Ho Chi Minh is the most modern city in Vietnam that is known for its skyscrapers, great shopping, and nightlife scene. The city has many high-rise hotels and buildings that offer rooftop terraces and observation decks to enjoy the stunning views of the city both day and night.
Saigon Skydeck is one of the best places to visit in Ho Chi Minh City to enjoy the views of the city and Saigon River from above. It’s located in a Bitexco Financial Tower – the second tallest building in Ho Chi Minh City, so you can spot this building from many corners of district 1.
In this article, I will share my opinion on if it’s worth visiting Saigon Skydeck, the location, how to get to, entrance ticket, and things to do at the Saigon Skydeck.
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Should you visit Saigon Skydeck?
I think it’s well worth it to visit Saigon skydeck, especially if you want to enjoy the stunning views of the city in central district 1 with less tourist crowds and good air conditioning system. You can also have a chance to learn a bit of the city’s history and geography at the skydeck.
You might wonder whether it is worth visiting the Saigon Skydeck due to its relatively expensive entrance ticket compared to local standard or you can just enjoy the views for free from many sky bars and rooftop terraces in the city.
But, trust me, it’s something unique to see the city and the river from above with modern binoculars and explanations of each area, and the history of the city, as well as cool air, a souvenir shop, and family-friendly atmosphere.
Having stayed at high-rise hotels in both District 3 and District 1, including La Vela Saigon Hotel, I had already experienced excellent city views for free and therefore didn’t plan to visit the Saigon Skydeck.
While exploring Nguyen Hue Walking Street and strolling along the left bank of Saigon River, I kept spotting this unique building with a helipad from every direction, so I decided to visit it after reading several reviews on Google Maps.
I believe that many people don’t plan to visit Saigon, but after wandering around Nguyen Hue and Dong Khoi street, they decided to visit it. It’s also a nice stop to cool off for 30 minutes to an hour from the heat outside. Nguyen Hue Walking street is extremely hot during the daytime.
For local people, 240 thousand VND (around 10USD) for an entrance ticket is quite expensive. For many foreign visitors, it’s still expensive. So, I guess this place is a good place to visit for those who have a good budget. If you have a tight budget, you can skip it.
Location of Saigon Skydeck
Saigon Skydeck is located on the 49th floor of the Bitexco Financial Tower. This tower is located in the center of district 1, in the area around Nguyen Hue and Dong Khoi streets, which are the posh areas of the city.
The exact location of Saigon Skydeck is at 36 Ho Tung Mau street, district 1. It’s one block away from the famous Nguyen Hue Walking Street.
You can easily combine the visit to Saigon Skydeck with nearby attractions such as Ho Chi Minh City Hall, Nguyen Hue street Cafe Apartment, Bach Dang River Park, Saigon Opera House, and Vincom Dong Khoi.
How to get to Saigon Skydeck?
You can walk, use public transport, or Grab a taxi to get to Saigon Skydeck depending on your location. If you are staying nearby in Nguyen Hue street, Dong Khoi street, or along the bank of Saigon River in District 1, you can easily walk to Saigon Skydeck.
For further location, most people prefer using riding share services such as Grab, Be, or XanhSM to get to Saigon Skydeck. These options are cheap and you can avoid the heat. Grab is the most popular app, not only in Vietnam, but also many other countries in South East Asia.
There are also public buses nearby but i dont bother doing it as riding share services are plentiful and affordable.
You can also use the underground train if you stay in Thao Dien district 2 and the area around Landmark 81 and Binh Thanh district. You can get off at Opera House Station then walk for 10 minutes to get to Saigon Skydeck.
Ticket Price and How to Buy Tickets
The entrance ticket to Saigon Skydeck is 240,000 VND, which is around 10 USD. You can buy tickets onsite at the ground floor of the Bitexco Building or online at travel platforms such as Klook or Agoda.
The ticket includes free use of binoculars, a water bottle, and free exploration at the Ao Dai Museum.
I preferred buying the ticket on-site, as visiting the Skydeck was a last-minute decision. It was midday, so crowds weren’t an issue and tickets weren’t likely to sell out. You can buy it in advance if you visit during peak hours in the late afternoon.
Opening Time and best time to visit Saigon Skydeck
The Saigon Skydeck is open everyday from 9.30am to 9.30pm. You can still buy a ticket and enter the Skydeck until 45 minutes before closing time.
It’s an indoor attraction, so you can visit it all year around. It’s best to visit Saigon Skydeck on a clear day, so you can see everything clearly in the distance.
The best time to visit to avoid crowds is in the morning and mid day. It’s more popular at sunset, but it’s still unlikely to be crowded. I visited the Saigon Skydeck at midday and had plenty of space to explore. It wasn’t very busy around the binoculars either.
I recommend visiting at sunset, so you can enjoy the views of the city and Saigon River both during day time and night time. Most people spend 30-60 minutes exploring the Skydeck, but it’s worth sticking around at sunset to see the city light up.
What to do at Saigon Skydeck & Bitexco Financial Tower
See the the 360 degree views of the city and the river
The best thing to do at Saigon Skydeck is to enjoy the views of the city. The best views from Saigon Skydeck, in my opinion, are the views towards Saigon River.
I can view the long river curving around the city, the skyscrapers, and famous landmarks such as Landmark 81, Ben Thanh market, Ben Nghe canal, Chinatown, Nguyen Hue Walking Street, and Bui Vien Walking Street.
You can take some nice photos with a beautiful background of the city. There is a cyclo and a conical hat onsite for you to use to take photos. The area is indoor and is fully covered by glass, so there may be reflections in the photos.
There are 6 huge binoculars on the observation deck, so you can use them to zoom out the landmarks in the far distance. Next to the binocular is the touch screen where you can read more about the information of each direction.
Read information about the history of Saigon
At the Saigon skydeck,there is an information board where you can read the timeline over 300 years of history of Saigon from its establishment through French colonial time, Vietnam- American War and to the modern day.
Read the list of tallest buildings in the world
In addition to the history board, there is a display showing the 20 tallest buildings in the world. Bitexco Financial Tower is no longer the tallest building in Vietnam, but it still remains an iconic design landmark with the unique shape of a lotus bulb and helipad features.
The tallest building in Vietnam currently belongs to the 461.2-meter Landmark 81,along the bank of Saigon River in Binh Thanh district. The second tallest building in the country is the Keangnam Landmark Tower in Hanoi.
Explore Ao Dai Museum
Saigon Skydeck has a small room with a collection of traditional female Vietnamese dresses, Áo Dài, from various periods of Vietnam’s history. You can walk around, take photos, and admire one of the symbols of Vietnam.
Shop for traditional Vietnamese souvenirs
Saigon skydeck has a small shop selling souvenirs for visitors. You can buy popular items such such as T-shirts, hats, postcards, mugs, and handbags.
Icon 68 Shopping center
After visiting Saigon skydeck, you can explore the Icon 68 Shopping center. Spreading over 6 floors on the bottom parts of Bitexco Financial Tower, it’s a great place for shopping, eating, and entertainment.
The Bitexco Financial Tower features a unique design, with a helipad on the 52nd floor that can accommodate a helicopter weighing up to 3 tons. There is no real helicopter park here though. You can also find more luxury restaurants and cafes on the 50th, 51st, 52nd floor.
Other cool places to see Saigon’s skyline
Ho Chi Minh is packed with high-rise buildings with rooftop areas, so to get free access to the rooftop terraces, you can just book a stay at high-rise hotels in the city such as La Vera Saigon, Sheraton, Liberty Riverside, or Caravelle Hotel.
The Skydeck at Landmark 81 is currently the tallest building in Vietnam and is on the list of 20 tallest buildings in the world. Unlike Saigon Skydeck, Landmark 81 is located a bit outside of the city center. So you need to use Grab Taxi or Bike to get to this attraction.
Landmark 81 can be seen from many corners of Saigon, including District 1, District 3, and even Thao Dien in District 2.
Where to stay near Saigon Skydeck?
Saigon Skydeck is located in the heart of district 1, and there are dozens of hotels located in this area around Nguyen Hue Walking street and Dong Khoi street. This is an affluent part of the city, so you can easily find many luxury 5-star hotels near Saigon Skydeck.
Best hotels near Saigon Skydeck:
Amanaki Saigon Boutique Hotel
This 5-star hotel is located on Ho Tung Mau street, in the heart of the post area of district 1of Saigon. It’s just steps away from Saigon Skydeck and Nguyen Hue Walking street with major sights such as the City Hall and Cafe apartment.
The hotel has lovely decor with antique interiors and spacious rooms with all necessary facilities such as a mini fridge, cafes, and teas.
M Village Hotel Tôn Thất Đạm
This mid-range 4-star hotel is centrally located in district 1, close to Saigon Skydeck and many other popular attractions. It’s a good base for sightseeing, shopping, and nightlife. Lots of trendy cafes. Restaurants, and bars are a short walk from the hotel.
In terms of facilities, the hotel has a nice swimming pool and gym with stunning views of the city and the Saigon Skydeck. They served breakfast onsite and you can choose rooms with windows for the best experience.
The Reverie Saigon
This 5-star hotel is located in the prime location in Nguyen Hue Walking street, around 5 minutes walk to Saigon Skydeck. If you want something luxurious in the heart of the city, close to everything, this hotel is the place to go.
Royal Hotel Saigon
This is a 4-star mind-range hotel located on Nguyen Hue Walking street, near Saigon Skydeck. It has an excellent location for exploring the city, close to iconic attractions, modern shopping malls, as well as many restaurants, and bars.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my introduction to Saigon Skydeck, one of the best viewpoint platforms in Central Ho Chi Minh City. If you’re staying in district 1, it’s definitely well worth visiting to see a 360 degrees view of the city and learn a bit about the history of the city.