Ho Chi Minh City Book Street - A Complete Guide
Here is my complete guide to Book Street in Ho Chi Minh City - a book lover’s paradise in the centre of Saigon.
A fully pedestrianised street that’s lined with greenery, Book Street feels like a bookish haven in the centre of busy Ho Chi Minh City.
With more than 20 individual bookshops and a bookish cafe, there’s plenty here to keep you occupied. Not only is it the ideal spot for book shopping, but there are plenty of places to shop for souvenirs to bring home for family and friends.
It’s also just generally a great place to relax away from the sun, with wooden benches that run down the centre of the shade dappled street. There’s also a very lovely bookish cafe called Phuong Nam Book Cafe, which makes a chilled out spot to sit with a cup of Vietnamese coffee and a new book.
Find a hotel near Book Street
There are plenty of well priced hotels to choose from in Ho Chi Minh City, with many just moments away from Book Street.
For more suggestions, read my guide on where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City here.
The History of Book Street
Book Street itself is also known as Nguyen Van Binh Street, and has a long history that includes a number of names chages. It received its current title in the year 2000 to reflect prominent bishop and intellectual Nguyen Van Binh. This is important, as it shows a shift in the city’s mindset to represent an affinity for knowledge and learning, receiving its Book Street status in 2016.
The street’s previous names reflect the different eras of Ho Chi Minh City’s history. Vietnam was occupied by the French in the mid-late 1800s, and during this time Book Street was known as Hongkong Street; a name which is thought to reflect the city’s status as an international hub for trade.
The street was later renamed Cardis, a more western sounding title on the 24th of February 1897, and was eventually renamed Nguyen Hau after Vietnam’s independence in 1955.
Book Street Shopping Guide
If you're looking for English language books, then your first stop needs to be the Little Cats English Bookstore.
Located down at one end of Book Street, close to Hai Bà Trưng, here you’ll find a wide variety of second hand books for adults and children. It’s definitely worth stopping by for a proper browse and to pick up some gems.
The rest of the shops on Book Street specialise mostly in Vietnamese language books. That’s not to say that you won’t find any titles in English here, but it is less likely. This makes it a fun place for collectors to browse for foreign editions of their favourite books, and get a taste for the local literary landscape.
Pictured here are Alpha Books (above), Zen Books (above), and Tre Publishing House (below) - all shops that belong to local publishers.
Each of the shops on Book Street are uniquely decorated and many also sell a variety of handmade souvenirs. I bought lots of things here for family and friends, including postcards, bookmarks and cute crocheted accessories.
Right down at the far end of Book Street, at the opposite side to the Little Cats English Bookstore, you’ll find the Little Cats Studio. This beautiful shop stocks a wide variety of handmade goods, and I ended up spending a small fortune here.
Items on offer include postcards, hand painted bookmarks and hand stitched notebooks, made from traditional Vietnamese paper. I even picked up a piece of jewellery here - a clay pendant in the shape of a cat’s head.
How to find Book Street in Ho Chi Minh City
Book Street is located in District 1, which is right in the centre of the city. It’s also just a short walk away from the Notre Dame Cathedral and Saigon Central Post Office, making it easy to get to during a day of sightseeing.
If you’re travelling from outside the area, then the easiest way to reach the street is by taxi. These are cheap and easily available on the local ride hailing app Grab, which offers both car and motorbike taxis depending on your preference.
The full address is as follows:
Nguyen Van Binh Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
When is the Best Time to Visit Book Street?
Due to the hot and humid climate in Vietnam, the best time to visit Book Street is usually either first thing in the morning or later in the afternoon, to avoid the heat of the day. The shops themselves are generally open seven days a week, with opening hours that span most of the day.
Book Street is frequently used as an event space, and there’s always a chance that you might find something exciting happening.
Their Spring Book Fair is particularly popular and takes place during the Lunar New Year, which generally falls in either January or February. This annual festival has a new theme each year, with thousands of books available to purchase.
Whether you’re a keen book lover or a tourist who’s just in the area, Book Street is well worth a visit. For me, it was definitely one of my favourite places that I visited during my Viking cruise around Southeast Asia.
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