The bookstore hums quiet. The heat waits outside.
Why HAIBATRUNG, why now
The Hai Ba Trung corridor threading District 1 and District 3 anchors the city's current creative nightlife axis, with dense clusters of new bars and cafes earning trendiest-bars features in 2026. This course takes the same stretch in daylight, before the axis wakes.
1. Fahasa Sai Gon Bookstore
- Tầng Trệt, Toà Nhà 60, 62 Lê Lợi, Sài Gòn, Hồ Chí Minh 700000
- 4.2 · 719 reviews · Independent Bookstore
Fahasa opens the course in the morning, when the aisles are still cool and the sidewalk outside hasn't filled yet. It's an independent bookstore with affordable postcards and magnets, stationery, and Japanese comics, a place to spend last remaining dong before you leave the city. The crew routes it first because mornings here feel slower than the market rush, and you'll leave with something light to carry into the rest of the day.
Crew's note
The lucky cats don't wave. The aisles just wait.
What visitors say
Good bookstore overall and the souvenirs: postcards and magnets are cheap and affordable enough- better than going to Benh Thanh market and…
Bookstore with other bits and pieces, great souvenirs that are at a very affordable price in this area really recommend to have a look and s…
2. Annam Gallery
- 371/4 Hai Bà Trưng, Xuân Hòa, Hồ Chí Minh 70000
- 4.3 · 83 reviews · Art Gallery
Annam closes the route in the afternoon, a small contemporary gallery tucked into District 3 that gives the walk a quiet endpoint. It's the kind of space that holds a single artist show in cool air and low light, where you can drift through a few rooms without a crowd. The crew ends here because the corridor outside belongs to the evening shift, and this is the last stop before the neighborhood changes tempo.
Crew's note
The floor is cool. The walls hold still.
What visitors say
Thanks for this meaningful exhibition🙏🏼it was such a deep joy to find this place in Vietnam! And thanks to artist for vision🤍 love it.
Tucked away in District 3, Annam Gallery is a smallish contemporary space offering a serene setting for art appreciation. Currently showcasi…
The walk between
The walk threads the Hai Ba Trung strip as it crosses from District 1 into District 3, passing the cafes and cocktail bars that will fill later. You'll see the creative nightlife corridor in its daytime register, quiet storefronts and awnings waiting for evening.
- Start at Fahasa when it opens, before the sidewalk heat settles in and while the aisles still feel spacious.
- Pair the bookstore's postcards run with the gallery's single-artist focus: souvenirs in the morning, a slower look at local work in the afternoon.
FAQ
- How much should I budget for souvenirs and small purchases along this route?
- Visitor reviews note that Fahasa undercuts Benh Thanh market pricing, with stationery items like measuring tapes available between 4,500 and 13,000 dong. Annam may charge a small entry fee during art fairs, though standard gallery visits are typically free.
- What if the gallery is closed when I arrive?
- One visitor arrived around 5pm to find Annam closed without notice, so confirm hours ahead if you're planning the afternoon around it. The vintage shops and cafes nearby can absorb the extra time if the gallery isn't open.
Ask Moon
Danang
