Though Saigon has lost quite a bit of its verdant luster over the years, there are still patches of green throughout the city that are worth checking out.Vietnam Coraclehas made a handy guide to some of Saigon’s best parks and open spaces that can help you escape from the daily hustle and bustle.
You can find Part 1 of this list here
7. April 30th (30/4) Park
Photo via An Lam
Though full of old trees and generous grass lawns, 30/4 Park is used mainly as an outdoor café. Throngs of students sit on cardboard cutouts to enjoy some café bệt time, stroke guitars, and sing, giving the place a college campus vibe.
Hàn Thuyên and Alexandre de Rhodes streets, District 1
8. Lê Văn Tám Park
Photo via Hoang Nguyen
While most are dedicated to relaxing and taking in nature, this park doubles as a sports center. Roller-skaters, dancers and martial artists can be found throughout Lê Văn Tám on a daily basis. Once a cemetery for the French elite, some locals think the park is haunted though it doesn’t prohibit joggers and aerobics classes from enjoying the park after the sun sets.
Võ Thị Sáu and Điện Biên Phủ streets, District 1
9. September 23rd (23/9) Park
Photo via Daihocsi
Though concrete is a defining feature of this park that was once Saigon’s main train station, there are still plenty of tall palm trees to shade visitors.
Getting its name from a brief but blood rebellion against the French in 1945, these days, 23/9 Park is a workout hotspot with plenty of kung-fu aerobics and badminton.
While there has been talk of developing the park, such a scheme would likely draw the ire of locals who don’t have many other nearby options for green space.
Lê Lại and Phạm Ngũ Lão streets, District 1
10. Gia Định Park
Photo via Lem Nguyen
Located just south of Tan Son Nhat Airport, trees are the attraction at Gia Dinh Park. With over 700 tall, old trees, at times it feels like you’re walking indoors due to the canopy of foliage that hangs over walking paths.
Once thought to be a perfect spot for a golf course back in the 1950s, it is now considered one of the city’s most important parks.
Hoàng Minh Giám Street, Gò Vấp District
11. Bình Quới Parks
Photo via Dulich365
Though a bit farther from the city center compared to some of the other parks on this list, Bình Qưới transports you to a small, traditional village in the Mekong Delta.
These three “tourist parks” offer a romantic atmosphere (it’s very common to see soon-to-wed couples doing their photo shoots here), plenty of food options (try the canh chua cá) and even fishing.
Bình Qưới Street, Thanh Đa Island, Bình Thạnh District
12. Lê Thị Riêng Park
Photo via Bang Trần
Located in one of the most densely populated areas of Saigon, local residents take full advantage of Lê Thị Riêng Park.
The mornings and evenings are characterized by a flurry of activity. Visitors of all ages exercise, dance, relax and chat under eucalyptus and tamarind trees; old men fish along the pond in its center and students flock to the park’s night market and amusement park.
There’s also something of a military element to the space that was named after a female war hero who fought against French colonialism. Military statues dot the park and hundreds of camouflaged youth stand at attention and listen to military doctrine.
Cách Mạng Tháng Tám Street, District 10
