10 Cool and Quirky Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City! ✴️🗺

Ho Chi Minh City is a city that thrives on surprises, blending colonial facades with chaotic motorbike swarms. Let's step off the beaten path and dive into unusual experiences that reveal its rich history and quirky spirit.
From hidden apartment cafes to snail-strewn streets, this guide reveals 10 unique and unusual activities ideal for adventurous souls seeking a fresh perspective on this dynamic city. Let’s explore the fun!

1️⃣ FITO Museum
➜ What It Is
A lush garden-museum showcasing over 1,000 traditional Vietnamese medicinal plants and herbs, at 41 Hoang Du Khuong Street, Thao Dien Ward, District 2 (near An Phu MRT Station on the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien Line, or a short taxi from central HCMC).
➜ Why It’s Fun
Wandering aromatic paths lined with exotic remedies feels like a botanical treasure hunt, blending sensory discovery with hands-on herb workshops for a healing, whimsical escape.
➜ The Story
Founded in 2004 by a passionate herbalist amid Vietnam's revival of folk medicine, it draws from ancient Dong Son bronze drum rituals and French colonial botany; this green oasis highlights HCMC's fusion of indigenous healing and modern curiosity in a suburban haven.

2️⃣ Nguyen Van Binh Book Street
➜ What It Is
A pedestrian-only lane transformed into an open-air library with pop-up stalls selling rare books and comics, tucked beside the Central Post Office in District 1 (a 5-minute walk from Notre Dame Cathedral, Ben Thanh MRT Station on the North-South Line).
➜ Why It’s Fun
Flipping through dusty tomes under string lights sparks a literary adventure, perfect for bookworms hunting Vietnamese poetry or Soviet-era sci-fi amid a cozy, intellectual buzz.
➜ The Story
Launched in 2016 to celebrate HCMC's reading culture during the rainy season, it evolved from a weekend pop-up into a year-round haven; inspired by colonial-era print shops, it captures the city's resilient love for stories in an era of digital overload.

3️⃣ The Cafe Apartments
➜ What It Is
A maze-like cafe hidden inside a crumbling 1920s apartment block, with rooftop views and secret nooks, at 37 Ho Tung Mau Street, District 1 (near Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, a 10-minute walk from Ba Chieu MRT Station).
➜ Why It’s Fun
Climbing creaky stairs to discover plant-draped balconies and craft brews offers a thrilling, exploratory vibe, like uncovering a bohemian speakeasy for photographers and chill seekers.
➜ The Story
Opened in the 2010s by young creatives in a fading French-era residence, it nods to HCMC's 1960s intellectual cafes during wartime; now a social hub, it embodies the city's adaptive spirit, turning decay into vibrant community spaces.

4️⃣ Ho Thi Ky Flower Market
➜ What It Is
A vibrant dawn market overflowing with orchids, lotus blooms, and Khmer street food stalls, at Hem 52 Ho Thi Ky Street, Ward 1, District 10 (near Le Van Sy Street, accessible by bus 03 from central HCMC or Grab ride).
➜ Why It’s Fun
Bargaining for fragrant bouquets amid petal-strewn alleys delivers a colorful, sensory overload, ideal for flower-crown selfies and Khmer noodle tastings in a lively local frenzy.
➜ The Story
Rooted in the 1970s as a Cambodian refugee trading post post-Vietnam War, it supplies the city's floral needs while preserving Khmer culinary traditions; this dawn ritual reflects HCMC's multicultural resilience and daily devotion to beauty.

5️⃣ Vinh Khanh Food Street
➜ What It Is
A riverside alley alive with smoky grills serving exotic snails, clams, and oysters, along Vinh Khanh Street in District 4 (near Thu Duc Bridge, a short walk from Ham Nghi MRT Station via ferry across the Saigon River).
➜ Why It’s Fun
Slurping herb-infused escargot under twinkling lights sparks a flavorful, boisterous feast, turning dinner into a communal adventure for bold eaters and night wanderers.
➜ The Story
Once a notorious 1980s gangster haunt in gritty District 4, it gentrified into a street-food legend by the 2000s, with chefs sharing ingredients through a "borrow-back" system; this evolution mirrors HCMC's transformation from wartime shadows to a culinary playground.

6️⃣ Thu Thiem Kite Flying
➜ What It Is
A grassy expanse where locals launch dragon kites at dusk, near the Thu Thiem Bridge in District 2 (accessible by water taxi from Bach Dang Wharf in District 1, or bus 56 from Ben Thanh Market).
➜ Why It’s Fun
Joining families to unfurl massive silk kites against the skyline creates a joyful, wind-whipped ritual, perfect for aerial photos and carefree sky-gazing escapism.
➜ The Story
Revived in the 1990s from ancient Tet festival traditions, this riverside spot uses the breeze from urban development for free-flying fun; it honors HCMC's folk heritage, blending rural whimsy with the city's futuristic skyline ambitions.

7️⃣ Chua Van Phat - Temple of Ten Thousand Buddhas
➜ What It Is
A sprawling Buddhist complex housing 10,000 mini-Buddha statues in a lotus pond, at 339 Binh Quoi Street, Binh Chanh District (near Binh Chanh MRT Station on the Suoi Tien Line, or Grab from District 1).
➜ Why It’s Fun
Releasing floating lanterns amid golden figurines evokes a meditative, fairytale glow, offering serene cultural immersion for reflection and ethereal snapshots.
➜ The Story
Built in 1999 by a devoted monk to symbolize compassion, it draws on Mahayana folklore in which Buddhas multiply to aid souls; this suburban sanctuary underscores HCMC's spiritual depth, providing solace in a metropolis of ceaseless motion.

8️⃣ Layla Cocktail Bar
➜ What It Is
A speakeasy-style bar concealed behind a faux bookstore in a colonial shophouse, at 63/11 Pasteur Street, District 1 (near Nguyen Hue Walking Street, a 5-minute walk from Ho Chi Minh City Hall).
➜ Why It’s Fun
Pushing through faux shelves for herb-infused drinks in velvet booths delivers a secretive, sophisticated thrill, ideal for mixology lovers craving hidden elegance.
➜ The Story
Launched amid HCMC's craft cocktail boom, it channels 1920s French Indochine intrigue with Vietnamese twists, like betel leaf gin; this clandestine gem celebrates the city's colonial hangover, turned into modern nightlife alchemy.

9️⃣ Modernist Tube Houses
➜ What It Is
Slender, narrow-fronted homes designed for urban density, scattered along Nguyen Thiep and Bui Thi Xuan Streets in District 1 (near Da Kao Ward, walkable from Ben Thanh MRT Station).
➜ Why It’s Fun
Peering into ventilated facades and rooftop gardens sparks an architectural safari, uncovering quirky adaptations like motorbike elevators for photo-worthy oddities.
➜ The Story
Emerged in the 1950s-1960s as tax-dodging builds under French law—maximizing narrow plots—these "tube houses" evolved post-war into HCMC's iconic squeezed style; they epitomize the city's resourceful ingenuity amid population booms.

🔟 Bosgaurus Coffee
➜ What It Is
A retro coffee shop in a 1940s villa with vintage Vespa decor and rare robusta brews.
➜ Why It’s Fun
Sipping phin-drip coffee amid motorcycle memorabilia creates a nostalgic, caffeinated time warp, great for locals' tales and Instagram-fueled nostalgia trips.
➜ The Story
Opened in 2015 by a Vespa enthusiast in Cholon’s Chinese quarter, it revives 1960s Saigon cafe culture with beans from forgotten highlands; this quirky nod to mobility icons ties into HCMC's love affair with two-wheeled freedom and resilient heritage.

💥Ready to dive into Ho Chi Minh City’s quirkiest corners? These adventures await—share your favorites! #hcmchiddengems #quirkysaigon #offthebeatenpathhcmc #saigonadventures #hiddenhcmc