Thao Dien – A guide to dine in Saigon’s international community 

The Vietnamese have a famous saying “First is close to the city, second is close to the bank, third is close to the major road” to talk about areas that can become convenient and prosperous residential areas. Foreigners who come to Saigon to live and work may not follow this concept, but somehow, since the time when international trade flourished in the economic locomotive city of Vietnam, foreigners have chosen Thao Dien during their time living and working in this largest urban area in Vietnam. Now, after nearly 30 years of establishment, Thao Dien has a diverse mix of foreigners and young Vietnamese, choosing Thao Dien to form a community of residents with high income and education, along with countless accompanying services such as healthcare, education, cuisine, entertainment, sports…

Where is Thao Dien located?

Only about 7km from The Myst Dong Khoi Hotel, it is easy to travel to Thao Dien by car, motorbike, taxi, hailing transportations, water bus, and even metro, this residential peninsula surrounded by the winding Saigon River offers visitors streets lined with tall trees, shops close together with a variety of cuisines from all over the world, specialty cafes or famous domestic and international coffee chains, along with countless restaurants that have been on the Michelin list in recent years. Let’s choose some of the most interesting shops with us.

Top 9 restaurants in Thao Dien you shouldn’t miss

Pasta Fresca

Two young Italian culinary experts came to Saigon and decided to start a business together in this land in 2016. Their first restaurant is located gracefully in alley 28 Thao Dien, surrounded by tall trees and randomly arranged tables and chairs like in a small garden in Southern Italy.

The menu is extremely simple with appetizers, pasta and desserts accompanied by similar wines. At Pasta Fresca, known as the first pure artisanal Italian restaurant in Saigon, diners will enjoy pasta in the most authentic Italian way, fresh, smooth and poetic.

CieL Dining

Less than a year after its launch, CieL has been honored with a 1-star Michelin rating and most recently, the restaurant was also included in the Top 25 Best New Restaurants in the World in 2025 by Conde Nast Traveler.

Ciel in French means sky, recalling the years when Ciel’s chef first got acquainted and fell in love with the first cooking techniques. And under that brilliant sky, all ingredients are exploited from the mainland and the ocean, combined with contemporary processing techniques and sophisticated food presentation to create tasting menus that are both visually beautiful and delicious, filled with the personal mark of the talented young chef.

WKND

It will be difficult to recognize WKND from the outside, because the signboard is just a square stone placed on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant. Inside, on one side is the bakery counter and open kitchen, opposite is a children’s play area, deep inside is the open kitchen and finally a fairly large sky terrace. The restaurant’s layout immediately brings the feeling of “a restaurant for everyone” from the moment you step in.

Inspired by the casual but hospitable culinary culture in Australia’s big cities, WKND brings to the international residential area Thao Dien a lively brunch experience with generous portions, a skillfully prepared menu inspired by contemporary bars in Oceania.

Tama River

Although countless Japanese restaurants have opened in Thao Dien, long-time residents here still choose Tama River as their top choice. Located inside a townhouse that doesn’t look much like a restaurant, Tama River is proud to bring the taste of Japanese dishes as if prepared in the small kitchen of a small Japanese woman by the gentle Tama River (Tokyo).

Tama River serves more than 30 types of sushi on the menu, also known as “sushi paradise”, including extremely unique dishes such as sea urchin sushi. In ancient times, sea urchin was considered “sea ginseng” and was a rare delicacy only served to kings, creating a mysterious and seductive culinary experience.

La Fontaine French Bistrot

The famous chef Thierry of La Villa brings a bistro-style menu to diners at La Fontaine, but still absolutely loyal to the fine taste of French cuisine. Therefore, ignoring the sophistication of a high-class restaurant, La Fontaine serves classic bistro dishes such as duck breast with mushroom sauce, Burgundy-snails and pan-fried scallops…

The restaurant’s space is also imbued with French style, with long wine-red leather benches, slender wooden chairs that fit just enough to accommodate people, classic wallpaper and on the end wall of the room are famous figures with influence of French culture.

Sweet & Sour

A bakery that can remind anyone of a sweet and peaceful childhood, Sweet & Sour bakery has been bright pink on a small street in Thao Dien neighborhood for more than 10 years. The bakery has an open kitchen where customers can observe each meticulous preparation step to produce fragrant trays of cakes. Glass jars filled with candies and colorful decorations for each cake have their own soul and story.

Sweet & Sour uniquely combines the sophistication of a classic confectionery shop with contemporary creativity and innovation for all sweet lovers. The highest quality baked goods come from premium ingredients such as pies, tarts, brownies… and the best seller is always cupcakes whether familiar types or batches of cakes ordered for special occasions of customers.

The Deck Saigon

One of the rare classic restaurants in Thao Dien that no foreigner has ever heard of, is The Deck. Opened in the same location since 2008 until now, although the outdoor bar space has been expanded to triple the size of The Deck compared to its original location, The Deck is still the choice for all appointments from family, friends, lovers to outdoor parties with a capacity of more than a hundred people.

At The Deck, you can have breakfast, brunch, enjoy lunch, dinner, or sip a cocktail in a space that is close to nature, sun, wind, the wide river in front of you and the gentle sound of large ships loaded with containers slowly passing by, occasionally accompanied by a long whistle.

ASMR

One of the newest bars in Thao Dien, located at a private corner at the end of Xuan Thuy Street, blending into the surrounding local residential areas. Inside ASMR is a space where delicious cocktails are served to satisfy the taste buds of travelers who come to the bar after a long working day to meet and chat with friends.

A cocktail bar serving string instruments, specifically violins, with gentle and vibrating rhythms, a slightly unconventional but equally sophisticated combination for customers to immerse themselves in the melodious music and warm wine.

Mad Wine Bar & Eatery

Mad – in Danish, the homeland of the co-founders – means “food”. They chose Thao Dien as their place of business in 2020 and now, after moving to a new address, located right in the middle of Thao Dien’s busiest street – Xuan Thuy Street, Mad still maintains the style of a large garden with shady trees and a more modest space indoors with air conditioning.

At Mad Wine Bar & Eatery, customers can always choose from more than 30 wines by the glass along with more than 500 bottled wines from many famous wine regions around the world. Mad is open all day, including breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a delicious menu, especially a variety of grilled sandwiches.

The number of large and small restaurants in Thao Dien is dozens of times larger than the restaurants we introduce in the framework of this article. There are restaurants that have been open and existed here for decades since the early days of Thao Dien, there are famous restaurants that have only been around for months, and there are also restaurants that open – then close following the hustle and bustle of the diverse culinary market of Saigon in general and Thao Dien in particular. But for Thao Dien to achieve the 16th position of the most wonderful residential areas in the world in 2024 voted by readers of Time Out magazine, it is certainly indispensable for the diverse contributions of the restaurants here.