UK-based magazine Time Out has released its list of the 39 coolest neighborhoods in the world for 2025, ranking Nguyen Thai Binh Ward (Ho Chi Minh City) at 11th place.

The neighborhood is described as a quintessential Vietnamese urban area, with rows of small shops, bustling motorbike traffic, traditional eateries alongside international restaurants and hidden bars tucked away in alleys and old apartment buildings. Time Out praised its dynamic transformation, highlighting new hotspots such as Leonardo Pizza, ÔMM Mixology, and Noriboi Omakase that have quickly drawn in both young locals and international visitors.

Beyond its food scene, the area is also a vibrant cultural and tourist destination, home to the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts, Le Cong Kieu Antique Street, Yersin Market, and unique cafés hidden within aging apartment blocks. Time Out even suggested a full-day itinerary—starting with a morning bowl of snail vermicelli soup, coffee at Hoang Thi Café, visits to antique streets and museums, and ending the night at stylish restaurants and bars.

Topping the global list are Jimbocho (Tokyo), followed by Borgerhout (Antwerp, Belgium) and Barra Funda (São Paulo, Brazil).

Source: VNExpress, Mai Phuong (via Time Out)

https://www.timeout.com/travel/coolest-neighbourhoods-in-the-world-2025