It’s nice to just sit back and relax from time to time, especially if you’re working in Saigon where the streets are always busy and everyone is in a rush. Aside from going to shopping centers,a lot of expats and foreigners also enjoy going to parks to unwind and spend quality time with their loved ones, pets, or family and friends. Here are a few parks for your enjoyment. 

District 1

September 23rd Park (23/09)

1 Pham Ngu Lao, D1; +84 28 3827 2698

23/09 Park is a park in downtown HCMC, between Le Lai and Pham Ngu Lao streets. The park stretches from Quach Thi Trang square to Nguyen Thai Binh market which is located on Nguyen Trai.

30-4 Park

184 Pasteur, D1

This small, shady, central HCMC park takes its name from Vietnam’s Reunification Day, as April 30 marked the fall of Saigon. It offers a cool respite courtesy of its tall trees and it connects the Reunification Palace with Notre Dame Cathedral. A hub of activity and a popular gathering place for locals, 30-4 Park is a splendid place to people-watch. Take your camera, buy a drink from one of the nearby park vendors and bask in the commotion.

Lê Văn Tám Park

Vo Thi Sau, Da Kao,D1; +84 28 3829 0945

This park is located between four main roads: Hai Ba Trung, Dien Bien Phu, Phan Liem and Vo Thi Sau. During the French colonial period, it was the cemetery for the French. During 1985, the area was thankfully cleared and named Lê Văn Tám Park to celebrate the 10 years after liberation. This park is a favourite for families as there are games for children.

Saigon Botanical and Zoological Gardens

2B Nguyen Binh Khiem, D1; +84 28 3829 1425

Price: VND50,000/Adult, VND30,000/Child

Founded by botanist JB Louis Pierre more than 100 years ago, HCMC Zoo and Botanical Gardens (aka Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens) is one of the oldest zoos in the world. There are currently more than 550 animals exhibited in the zoo and more than 1830 trees and 260 plant species in the botanical gardens, with some dating back over 100 years. There are a number of different sections to explore including the animal conservation area, orchid garden and plant conservation centre and a children’s amusement area. Lakes brimming with tropical fish form part of the zoo and botanical gardens which is also home to a monument dedicated to Vietnamese killed in World War I. The HCMC Zoo and Botanical Gardens is a popular place to go and is visited by locals and tourists who are often surprised by the fact that you can get an up close and personal look at some of the animals and feed them. The animal care is not always as good as you may see it at home.

Other Districts

Turtle Lake

Cong Truong Quoc Te, D3

Public square & water fountain in the middle of a roundabout, with benches & street-food vendors.

Hòa Bình Park

1 Nguyen Chi Thanh, D5; +84 9 4523 6852

Riverside park An Phu Hung

Cong vien ven ng, So 46, Khu dan cu An Phu Hung, D7

Đầm Sen Park

3 Hoa Binh, D11; +84 28 3963 2483

Sprawling family-friendly entertainment complex with rides, a water park, cinema & zoo.