Walking tour of Cho Lon – Saigon’s “Chinatown”
Take in the history, food & architecture of Saigon’s most enchanting district solo or with friends & family!
Cho Lon (often referred to as “Chinatown”) covers a large part of multiple districts in Ho Chi Minh City, however, this walk introduces you to just a small section of it (map included) and what is perhaps best described as “the central part” of the locale.
You might say it’s the spiritual home of Cho Lon as it’s the area with the most temples and pagodas (although they don’t feature much on this walk), along with some of the finest remaining examples of French colonial-era architecture in the south.
Tea wholesalers and traditional herbal medicine shops abound both sides of central Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street which – along with some of the friendliest happy-go-lucky people in the city – contribute to the vibe of a neighbourhood that can only be fully-understood by walking the streets and allowing yourself time to take it all in.
It’s a feeling that doesn’t seem to exist in any other part of Ho Chi Minh City.
As you wander further into the labyrinth of streets and alleyways on this walk, through the wholesale markets dodging and weaving the busy wholesalers packaging up their next deliveries and who still take the time to greet you and ask where you’re from, you’ll come to understand precisely what we’re talking about.
This walk is best done early in the morning when temperatures are comfortable for walking and when breakfast stalls are open, hoping to tempt hungry workers with their offerings as they whiz by on their motorbikes in a mad dash to work!
Ho Chi Minh City is flat and so is Cho Lon, which means you don’t need to have a high level of fitness to do this 8km walk – although, if you’re accustomed to walking regularly, it will put you in good stead and make your experience more enjoyable.
It’s recommended you leave yourself around 4 hours to complete this walk so you can become immersed in the best of what this area of Cho Lon has to offer. Try not to start any later than 7am as temperatures soar from 10am onwards!
Plus, this time of the day is best for photos!
If you feel like veering off the path, by all means do, you can always link back up to the suggested route somewhere along the way, just refer to the map provided.
For more information about this walk, click on the link below.
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