Go to a local restaurant on the Canal
The Nhieu Loc – Thi Nghe Canal, which separates District 3 and Phu Nhuan, is a thriving area that has gone through some remarkable transformations in the last 20 years. It was once a place to avoid because of sewage, but now it’s a small oasis in the middle of a cement jungle. There are hundreds of restaurants along the canal, both foreign and local. For local flavors, try Khe. The food is good, the beer is cheap and it’s definitely not a touristy place. It’s technically in District 1, but the borders don’t really make sense in this area anyway.
Quán Lẩu Nướng Xuân Khê, 109 Hoàng Sa, District 1, +84 90 257 21 17

Truong Sa and the Canal | © Magicknight94/WikiCommons