Thu Thiem Riverside Park at Night | One of the Best Saigon Skyline Views

If you are looking for one of the best places to enjoy the night skyline of Ho Chi Minh City, Thu Thiem Riverside Park should be high on your list.

I visited on a Sunday evening at around 7 PM. I started near Creative Park and crossed Ba Son Bridge on foot before arriving at the riverside park.

The walk itself was already part of the experience.

From Ba Son Bridge, the lights of central Ho Chi Minh City begin to open up across the Saigon River, and once you reach the riverside, the view becomes even better.

Where Is Thu Thiem Riverside Park?

Thu Thiem Riverside Park is located along the eastern bank of the Saigon River in the Thu Thiem area of Ho Chi Minh City.

The park stretches along the river opposite central Saigon and Bạch Đằng Wharf.

Ba Son Bridge connects the Thu Thiem area with the central part of the city, making it possible to combine a bridge walk with an evening visit to the park.

The Creative Park area continues north of Ba Son Bridge, so walking from Creative Park across or around the bridge area and then exploring the riverfront makes a very enjoyable evening route.

One of the Best Night Views in Ho Chi Minh City

The main reason to visit is the view.

Across the Saigon River, you can see some of the most recognizable modern buildings in central Ho Chi Minh City.

The skyscrapers of District 1 rise above the river while the enormous illuminated structure of Ba Son Bridge dominates another part of the skyline.

At night, reflections from the buildings and bridge lights spread across the water.

It is a completely different atmosphere from walking between the buildings in central Saigon.

Here, you can stand back and see the city as one complete skyline.

For me, this is one of the best places in Ho Chi Minh City for a relaxed evening walk.

A Romantic Evening Atmosphere

Sunday evening was lively without feeling stressful.

There were many young couples walking along the river, groups of friends enjoying the evening and plenty of people taking photos.

You will often see women posing beside the riverside railing with the Saigon skyline in the background.

And it is easy to understand why.

Simply lean against the railing with the illuminated skyline behind you and suddenly the Saigon River has provided your movie set for free.

The combination of water, city lights and Ba Son Bridge makes this one of the easiest places in Ho Chi Minh City to take attractive night photographs.

Coffee With a Saigon Skyline View

Another reason I like this area is that you do not have to simply walk and leave.

There are several places where you can stop for a drink while enjoying the night scenery.

Starbucks Waterbus Thủ Thiêm has outdoor seating near the river, making it a particularly nice place to sit with a drink and enjoy the city lights.

You can take your coffee outside, relax beside the river and then take photos with the Ho Chi Minh City skyline behind you.

There is also Phúc Long along the riverside park area, while Highlands Coffee Thu Thiem Park provides another nearby Vietnamese coffee option.

For me, sitting outside with a cold drink while watching the lights across the Saigon River is one of the best ways to enjoy this part of the city.

Street Food and Night Entertainment

Near the Ba Son Bridge area, there are also evening food and entertainment options.

After coffee and a walk along the river, you can head toward the nearby night-market area for grilled skewers, seafood, Vietnamese drinks and other street food.

There are also amusement attractions in the area, so the atmosphere becomes more animated later in the evening.

A simple night here can therefore become:

a walk across Ba Son Bridge,
coffee beside the Saigon River,
night skyline photography,
and finally BBQ skewers or grilled seafood.

There is really no need to over-plan it.

Take the Saigon Waterbus

Another useful feature of this area is the Thu Thiem Saigon Waterbus station.

Instead of returning by road, you can cross the river toward Bạch Đằng in central Ho Chi Minh City or use the waterbus as part of a longer trip along the Saigon River.

The waterbus is particularly enjoyable after dark because you can watch the illuminated city from the river itself.

The current standard Saigon Waterbus fare is only 15,000 VND per person for a one-way trip, making it one of the cheapest sightseeing experiences in the city.

Schedules can change, so it is worth checking departure times before planning your return journey.

Visit After Sunset

I have seen this area during the daytime as well, and personally I strongly recommend visiting in the evening.

During the morning and daytime, the riverside can be relatively quiet.

The scenery is pleasant, but it does not have the same impact.

After sunset, everything changes.

The skyscrapers illuminate, Ba Son Bridge lights up, reflections appear across the river and more people begin arriving.

If this is your first visit, I would aim to arrive around sunset and stay until after dark.

That way, you can see both versions of Saigon.

One Thing That Is Missing

One disadvantage is the limited number of comfortable indoor restaurants directly along this section of the riverfront.

There used to be additional dining and entertainment businesses in the area, including a beer club and Japanese restaurant, but those places had been removed by the time of my latest visit.

There are plenty of drinks and casual food options, but I would still like to see more comfortable indoor restaurants overlooking the river in the future.

The location deserves them.

A Place I Keep Returning To

I visit Thu Thiem Riverside Park fairly often, partly because it is such a useful location for filming Ho Chi Minh City.

But even without a camera, I would still recommend it.

The area becomes particularly important during major celebrations such as New Year's events, fireworks displays and Vietnam's National Day celebrations.

Because the park faces central Saigon across the river, it can offer an excellent viewpoint during major city events.

For an ordinary evening, however, you do not need fireworks.

A cool drink, the Saigon River and the illuminated skyline are already enough.

If you want to see modern Ho Chi Minh City at its most beautiful, come here after sunset.

Watch the Full 4K Walk

I also filmed this area in 4K so you can experience the atmosphere of the Saigon River, Ba Son Bridge and the Thu Thiem skyline walk before visiting.

Add my related Ho Chi Minh City / Saigon River 4K walking tour here.