Landmark 81 Saigon: Observation Deck, Ice Rink, and Getting There from District 1

Landmark 81 punches hard on the Saigon skyline — 461 meters, 81 floors, visible from most of the city on a clear day. Whether you go up for the view, skate an ice rink in 35-degree heat, or just wander the mall, it rewards the commute from District 1.

Where It Sits

The building is the centerpiece of Vinhomes Central Park, a large residential and retail development in Binh Thanh District on the west bank of the Saigon (사이공 / 西贡 / サイゴン) River. The address is 208 Nguyen Huu Canh Street. It's roughly 4 km from the Ben Thanh Market area — close enough to be a half-day detour, far enough that you won't stumble onto it by accident.

Vincom Mega Mall runs across the lower floors and podium. It's a full-scale shopping mall: supermarket, food court, international brands, multiplex cinema, and on Basement 1, the ice rink.

Skyview Observation Deck

The observation deck, called Skyview, occupies floors 79–81. Tickets are sold on the ground floor lobby and cost 400,000 VND for adults, 200,000 VND for children under 1.3 meters. The high-speed elevator takes about 45 seconds.

The views are genuinely good. On the south and east sides you get the Saigon River bending through the city, District 2 and Thu Duc spreading out beyond it, and on clear days the outer districts fading into haze. The north and west faces show the dense residential sprawl of Binh Thanh and Go Vap. Floor-to-ceiling glass all the way around.

Sunset vs. Night

Sunset (roughly 5:30–6:15 PM depending on season) is the most popular slot for good reason — the sky changes fast and the city lights start coming up while there's still color in the sky. Expect crowds. If you want a calmer experience, go at 7:30–8 PM when the initial rush has cleared. Full night views are clean and the river reflections are sharper once the ambient light drops. Midday is the least interesting — flat light and significant haze most of the year.

Book tickets online in advance on weekends; walk-in queues can stretch 30–40 minutes.

Blank Lounge

Floor 75 hosts Blank Lounge, a bar and lounge that operates independently from the Skyview ticket. You can come here without paying observation deck admission. Cocktails run 180,000–320,000 VND, which is Saigon rooftop-standard pricing. The seating is designed around the windows, and the views are only marginally lower than the deck above. If you want a drink with the view rather than a ticketed tourist experience, this is the better call. Dress code is smart casual — they enforce it at the elevator.

Photo by Vung Nguyen on Pexels

The Ice Rink

Vincom Ice Rink in Basement 1 is the closest thing Saigon gets to a proper ice skating facility. Sessions run about 60–90 minutes and tickets are around 200,000–250,000 VND including skate hire. It's a full-size rink, not a seasonal pop-up, and it stays cold enough to actually skate properly. Locals use it year-round; the novelty of sub-zero temperatures in a tropical city hasn't worn off. Weekday mornings are quietest. Weekends and after 4 PM are busier with kids and groups.

The mall floors above have a standard multiplex (CGV), food court on B1 with reliable Vietnamese and Korean options, and a Vinmart supermarket useful for snacks before the elevator ride up.

Getting There from District 1

The most straightforward option is Grab — the ride from Ben Thanh or Bui Vien takes 15–20 minutes outside of rush hour and costs 50,000–80,000 VND depending on traffic. Drop-off is at the main Vincom entrance on Nguyen Huu Canh.

Bus Line 53 runs from Ben Thanh Bus Station to Vinhomes Central Park and takes about 25 minutes. Fare is 6,000 VND. It's slow but functional if you're not in a rush.

Driving yourself across the Saigon River via the Thu Thiem Tunnel or Saigon Bridge is straightforward by motorbike, but parking at Vinhomes is paid and can be slow to exit on busy evenings.

There is no metro connection yet — the Ho Chi Minh City (호치민시 / 胡志明市 / ホーチミン市) metro Line 1 (Ben Thanh to Suoi Tien) does not serve this side of the river. A future line may eventually connect, but for now, Grab is the practical default.

Photo by Ngoc Nguyen on Pexels

What to Skip

The mall retail floors are generic — the same brands you'll find at Vincom Center on Dong Khoi. Don't make it the main reason for the trip. The food court is fine for a quick meal but unremarkable. Saigon has better street food within walking distance of most hotels; eat before you come or grab something quick downstairs rather than treating the food court as a destination.

Practical Notes

Skyview is open daily 9:30 AM–9:30 PM, last entry at 9 PM. Blank Lounge opens at 4 PM. The building is air-conditioned throughout, so the contrast with street heat is sharp — a light layer helps if you're sensitive to cold. Budget 2–3 hours for the full visit: elevator queue, deck time, and a drink at Blank before heading back.