Discover Authentic Vietnam: Stay in a Charming Old Tower Block Apartment Airbnb in Ho Chi Minh City

• Staying in an Airbnb room in this old tower block in central Ho Chi Minh City costs around $30 a night.
• This building is a bustling microcosm of Vietnamese life, featuring street food, hair salons, kindergartens, and even an antique shop.
• The highlight of my stay was undoubtedly the friendly and talkative neighbors, and I am already planning my return.

Being a travel writer with a focus on Vietnam, I frequently visit Ho Chi Minh City and have experienced most of the top hotels. However, during my last trip in September, I decided to try something different and stay in an apartment within one of the city’s vertical villages.

Many of these famous former apartment buildings have now transformed into trendy bars and restaurants. One of the most popular spots, the Café Apartment on 42 Nguyen Hue Street, is a collection of unique coffee houses and dessert bars.

Those looking for a more underground scene often venture a few blocks south to the building at 14 Tan That Dam Street, where hidden speakeasies and tattoo parlors can be found. Even many of my favorite establishments in the city, such as the cocktail bar Summer Experiment and the artisanal coffee shop Manki, are now located in what were once residential homes.

However, the apartment building at 47-57 Nguyen Thai Binh, which was built during the 1960s and is situated near Ben Thanh Market and the Museum of Fine Arts, remains predominantly residential. There are only a few apartments available for short-term rent, and I was fortunate enough to secure one for three nights. It didn’t take long for me to discover that many resourceful residents had also established businesses catering to both fellow residents and visitors, providing plenty of activities to explore during my stay.