District 1 is the administrative and historic centre of Ho Chi Minh City — the old French quarter, still marked by tree-lined boulevards, colonial-era buildings, and the city's main landmarks. The cluster of sights here is dense: Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, the Opera House, City Hall, the Rex Hotel rooftop bar, and the Reunification Palace are all within walking distance of each other.
Dong Khoi Street — the old Rue Catinat, the most fashionable street of colonial Saigon — runs from the Cathedral down to the river, lined with upmarket boutiques and hotels. Nguyen Hue Boulevard is the pedestrian promenade; Bui Vien Street is the backpacker strip, noisy and chaotic at night. District 1 is where most visitors base themselves, and with good reason — the concentration of things to see and do is unmatched.