Binh Quoi Village, Ho Chi Minh City – Complete Guide and Reasons To Visit

Binh Quoi Village is hands-down one of the best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City if you’re looking for a small dose of rural Vietnam right in the heart of the largest city in the country. It’s Ho Chi Minh’s green paradise, designed to look like a miniature Mekong Delta.

In case you’re planning a trip to the popular Binh Quoi tourist village, you’ll be happy to know that I gathered everything I know and learned after my visit there in this complete travel guide! You’ll find lots of precious information here, from the location of this attraction to the best things to do there, required budget, ways of getting there and more!

Let’s dive right into it!

Quick facts about Binh Quoi Village, Ho Chi Minh City

It is said that the traditional bamboo village called “Binh Quoi Village” on Thanh Da Peninsula is one of the best-kept secrets of Ho Chi Minh City, but today I’m going to tell you all about it!

Located only 15 minutes away from downtown Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Quoi Village is a real touch of greenery among the concrete and tall buildings of the city. The idea behind this tourist attraction is to bring a piece of the famous Mekong Delta without even leaving the city. And if you’ve already visited the Mekong Delta and its gorgeous scenery, you’ll see just what a wonderful job they’ve done with this space!

Once you arrive here, you’ll be enchanted to see a blue canal, coconut trees, lily ponds, beautiful walking paths, a bamboo monkey bridge and rural cottages. Plus some pretty cool cultural events to join too!

The entire attraction is set up as a tourist village (it’s also in the name, duh!) and some of the best things to do here include fishing and eating at the all-you-can-eat buffet. But more on this in the special section below!

RELATED READ: 12 Things To Do in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – A Complete Guide To the City

Why visit Binh Quoi Tourist Village?

In case my brief introduction above wasn’t enough to convince you to add the tourist area of Binh Quoi to your Vietnam bucket list, let me offer you a few more reasons.

Okay, let’s say you’ve already explored a bit of Ho Chi Minh City and you’ve seen its Coffee Apartments, gorgeous buildings such as the Bitexco Financial Tower, the Cathedral and more. After walking all around this modern concrete jungle, doesn’t it feel good to have your fix of nature without having to do a faraway day trip?

And that’s what village Binh Quoi is all about! Imagine a day of relaxation, paddling in the lake, fishing, eating Vietnamese specialities such as fresh fish in coconut sauce or simply walking around and admiring the rustic huts, tucked away behind lush vegetation. To me, this sounds like a little piece of heaven!

RELATED READ: Travel Guide to Cu Chi Tunnels in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam – Tours VS Visiting By Yourself

Where is Binh Quoi Village located?

Binh Quoi Village is located on the riverside of Saigon, on Thanh Da Peninsula, around 10 kilometres away from the city centre. There are 3 different areas/park branches (more info right down below). 

BINH QUOI VILLAGE ADDRESS: 1147 Binh Quoi, Binh Thanh District. Find it on Google Maps here.

You can see its exact location on the map above.

Area breakdown

Although most articles on the web (yes, I’ve done my research!) mention that Binh Quoi comprises of two areas, I’ll let you know that there are actually three: Binh Quoi 1, Binh Quoi 2 and, of course, Binh Quoi 3. All of them are on Binh Quoi Street, only a few kilometres away from each other and I recommend visiting all of them in order to get a complete grasp of this wonderful destination. Especially if you don’t want to lose the chance to take plenty of photos, of course!

Binh Quoi 1

Binh Quoi 1 is the most popular and affordable tourist area out of the three. It’s basically an oasis filled with lotus ponds, coconut groves, green grass, cottages and floating markets. It is also the venue for different culinary and music festivals. 

But probably one of the best things about this area is the buffet that takes place on the weekends. Every weekend they organise the “Southern reclaiming cuisine” buffet and it’s an excellent chance to taste more than 100 traditional local dishes.

Binh Quoi 2

Although the first area is the most famous one, there are plenty of interesting, cultural things to do at number 2 as well, especially if you’re a sports lover. There you can find a swimming pool, canoes, a tennis course, folk games and more!

This area is also where you’ll find 45 bungalows and some more comfortable, resort-like services if that’s what you’re looking for. Plus, they organise a weekend buffet as well, this one called “Delicacies in the Coastal Region” that is all about fish dishes cooked by real fishermen and served together with the locals.

Binh Quoi 3

Also known as Quan Xua, this tourist area is more rustic and old school and it’s a great place if you want to enjoy some traditional food or coffee down by the Saigon river. I especially recommend this part of Binh Quoi Tourist Village if you’re a family with children, as they have a big green garden and an outdoor space with lots of activities for them such as swings, seesaw and more. This is also where you’ll find some restaurant options that serve Western European cuisine.

RELATED READ: Where to Stay in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Binh Quoi evening buffet

Talking about the amazing food in the village, Binh Quoi is probably most famous for its open-air weekend buffet. You’ll find fresh, delicious dishes here, cooked by locals and sometimes fishermen. I don’t know about you, but I would never turn down the opportunity to try traditional Vietnamese dishes in such a beautiful setting!

Prices start at 300.000 VND (13 USD) per person.

Best things to do at Binh Quoi Tourist Village in Ho Chi Minh City

I know I mentioned most of these activities in various parts of this article already, but let me also make a short round-up for you in case you need the bigger picture:

• eat ‘til you drop – choose from 100+ Southern Vietnamese dishes from the floating buffet restaurants;
• try your hand at fishing like the locals – who knows what you might catch while you’re standing over a bamboo monkey bridge with your rod?
• row down the river in a paddle-boat and imagine you’re in the Mekong Delta – do this while you admire the mangroves and gorgeous lotus flowers;
• engage in some sporty activities – some examples (other than the paddle-boat, of course) include swimming, tennis or canoeing;
• and, of course, take a crazy amount of pictures – do I need to add more?!

RELATED READ: Cafe Apartment Saigon – 3 Best Cafes Worth Visiting

Best time to visit

If you’re an experienced traveller or if you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you might expect this precious advice coming from my end: if you want to enjoy a place without the usual crowds of tourists, make sure you get there early. This applies to Binh Quoi Tourist Village as well, with some additional notes.

If you’re visiting this site to walk around and take pictures, then Monday mornings (or weekday mornings in general) are your best option, as that’s when there are fewer tourists than usual. But if you’re visiting for the cultural entertainment and buffet, you’ll have to visit on Saturday or Sunday evening, as that’s the only time they take place, although you’ll be joined by many other tourists as well. 

TIP: If you have enough time in your Ho Chi Minh City itinerary to dedicate an entire day to this beautiful green space, then you can arrive on a weekend at the opening time to enjoy the park without tourists, then stay until the buffet is ready. Worth it!

Although Binh Quoi Village can be enjoyed all year round, it’s best to visit from December to March when Ho Chi Minh City has the best weather and the temperatures are ideal for exploring outdoors.

OPENING HOURS: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM

BUFFET: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM. Only on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays

Ticket prices

You’re not ready for this: there is NO Binh Quoi Tourist Village entrance fee. Free entry! Zero, nothing, nada! 

Instead, you’ll have to pay for the activities you want to do inside, as well as the restaurant buffet. And the cost of the transportation to the village and back, of course. 

Which takes us to my next point…

How to get there

As I mentioned before, Binh Quoi Village is located in the Binh Thanh District, on the banks of the Saigon river, around 20 minutes by car from the centre of Ho Chi Minh City. Below you’ll find various ways to get there, depending on your budget and preference:

TAXI

An easy, hassle-free option. You can take a metered taxi (Mai Linh or Vinasun are the most recommended companies) from the city centre directly to the village, which should cost you from 150.000 to 200.000 VND (6.60 to 8.80 US$) one-way. If the driver asks for a higher price, try to negotiate or ask him to turn on the meter. If he refuses, just pick another driver.

GRAB

This is Vietnam’s version of Uber and it works exactly the same. You download the app, add your card and set up your destination. The advantage here is that you’ll know exactly how much you’ll be paying beforehand, as the ride’s price will appear after the app finds a driver for you.

GOVIET

In case you want to ride a scooter to Binh Quoi Village, you can take a GoViet scooter, which is slightly cheaper than renting a regular one from the city centre. 

BUS

Bus no. 44 leaves from Ben Thanh Market (more exactly, the station is on Le Thi Hong Gam Street) and will take you to Binh Quoi Street, which is right next to the village. The ticket price is 5.000 VND (0.20 US$).

BONUS: My top tips

I already told you basically everything I know about the Binh Quoi Tourist Village, but I didn’t tell you my precious tips yet. Which is exactly what I’m going to do now:

• bring mosquito repellent, especially if you’re visiting the village after sundown.
• carry cash when visiting the village as most vendors don’t accept credit or debit card payments.
• although the buffet carries over 50 classic dishes, vegan and vegetarian options will be limited.

This was my complete, detailed guide that everyone should read before visiting Binh Quoi Tourist Village! That, of course, you want to be fully prepared with for all the technical details that will help everything go as smoothly as possible. 

In this post, I have told you all about the opening times and how to get to Binh Quoi Village, which of the 3 different villages are worth visiting and what activities to do in each, how much it costs and everything in-between. So if you’re dreaming of a day of relaxation in Ho Chi Minh City that combines culture, eating in a garden by the Saigon river, walking around thatched bamboo huts, indulging in delicious food and more, search no more than the hidden gem of Binh Quoi Village!

In case you want to learn more about Ho Chi Minh City and its attractions before your trip, I recommend clicking here to find all my posts about the city. And here you will find all my articles and stories about Vietnam.

xoxo,

Melissa

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