don’t know if you have left HCMC already or if you are going there, but since it wasn’t that long ago you asked your questions, allow me to make a comment. You can spend hours wandering around in one of the alley areas that Tom has indicated, and you can be done in half an hour. It all depends if you like it at all and if you stop for a meal or not. My husband and I walked around in “Doan Van Bo alleys” just 2 days ago and it was a fascinating and fantastic experience, we stayed about 2 hours. I loved it and would have liked to “get lost” in more areas like that.
            Brgds
            Carina

  3. Alain Doucet says:
    July 26, 2021 at 2:26 PM

    Hi Tom,

    On 115 Le Van Sy, have a great place to eat, they are friends of mine, Nhanh, Dan and Nhi, three sisters from Buon Ma Thuot. They speak fluent English.
    Food so delicious and cheap there,
    Đan Đan Quán is the name of the restaurant.
    – Bún Riêu Tôm Thịt & Bún Thịt Nướng

    Be safe in Saigon with that covid-19.

    Enjoy

    Alain

    1. Tom says:
      July 27, 2021 at 2:42 AM

      Hi Alain,

      Thanks for the recommendation – I’ll try to check it out next time I go walking in the area.

      Best,

      Tom

  4. Farida Bobat says:
    July 31, 2020 at 11:06 PM

    Hi Tom. I’m hoping to travel to Vietnam in October. If not possible then next year! My concern is because people live so closely to each other, isn’t there a greater risk of getting the virus?
    I love your article on these alleys, and i really want to see them all. In this case how much time will I need in Saigon? Apart from alleys I want to all usual stuff too!
    And in Hanoi too! So how many days should I have in my itinerary for both cities. I also want to see Lao Cai, huang su phi, loop for about a week. What are your suggestions please? Thank you very much in advance

    1. Tom says:
      August 3, 2020 at 2:50 AM

      Hi Farida,

      Making plans for the future (especially for travel) is difficult at the moment. But currently Vietnam has one of the best records of containing the spread of the virus anywhere in the world.

      A few days in Saigon and a few days in Hanoi would probably be enough to experience the alleyways and also the usual tourist hotspots, sights, museums etc. And add another 10 days if you want to travel in the far north around Lao Cai and Hoang Su Phi.

      I hope this helps,

      Tom

      1. Farida bobat says:
        August 3, 2020 at 7:46 PM

        Thank you Tom. By few days would you say 3-4 days in each city? Or 4-5 days?
        If time is limited and I need to choose one of these places, which one would be best to see culture. Dalat, Hue, Hoi An.

        1. Tom says:
          August 4, 2020 at 3:36 AM

          Hi Farida,

          Yes, 3-4 days in the cities.

          If you’re looking for culture, Hue and Hoi An are better than Dalat. In general, everyone likes Hoi An, but I prefer Hue because it’s not as touristy.

          Tom

          1. Farida bobat says:
            August 6, 2020 at 12:55 PM

            Thank you Tom. I’ll probably have to choose between Hue and Hou An!
            What if you had to choose between Ninh Binh and Halong Bay?

            1. Tom says:
              August 7, 2020 at 1:20 AM

              Hi Farida,

              It depends what you’re looking for: both Ninh Binh and Halong Bay are very popular tourist sights. They have similar limestone karst landscape, but at Halong Bay it’s seen via boat on the sea; at Ninh Binh it’s seen from a boat on a river or walking and cycling.

              Tom

              1. Farida bobat says:
                August 7, 2020 at 8:54 AM

                Thank you Tom.
                To see alley ways what is best way to make sure you see most of them?

                1. Tom says:
                  August 7, 2020 at 11:32 AM

                  Hi Farida,

                  You don’t have to see all the alleyways. Just some.

                  Tom

                  1. Farida bobat says:
                    August 10, 2020 at 7:10 PM

                    Thank you Tom. Sorry for late reply. You have 5 sections on alley ways. So which ones are ‘must see’. I do enjoy seeing just things a lot! And in how much time please?
                    Another thing I would like to ask is about local transport trains. I read these are good to get a real experience of local life. Which one would you recommend please? A short train trip will be enough! Many thanks for all your replies.

                    1. Tom says:
                      August 11, 2020 at 5:06 AM

                      Hi Farida,

                      I like all of the alleyways I mention on this page – it’s probably best just to read the descriptions and look at the photos then decide from that which ones you’d like to visit. You can spend anything from an hour to half a day exploring the alleyways.

                      For train routes please take a look at my Trains Archive.

                      Tom

  5. Ken says:
    May 13, 2019 at 4:17 PM

    Hi, Tom

    Your site is very helpful. Your way is like my way. I lived in Thailand. I went to all places where people dont go such as slum, deep south etc. I start to work in HCMC 3month ago and went to all main tourist places in Vietnam within 3 momths. I start to get bored in Vietnam. Then, i found your website. Luckly, i can find your site in early stage after coming here. I went to all old apartments that u show on website and Vietnam war related places such as infamous helicpter place and Pho Binh. I will go to the alleys that you described and take a walk on railway every weekends. I feel i still can stay here another 2months wiz ur site.

    1. Tom says:
      May 14, 2019 at 1:57 AM

      Hi Ken,

      Thanks for the message – it’s really great to hear that.

      I hope you enjoy the alleyways and the train tracks – they’re probably some of my favourite things to do in Saigon.

      Tom

  6. Annie says:
    April 8, 2018 at 5:53 AM

    Hi Tom,
    we just came back from a month in Vietnam, following many of your advices and suggestions. We loved Saigon because of your post about all these little alleys. This is exactly the ambiance we like when we travel. Thank you for sharing all these nice spots that we would never find by ourselves because they’re hidden and off the touristic path.
    Annie and Jean-François from Montréal, Canada

    1. Tom says:
      April 8, 2018 at 6:20 AM

      Hi Annie,

      Thanks. It’s fantastic to hear that you enjoyed Saigon, and especially the alleyways – I never get bored of wandering down them.

      Tom

  7. MARANGE Marie says:
    November 13, 2017 at 5:27 AM

    Hi Tom , thank you so much to share your experience and your feelings . I love those alleys and i’m right now on the Vintage Chai Café , great pkace to be. People are very kind
    Continue and continue because i follow you
    In January i’ll do the road around Dalat ?
    Thank a lot

    1. Tom says:
      November 13, 2017 at 8:02 AM

      Hi Marie,

      Great to hear that you’re enjoying the alleyways – I love wandering through them too.

      I hope you continue to find more interesting cafes down the narrows alleys.

      Tom

  8. Verity says:
    July 21, 2017 at 10:52 AM

    Thank you Tom!

    I wondered the streets myself the other day and a little bored. Read your post this morning after my walking tour got cancelled and had the best day! Walked the first two myself, had told one of my roommates about it and he joined me at the chai vintage cafe which was fantastic. Such a great hidden gem. Then rode through the other three.

    1. Tom says:
      July 21, 2017 at 10:55 AM

      Hi Verity,

      Great to hear that! I love walking those alleys. I hope you have time to find some more hidden gems on your wanders in Saigon 🙂

      Tom

  9. Alan Duong says:
    June 12, 2016 at 5:31 AM

    Hi Tom,

    Great work, very nice post, I sometimes can walk like this in Hanoi. Wish to show you this in Hanoi too.

    Thank you so much for sharing this and definitely do this when I am in Saigon at the end of this month.

    Cheers,
    Alan Duong

    1. Tom says:
      June 12, 2016 at 6:17 AM

      Thanks, Alan.

      Yes, I would like to do some more alley walking in Hanoi, but whenever I’m in the city I never seem to get the time. I hope you get the chance to explore the alleyways next time you’re in Saigon.

      Tom

  10. Iva says:
    April 8, 2016 at 8:29 AM

    Hi Tom,
    I’ve discovered your site recently while planning a trip in Vietnam and really liked your articles. Unfortunately, I don’t have so much time to do a motorcycle trip… I usually come to Saigon for work and stay in a hotel on Le Van Sy str. for around one month. My working schedule is very tight to go out of Saigon but there is plenty of time to explore the city. So I am also very sentimental about the alleys in that area. They are everywhere here and waiting to be discovered! During one of my walks I met a 50-year old guy who had lived in my country(Bulgaria) in his youth. He got so nostalgic that day… and we’re still friends now!
    Thanks for the great website,
    Iva

    1. Tom says:
      April 9, 2016 at 12:03 AM

      Hi Iva,

      Thanks! Great to hear you like my articles and that your work gives you the chance to visit Saigon every now and then. I love the area around Le Van Sy too – lots of life, food and alleys to explore – and chance encounters with people 🙂

      I hope you continue to enjoy your trips to Saigon.

      Tom

  11. Nick says:
    July 12, 2015 at 6:01 AM

    Hey Tom…. In Saigon at the moment on our fourth visit and fall in love with the country more every time. Thanks for doing such an awesome guide… Ended up being invited to lunch with a local family after wandering through the alleyways. Six hours of eating and drinking later…. You couldn’t buy an experience like that if you tried. Looking forward to coming back in Nov to explore Ha Giang area on bikes. Thanks again for all the info on here. You’re living the life I should be living!

    1. Tom says:
      July 13, 2015 at 1:19 AM

      Hi Nick,
      Good to hear you enjoyed getting lost in the alleys.
      Ha Giang might be a little cold in November, but it’s a stunning area in any weather.
      Enjoy the rest of your trip.
      Tom

  12. Eileen Street says:
    May 25, 2015 at 12:30 PM

    Hi Tom,

    Thanks for the rely back. If you only visited a few weeks ago then maybe check it out when you have time to ensure its status. Some locals told me it was no longer in business (could be a lost in translation case though). Afterwards I looked at their FB page and the last post was in 2013. According to Google’s Vietnamese translation, it appeared their last post was saying goodbye as they close down the business. However, if you were a few weeks ago then I probably read that wrong.

    Anyways, thanks for all your hard work and the alley walk was spectacular! Thanks!

    Regards,

    Eileen

  13. Eileen Street says:
    May 24, 2015 at 3:03 PM

    Hey Tom!

    I just discovered your blog a few days ago (we are currently in Saigon) and I will be referring to it during our time here in Vietnam. I discovered the alleys in touristy District 1 (where we are staying). They were actually really awesome and it was great to see a slice of local life. I googled alleys in Saigon to see if there was any info on them and there wasn’t much. However, I did see your article/blog. We went to the alleys around Lê Văn Sỹ Street today and it was great. We met some locals and they were all so friendly! An Mộc Quán fyi shut down in 2013. However, there’s an awesome accessories store (for the ladies, or course) on the same street called The Little Owl. The woman asked how I found the place as I was the first foreigner she has ever seen there. Ha! Anyways, thank you for taking the time to create this blog. I love it and will continue to read. Thanks! 🙂

    1. Tom says:
      May 25, 2015 at 2:01 AM

      Hi Eileen,

      Great to hear that you’ve been exploring the alleyways!

      Thanks for the updates – I’m not sure how I missed the fact that An Mộc has closed – I was there only a few weeks ago. Oh well, turnover for small businesses like that in Saigon is incredibly fast.

      I hope you continue to enjoy Saigon and its ‘secrets’.

      Tom

  14. Martin says:
    December 26, 2014 at 6:37 PM

    And.. you meet a lot of nice people there. They are kind of surprised and maybe a kind of proud that someone is interested in how they live their everyday lives. I love the alleys around Hem 491 (Le Van Sy) and it doesnt matter which direction you take.
    Also great alleys to visit are in District 7 around Trần Xuân Soạn street or between bridges Cau Rach Ong and Cau Nguyen Van Cu. Riverbanks between bridges Cau Rach Ong and Cau Him Lam are then more slum like. I eat a rat sandwich there (have been told its beef). It was so tasty, that I bought another one!

    1. Tom says:
      December 29, 2014 at 1:10 AM

      Hi Martin,
      Glad you enjoyed the alleyways. Yes, I also particularly like the alleys on Le Van Sy – I used to live there. I’ll try the ones you suggest someday soon.
      Tom