District 1, Ho Chi Minh City


District 1 was the central urban district of Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city in Vietnam. With a total area of the district had a population of 204,899 people in 2010. It is the historical birthplace of the city, where the Citadel of Gia Định is first built. The district was divided into 10 small subsets which were called wards prior to the 2025 administrative reforms.
Although it has been dissolved, "District 1" is still colloquially referred for the city's central business district, an area including several central wards in the city that was part of the district, it contained most of the city's administrative offices, consulates, and iconic buildings. District 1 was the busiest district in the city with the highest living standards with Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard and Đồng Khởi Street, the city's two main shopping streets, the latter is the highest demand area for real estate in the city and the whole nation, hitting a record price of $50,000 per square meter in 2007 and topping the charts of most expensive streets in the nation for years.
WWW quan1.hochiminhcity.gov.v...

History

District 1 and the other seven districts of Ho Chi Minh City were founded on May 27, 1959. Before 1975, District 1 was divided into 2 different districts and divided by Công Lý Street, the first district on the east side of the street only had four small subsets which were Bến Nghé, Hòa Bình, Trần Quang Khải and Tự Đức, and the second district had seven different wards which were Bến Thành, Huyện Sĩ, Bùi Viện, Cầu Ông Lãnh, Cầu Kho, Nguyễn Cảnh Chân and Nguyễn Cư Trinh. In May 1976 the first and second districts were combined into District 1. On 1 July 2025, the districts of Ho Chi Minh City were abolished, and the district central area which are former Bến Nghé ward with part of Nguyễn Thái Bình and Đa Kao since corresponds to the Saigon ward.

Administration

District 1 was subdivided into ten wards, namely Bến Nghé, Bến Thành, Cô Giang, Cầu Kho, Cầu Ông Lãnh, Đa Kao, Nguyễn Thái Bình, Nguyễn Cư Trinh, Phạm Ngũ Lão and Tân Định. Each ward had its own People's Committee, subordinate to the People's Committee of District 1.

Demographic and geographical features

District 1 had a population of 204,899 people over the total of 7,162,864 in Ho Chi Minh City. The total area of the district was. The district's density was, very high compared to Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam respectively.
District 1 was located towards the center of Ho Chi Minh City.

Economy

When Saigon was governed by South Vietnam, Air Vietnam's head office was located in District 1.
District 1 is considered the financial center of Saigon and Vietnam. It is home to the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange, State Bank of Vietnam, and Vietnamese headquarters of international banks such as HSBC, ANZ, United Overseas Bank, Standard Chartered, Citi, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of China, and Maybank. District 1 also known as the best spot for shopping in Vietnam, with a high concentration of shopping centres and luxury brands.
District 1 was effectively shutdown for tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam, causing many restaurants, bars, clubs, and hotels, to suffer major financial distress.

Consulates

Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam's biggest and busiest city, with a large population of immigrants from around the world living and working there. Because District 1 is the city's central district, many foreign general consulates are located there.
The Consulate of AustraliaLevel 20, Vincom Center 47 Lý Tự Trọng, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of Cambodia41 Phùng Khắc Khoan, Đa Kao Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of CanadaSuite 1002, Level 10, The Metropolitan, 235 Đồng Khởi, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of China175 Hai Bà Trưng, Võ Thị Sáu Ward, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of Cuba45 Phùng khắc Khoan, Đa Kao Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of the Czech Republic28 Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of France27 Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of GermanyLevel 4, Deutsches Haus, 33 Lê Duẩn, Bến Nghé Ward, Disitrct 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of Hungary22 Phùng Khắc Khoan, Đa Kao Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of Indonesia18 Phùng Khắc Khoan, Đa Kao Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of Italy17 Lê Duẩn Ward, Bến Nghé, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of Laos93 Pasteur, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of Malaysia2 Ngô Đức Kế, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of New ZealandSuite 804, Level 8, The Metropolitan, 235 Đồng Khởi Street, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of Japan261 Điện Biên Phủ, Võ Thị Sáu Ward, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of Panama7A Lê Thánh Tôn, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of Poland2 Trần Cao Vân, Đa Kao Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of SingaporeRoom 5-Level 11, Saigon Centre Tower 2, 67 Lê Lợi, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of South Korea107 Nguyễn Du, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of Sweden8A/11 D1 Lầu 5 Thái Văn Lung, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of Switzerland2 Ngô Đức Kế, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of the United Kingdom25 Lê Duẩn, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of the United States of America4 Lê Duẩn, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

'''Notes'''

Education

Many of the best public schools in the city are located in District 1. Vietnam's system of private schools is relatively new and is still in the developing stage.

Office buildings

Mostly grade A office towers of the city are located in District 1.
NameAddress
Bitexco Financial Tower2 Hải Triều Street, District 1, HCMC
Central Plaza17 Lê Duẩn Street, District 1, HCMC
Citilight Tower45 Võ Thị Sáu Street, District 1, HCMC
CJ Building2-4-6 Lê Thánh Tôn Street, District 1, HCMC
Deutsches Haus33 Lê Duẩn Street, District 1, HCMC
Diamond Plaza34 Lê Duẩn Street, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, HCMC
HD Tower25bis Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai Street, District 1, HCMC
HMC Tower193 Đinh Tiên Hoàng Street, District 1, HCMC
Havana Tower132 Hàm Nghi Street, District 1, HCMC
Marina Central Tower2 Tôn Đức Thắng Street, District 1, HCMC
Melinh Point Tower2 Ngô Đức Kế Street, District 1, HCMC
mPlaza Saigon39 Lê Duẩn Street, District 1, HCMC
Opera View161 Đồng Khởi Street, District 1, HCMC
President Place93 Nguyễn Du Street, District 1, HCMC
Riverside Place3C Tôn Đức Thắng Street, District 1, HCMC
Ruby Tower81 – 85 Hàm Nghi Street, District 1, HCMC
Saigon Centre65 Lê Lợi Street, District 1, HCMC
Saigon Tower29 Lê Duẩn Street, District 1, HCMC
Saigon Finance9 Đinh Tiên Hoàng Street, District 1, HCMC
Saigon Times Square22 – 36 Nguyễn Huệ Street, District 1, HCMC
Saigon Trade Center37 Tôn Đức Thắng Street, District 1, HCMC
Sailing Tower111A Pasteur Street, District 1, HCMC
Sunwah Tower115 Nguyễn Huệ Street, District 1, HCMC
The Green Power Tower35 Tôn Đức Thắng Street, District 1, HCMC
TNR Tower180-192 Nguyễn Công Trứ Street, District 1, HCMC
Vietcombank Tower5 Mê Linh Square, District 1, HCMC
Zen Plaza54-56 Nguyễn Trãi Street, District 1, HCMC

Tourist sights

Historical sights

Buildings such as the Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica, the Saigon Opera House, the Central Post Office, the City Hall, Phạm Ngũ Lão Street, the former Republic of Vietnam President's Reunification Palace, Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts, Hotel Majestic, Tao Dan Park, and Rex Hotel are some of the most famous historical sights in District 1. Besides these places, most streets in District 1 built and designed since 1946 were completed by the French. Most of the buildings constructed since the French colonial era are still standing, with most having been recently renovated.

Other Attractions

The Bitexco Financial Tower, completed in 2010, is a symbol of modernity mixed with cultural influences. The Bùi Viện and Nguyễn Huệ districts are also interesting places for visitors.
The Landmark 81 became the tallest building of the city and the country in 2018.