Pink church, bustling market put Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Dinh among world’s coolest neighborhoods

The UK-based Time Out magazine placed Tan Dinh at No. 12 in its list of the 40 coolest neighborhoods in the world, released on September 16, behind Russafa in Valencia, Spain.

Following a recent administrative restructuring, the area commonly known as Tan Dinh now spans two wards on either side of Hai Ba Trung Street.

Tan Dinh Market is in Tan Dinh Ward, while Tan Dinh Church stands across the street in Xuan Hoa Ward.

The two areas remain connected by its urban landscape, culture, and everyday life.

With a short walk, visitors can encounter a well-known historic church, a long-established market, local eateries and cafes, as well as historical and cultural sites tucked among residential streets.

Coffee with view of pink church

The most recognizable landmark in the area is Tan Dinh Church, a distinctive pink structure on Hai Ba Trung Street.

Several cafes nearby offer views of the church from across the street, allowing visitors to enjoy a drink while taking in the landmark.

The cafes range from renovated old houses to more modern spaces.

During a recent visit, foreign visitors were seen at many of the cafes around the church.

Some stopped to take photos, while others worked, chatted or took a break after sightseeing.

"We learned about Tan Dinh Church through articles and photos online. After visiting the church, we looked for a nearby cafe to rest. I like that this place still has a local community and does not feel like a neighborhood designed only for tourists," said Kang Dong Hyun, a South Korean visitor.

A Malaysian visitor said she enjoyed being able to walk between several attractions.

"You can find a cafe, church, market, and many eateries just a short walk away. I prefer exploring this way to visiting just one place and leaving," she said.

Such experiences partly explain the neighborhood's appeal to Time Out, which describes Tan Dinh as an area where low-rise streets, independent businesses, food, and community life come together.

From the church, visitors can walk toward Tan Dinh Market.

The market stands out with its yellow facade, French-influenced architectural details, and small towers at the corners.

It is one of the city's long-established markets and has been part of the shopping life of local residents for generations.

Inside are stalls selling food, fabrics, dried goods, and prepared dishes.

The market is particularly lively in the morning, when local residents shop for food and nearby businesses begin their daily activities.

For visitors, Tan Dinh Market offers an experience different from sightseeing along a designated tourist route.

Rather than open spaces for taking in the scenery, the market is filled with vendors, shoppers, and rows of closely packed stalls.

The market was also recently recognized as a city-level architectural and artistic heritage site, adding another layer of value to a landmark long familiar to local residents.

From the market, visitors can continue their food exploration along Dinh Cong Trang Street, home to Banh Xeo 46A, an eatery mentioned by Time Out in its introduction to Tan Dinh.

The 'banh xeo' or sizzling Vietnamese pancakes are cooked until golden and crispy and served with fresh herbs and dipping sauce.

The long-running eatery is among the local food establishments that contribute to the neighborhood's character.

Deeper look at Tan Dinh's history, culture

Stopping at the church, cafes, market, and eateries only reveals part of Tan Dinh.

Walking farther along the surrounding streets brings visitors to sites connected with the city's history.

At 145 Tran Quang Khai Street is the Biet Dong Sai Gon - Gia Dinh (Saigon - Gia Dinh Special Force) Museum.

Not far away is a historical site featuring a former tunnel and secret mailbox used by the Saigon Special Force at 113A Dang Dung Street, now part of the Com Tam Dai Han - Do Phu Cafe complex.

The area is also home to the Xom Chua Traditional Stele on Nguyen Van Nguyen Street and the stele commemorating residents of the Tran Quang Khai Ward who rose up to seize power in 1975 on Tran Quang Khai Street.

For visitors interested in religious and cultural heritage, sites include the Saint Tran Hung Dao Temple on Vo Thi Sau Street, the Jade Emperor Pagoda on Mai Thi Luu Street, and Van Tho Ancestral Temple on Hoang Sa Street.

The Nam Chon, Son Tra, Nghia Hoa, Phu Hoa, and Tan An communal houses are also located in the area, forming a network of religious structures linked to the development of local communities.

These sites do not necessarily form part of a conventional sightseeing route.

But viewed together, they reveal the different layers of Tan Dinh, where architecture, traditional markets, food, cafes, historical sites, and religious spaces coexist among residential neighborhoods.

Visitors may begin with a photo in front of the pink church but then find themselves lingering over a cup of coffee, a dish at the market, a long-established 'banh xeo' restaurant or the story behind an otherwise ordinary-looking house.

Tan Dinh, therefore, is not simply a place for a photo opportunity.

It is an area suited to walking, observing, and exploring different layers of local life, where newer spaces have emerged alongside traces of the past that have remained for generations.

That blend may be what gives Tan Dinh its distinct character on Time Out's list of the world's coolest neighborhoods this year.