Bitexco Tower and the Saigon Skydeck: history, views, tickets and an honest verdict

Bitexco Financial Tower at a glance

Item	Detail
Official name	Bitexco Financial Tower (Tháp Tài chính Bitexco)
Height and floors	262.5 m to the roof, 68 floors above ground plus 3 basements
Skydeck	Level 49, about 178 m
Helipad	Level 52, about 191 m, projecting 22 m from the facade
Opened	31 October 2010; Skydeck soft opening 1 January 2011, official opening July 2011
Address	36 Ho Tung Mau / 2 Hai Trieu / 43-45 Ngo Duc Ke, Saigon Ward (formerly District 1)
Hours and adult price	9:30 to 21:30 daily; 240,000 VND as of October 2026
Time needed	45 to 90 minutes

The tower is the city's skyline signature, the first observation deck in Saigon, and one of the clearest symbols of the growth that followed Doi Moi. It is also, at 262.5 m, no longer the tallest thing in town. That tension between emblem and also-ran is what makes a visit worth thinking about rather than simply booking.

The story of the tower: from a low-rise city to a lotus bud

Saigon before the skyscrapers

Before the mid-1990s the centre of Ho Chi Minh City was mostly French colonial stock and low-rise shophouses. Doi Moi, the 1986 economic renovation, opened the economy, and the first towers followed in its wake. Saigon Trade Center, finished in 1997, held the "tallest in Vietnam" title before Bitexco arrived. The city is the country's economic engine, with growth sometimes cited at around 12% a year in the boom years, and that expansion created demand for Grade A office space that the old stock could not meet.

A Vietnamese developer and a lotus design

Bitexco Group is a Vietnamese conglomerate founded in 1985, headquartered in Hanoi, and this tower houses its city office. The design comes from Carlos Zapata (Carlos Zapata Studio), with AREP as architect of record, structural engineering by Leslie E. Robertson Associates with VNCC, and Hyundai Engineering and Construction as main contractor.

The shape draws on the lotus, Vietnam's national flower. The metaphor is easy to read once you know it: a closed bud, with the helipad as an opening petal rather than a rooftop afterthought. Early plans for the site differed from what was built, and archived sources describe a changed design, so treat any "original" figures you see quoted elsewhere with caution.

Construction milestones

Groundbreaking came in September 2005, construction began in June 2007, the structure topped out in mid-2010, and the tower was inaugurated on 31 October 2010.

The 6,000 double-glazed panels were made from Belgian glass, cut in China, and each one shaped individually because no two floors are identical. The helipad was built from more than 250 tonnes of steel and 4,000 bolts. It was fabricated near Seoul, pre-assembled in Dong Nai province, then lifted in sections over closed city streets, with installation taking about two months. It was Vietnam's first non-rooftop helipad. The Otis double-deck lifts run at up to 7 m/s, the fastest in Southeast Asia when installed.

Tallest for three months, iconic ever since

Bitexco was the tallest building in Vietnam from October 2010 until January 2011, when Keangnam Hanoi Landmark Tower overtook it. Landmark 81, completed in 2018, later took the city title. Recognition followed anyway: a place on CNN's "25 great skyscrapers" in 2013, second on Thrillist's "coolest skyscraper" list in 2015, and an NCSEA structural engineering award in 2011.

The tower has hosted the HCMC Skyrun since 2011, a vertical race from ground floor to the level 52 helipad. Course records from the first edition: Thomas Dold in 4 min 51 s and Valentina Belotti in 6 min 19 s. The helipad has also been used for fireworks and lasers, including New Year's Eve 2015 and the 40th anniversary of Reunification Day in 2015, though published accounts note that only the laser show actually took place on the second occasion.

The tower today

After COVID-19 most retail tenants of the Icon68 podium left. Since the first quarter of 2023 the podium has been repositioned toward upscale food and drink and "art experiences", with Carlos Zapata brought back into the conversation, and management publicly denied closure rumours. Last known tenants, as of October 2026: Starbucks Reserve, Highlands Coffee, Haidilao, Alluvia chocolate, Flyover Vietnam and the Starry Sky Art Museum. The office floors remain occupied by multinational tenants.

Date	Milestone	Why it matters
September 2005	Groundbreaking	Start of the project that would redefine the skyline
June 2007	Main construction begins	Helipad and glass facade work follow
Mid-2010	Topping out	Structure reaches full height
31 October 2010	Inauguration	Briefly Vietnam's tallest building
1 January 2011	Skydeck soft opening	First public observation deck in Saigon
July 2011	Skydeck official opening	Full visitor operation begins
January 2011	Keangnam Hanoi overtakes	National height record lasts three months
2018	Landmark 81 completes	City title passes to Binh Thanh
Q1 2023	Podium repositioning	Retail shifts toward food, drink and art

Reading the building from the street

The tower is worth looking at as much as looking from. Ground-level vantage points that work:

• The south end of Nguyen Hue walking street, for the classic vertical shot.
• Me Linh Square and Ngo Duc Ke Street.
• Bach Dang Wharf.
• Van Don quay on the Khanh Hoi side, which gives the full profile with the helipad.
• The Thu Thiem riverbank, for the skyline at dusk.

Look for the asymmetric taper, the helipad cantilevered on the south face, and the night lighting. Window cleaners on rope seats are sometimes visible from both inside the deck and the street, which is its own small spectacle.

Inside the Saigon Skydeck, step by step

Finding the entrance and buying a ticket

The entrance is at 2 Hai Trieu Street. Follow the "Saigon Skydeck" signs. Do not enter through the office-tower lobby, which is a separate entrance where visitors regularly get turned around. The ticket counter has been reported on level 4, reached from the Hai Trieu side, though older listings place it at street level on Ho Tung Mau Street beside what was then an Adidas store (that unit has since become a Starbucks Reserve). Payment is by cash or card, and there is a bag and security check. Tickets bought through a third-party platform must be exchanged for a physical ticket at the counter.

The lift ride

Roughly 30 to 40 seconds to level 49, and ears pop. People nervous about heights sometimes find the lift more intense than the deck itself.

The 360-degree loop

The deck is a fully enclosed, air-conditioned, carpeted walking loop with cushioned benches. Facilities include touchscreens identifying landmarks, coin-free binoculars and telescopes, and history panels on the city and the tower's construction. A vintage cyclo is on display. There is no open-air section, which matters on hot and rainy days.

Ao dai exhibition and video room

A small collection of ao dai with a short film at the end. Booking platforms call it the "Ao Dai Museum", but visitors describe a modest exhibition with a video room, so treat it as an exhibition. Pleasant but brief: allow about 10 minutes.

Souvenir shop, water and toilets

The ticket includes a bottle of mineral water. Toilets are on the deck. The souvenir shop is small and priced for tourists; better souvenir options sit at street level nearby.

What is not part of the visit

The helipad is on level 52, directly above the deck, and is not accessible with a Skydeck ticket. The EON venues on levels 50 to 52 are separate businesses. The World of Heineken, which occupied levels 58 to 60, is permanently closed. The BHD cinema closed on 1 April 2022, and the level 4 food court closed after COVID-19. Some guides still advertise one or more of these, so plan around their absence.

What you can see from level 49

Direction	Main landmarks	Best time of day to look
North and northwest	Nguyen Hue boulevard, City Hall, Opera House area, Ben Thanh Market roof, Notre-Dame Cathedral beyond	Late afternoon into dusk
Northeast	Landmark 81 in Binh Thanh, across a bend of the Saigon River	Clear mornings
East	Saigon River, Thu Thiem new urban area and its bridges	Sunset
South	Ben Nghe Canal, Khanh Hoi, Nha Rong (Dragon) Wharf	Any time
West	Dense low-rise grid toward Pham Ngu Lao, Cholon in the far distance on clear days	Morning or dry-season afternoon

Reading the city from above helps first-time visitors make sense of the street grid and the river's curve. Do this on day one if you can.

Pro tip: use the touchscreens first, then walk the loop and identify landmarks yourself. Ben Thanh's roof and the canal junction are the two anchors that make the rest of the view fall into place.

Tickets and opening hours

Hours are 9:30 to 21:30 daily, with last entry 45 minutes before closing at 20:45. Holiday hours, especially around Tet, may differ.

Visitor type	Price (VND)	Approx. USD/EUR	Notes
Adult	240,000	US$9 / €8	Standard ticket
Child 4-12	160,000	US$6 / €5	Age checked at counter
Senior 65+	160,000	US$6 / €5	ID may be requested
Visitor with disability	160,000	US$6 / €5	Lift access throughout
Under 4	Free	Free	Accompanied by adult

Conversions use the exchange rate on the writing date and are rounded. The ticket includes deck access, the ao dai exhibition and a bottle of water.

Same-day tickets at the counter are normally fine. Third-party platforms sometimes list lower prices, but the voucher is valid only on the chosen date and must be exchanged at the counter. Some listings sell "fast track" tickets, though queues are rarely long enough to justify them outside holidays. Group rates are reported for groups of 10 or more; contact the operator to confirm. The adult price was 200,000 VND in 2024, so prices have risen. Treat these figures as last known values.

Rules, accessibility and safety on site

• Dress code: none for the deck. EON venues may expect smart casual, so check before going.
• Photography: allowed. Drones are not allowed anywhere in central Ho Chi Minh City. Tripod policy is not documented, so ask staff.
• Accessibility: lift access throughout, a discounted ticket for people with disabilities, and benches on the deck.
• Fear of heights: the deck is fully enclosed, with floor-to-ceiling glass on all sides.

How to get there

Mode	From	Time	Last known cost	Tip
Walk	Opera House	About 9 min	Free	Use crossings on Ton Duc Thang and Ham Nghi
Walk	Ben Thanh Market	About 15 min	Free	Approach via Nguyen Hue
Walk	Pham Ngu Lao	About 25 min	Free	Carry water in summer
Metro Line 1	Opera House station	About 700 m walk	7,000-20,000 VND	Opened 22 December 2024
Metro Line 1	Ben Thanh station	About 1 km walk	7,000-20,000 VND	Good from District 5 side
Bus 109	Tan Son Nhat airport	45-60 min	About 20,000 VND	Drops near Ben Thanh
Grab motorbike	City centre	5-15 min	15,000-30,000 VND	Ask for Hai Trieu side
Grab car	City centre	10-20 min	30,000-60,000 VND	Watch for traffic on Ton Duc Thang
Grab car	Airport	30-60 min	150,000-250,000 VND	Traffic dependent

Metro Line 1 opened on 22 December 2024. Line 2 (planned Ham Nghi station) and Line 11 are not yet open. Bus route 152 is cheaper than 109 but slower and less convenient with luggage. For taxis, use the app or Vinasun, Mai Linh or Xanh SM with a meter, and avoid lookalike liveries and unmetered offers. Ask to be dropped at the Hai Trieu side.

Best time to visit

Best hour

Arrive about 45 minutes before sunset. Sunset is around 17:30 in November to January and around 18:15 to 18:20 in June and July. Staying through dusk gives both the daylight view and the lit-up city. Weekday morning at opening is usually the quietest time. At night, reflections on the glass are the main obstacle.

Best season

The dry season, December to April, brings the clearest skies. The rainy season, May to November, brings frequent late-afternoon storms, and haze or low cloud can flatten the view, so check the sky before buying. A storm can be the show: watching a downpour roll across the city from 178 m is memorable if visibility holds. On rainy or very hot days the air-conditioned deck is a good refuge.

Special dates to plan around

New Year's Eve, 31 December 2026, brings citywide fireworks; check whether the deck changes its hours. Tet, Lunar New Year, falls on 6 February 2027, and the Nguyen Hue Flower Street usually opens a few days before Tet and is striking from above; expect reduced hours on the main Tet days. Reunification Day, 30 April 2027, brings fireworks and crowds. Weekends, Vietnamese holidays and golden hour are the busiest times.

Skydeck versus other viewpoints in Ho Chi Minh City

Venue	Height or floor	Entry cost model	Open-air?	Family-friendly?	Best for
Saigon Skydeck	Level 49, about 178 m	Fixed ticket, 240,000 VND	No	Yes	Orientation, families, rainy days
Landmark 81 SkyView	Top floors of about 461 m tower	Fixed ticket, higher	No	Yes	Highest view in the city
EON Heli Bar and EON51	Levels 50-52, Bitexco	Drink purchase	Partly	Older children	Slightly higher view with a drink
Chill Skybar (AB Tower)	Rooftop	Drink purchase	Yes	No	Night out, skyline
Social Club (Hotel des Arts)	Rooftop	Drink purchase	Yes	No	Cocktails, river view
Saigon Saigon (Caravelle)	Rooftop	Drink purchase	Yes	No	Classic bar atmosphere
Rex rooftop	Rooftop	Drink purchase	Yes	No	Central location
M Bar (Hotel Majestic)	Rooftop	Drink purchase	Yes	No	River views at dusk

Landmark 81 is the city's tallest building at about 461 m, with its observation deck on the top floors. It is higher and newer, but further from the centre and, in recent listings, several times the Skydeck price. EON Heli Bar and EON51 sit slightly above the deck; last known hours are about 11:00 to 23:00, and drink prices and any minimum spend should be checked. The rooftop bars are free to enter with a drink purchase, lower, often open-air, and some enforce a dress code.

The distinction is simple. The Skydeck is the only family-friendly, alcohol-free, daytime, fully explained 360-degree option in the centre. The bars are better for a night out. Landmark 81 is the better choice if you want the highest view.

Is the Saigon Skydeck worth it? An honest verdict

Who will love it

First-time visitors who want to understand the city's layout. Families with children. Architecture fans. Anyone seeking a calm, air-conditioned break. Rainy-day planners. Travellers combining it with a Nguyen Hue evening.

Who may be disappointed

Travellers who have already done Marina Bay, Lotte World Tower or Landmark 81. Budget backpackers, since at 240,000 VND it is one of the pricier sights in the city, compared with about 40,000 VND at most museums. Photographers expecting clean glass, as some visitors report smudged windows and night reflections. Anyone who wants more than 30 to 45 minutes of content. Visitors on hazy days.

The verdict

A worthwhile 45 to 90 minutes if the sky is clear and it is your first days in the city. A skip if time or budget is tight; a drink at a rooftop bar gives a comparable mood. Skipping it costs a traveller little, and saying so plainly is more useful than another "must-see" label.

Insider tips and etiquette

• Glare and reflections: at night, press the lens close to the glass, wear dark clothing and turn off the flash.
• Sunset spot: claim a place on the west and northwest side 20 minutes before sunset. The best spot shifts slightly southwest in the dry-season months.
• Don't miss: the river bend toward Landmark 81, the Dragon Wharf across the canal, and the thinning of the low-rise grid to the west.
• Etiquette: do not monopolise the binoculars or block window bays with long photo shoots at golden hour. Keep children off the window ledges. Ao dai photo shoots are common, so be courteous around them.
• Street safety: phone and bag snatching by passing motorbikes happens on Ton Duc Thang and Nguyen Hue. Hold your phone on the side away from the road.

Warning: the office-tower lobby on Ho Tung Mau is not the Skydeck entrance. Walk around to Hai Trieu Street and follow the signs; staff turn away visitors at the wrong door every day.

What to combine nearby

Place	Walking time from the tower	Time to allow	Note
Fine Arts Museum (97A Pho Duc Chinh)	About 12 min	1-1.5 hours	Closed Mondays in some periods
Ben Thanh Market	About 15 min	30-60 min	Busiest mid-morning
Ho Chi Minh City Museum (65 Ly Tu Trong)	About 12 min	1 hour	Check hours
City Hall exterior	About 5 min	15 min	No entry
Nguyen Hue walking street	About 3 min	30 min	Best at dusk
Bach Dang Wharf	About 5 min	30 min	Waterbus departures
Nha Rong Wharf museum	About 20 min	1 hour	Across the canal
42 Nguyen Hue cafe block	About 5 min	45 min	Many cafes, stairs only

A suggested half day: Fine Arts Museum, Ben Thanh Market, the Ho Chi Minh City Museum or the City Hall exterior, Nguyen Hue walking street, the Skydeck at golden hour, then Bach Dang Wharf and the riverfront at night, or a Saigon Waterbus ride from Bach Dang station. Check last departures. Notre-Dame Cathedral is under long-running restoration, so check its status before planning around it. Inside the tower, Flyover Vietnam (2F) and the Starry Sky Art Museum (4F) work as add-ons; confirm they are operating.

Frequently asked questions

Q: How much does it cost to visit the Skydeck at Bitexco Financial Tower? As of October 2026 the last known price is 240,000 VND for adults (about US$9 / €8). Children aged 4 to 12, seniors 65 and over, and people with disabilities pay 160,000 VND, and under 4s are free. The price rose from 200,000 VND in 2024 and may change again.

Q: Can you go up the Bitexco Tower? Yes. Members of the public can go up to the Saigon Skydeck on level 49, or to the EON venues on levels 50 to 52 if they buy food or drinks. The helipad on level 52 is not part of the Skydeck visit, and the deck entrance on Hai Trieu Street is separate from the office lobby.

Q: What is the tallest building in Saigon? Landmark 81 in Binh Thanh, at about 461 m, which also has an observation deck. Bitexco was briefly Vietnam's tallest building from October 2010 to January 2011 and remains among the city's tallest. It is the central, cheaper and more iconic choice.

Q: What is the Saigon Skydeck? The city's first observation deck, opened in 2011. It is a fully enclosed, air-conditioned 360-degree gallery about 178 m up, with touchscreens, binoculars, history panels and a small ao dai exhibition. The ticket includes a bottle of water.

Q: Is the Skydeck on the 48th or the 49th floor? The 49th. One review platform says 48th, but the official tower site and nearly all other sources give level 49.

Q: How long should you spend at the Skydeck, and when is the best time? Allow 45 to 90 minutes. Arrive about 45 minutes before sunset (around 17:30 in winter, 18:15 in summer) on a clear dry-season day. Weekday mornings at opening are the quietest.

Q: Is the World of Heineken still open? No. It is permanently closed, so older combo-ticket offers no longer apply. Some guides still describe it as open.

Q: Is it suitable for people afraid of heights or with limited mobility? The deck is fully enclosed, with lift access and benches, and reduced-price tickets are available for people with disabilities. The fast lift and floor-to-ceiling glass can still unsettle very nervous visitors.

One administrative note before you go: since 1 July 2025, Ho Chi Minh City no longer uses districts as an administrative level, and the tower's official address now reads "Saigon Ward". "District 1" is still used in everyday speech, on Grab and in most maps, so expect both versions to appear. The entrance itself has not moved.