“District 7” Is Still Widely Used, but It Is No Longer an Administrative District
From July 1, 2025, Ho Chi Minh City began operating under a two-tier local government model. The area that previously formed District 7 was reorganised into the new wards of Tan Hung, Tan Thuan, Phu Thuan and Tan My.
For that reason, a 2026 guide is more accurate when referring to the “former District 7 area” or “southern Ho Chi Minh City”, or by using the current ward name for a specific address. However, “District 7” remains useful for international visitors, business travellers and online search because it is still a very familiar geographic reference.
CityHouse uses the term when it helps guests recognise the area, while current ward names are preferred when describing a specific location.
Not “Downtown” in the Ben Thanh – Nguyen Hue Sense, but a Major Centre of Southern Ho Chi Minh City
If “city centre” means the historic, administrative, tourism and traditional commercial core around Ben Thanh, Nguyen Hue, Dong Khoi and the former District 1, then the former District 7 area is not downtown Ho Chi Minh City.
But if you look at a large city as a network of multiple hubs, southern Ho Chi Minh City has a highly developed ecosystem of its own: Phu My Hung, SECC, offices, schools, hospitals, shopping centres and established residential areas. For someone who works or studies mainly in the south, this part of the city can function as the true centre of daily life more effectively than the traditional downtown area.
Ben Thanh, Nguyen Hue, Dong Khoi and heritage attractions are more concentrated here, making it especially convenient for first-time visitors.
Phu My Hung, SECC, commercial districts and residential communities create a distinct work-and-living hub.
The place closest to your office, university or exhibition venue may be the real “centre” during a longer stay.
The Former District 7 Is Not One Uniform Area — Each Current Ward Plays a Different Role
Convenient for access toward the city centre and former District 4, while also being well placed for RMIT University, Ton Duc Thang University, Lotte Mart and SC VivoCity. CityHouse NEST Bellita is also located in this area.
One of the most important areas for business travellers because many schedules revolve around SECC, exhibitions, conferences, offices and Phu My Hung.
Relevant for schedules connected to industrial activity, business zones and routes leading toward the city centre via the former District 4 area.
Suitable for travellers whose schedule is concentrated in the eastern part of southern Ho Chi Minh City; the exact location matters more than simply choosing “District 7”.
A meeting at SECC and a university schedule near RMIT may both be within the former District 7 area, but the most efficient place to stay is not necessarily the same. Start with where you need to be every day.
There Is No Single Best Area for Everyone — Only Areas that Better Fit Different Lifestyles
“Liveability” is highly personal. Someone who needs to walk to an office downtown, someone working at SECC, a family with children at an international school and a professional staying in Ho Chi Minh City for three months will all evaluate location very differently.
You regularly work around SECC, Phu My Hung, RMIT University, Ton Duc Thang University or nearby commercial and office areas.
You want to walk to Ben Thanh, Nguyen Hue, Dong Khoi, museums or have most of your meetings in central Ho Chi Minh City.
A kitchen, washing machine, workspace, nearby supermarkets and a quieter residential setting may matter more than absolute distance to a tourist attraction.
If you are staying only two or three days, choose accommodation close to the area where most of your meetings or sightseeing will take place.
Why This Area Is Particularly Relevant for Exhibition and Business Travellers
SECC is currently located at 799 Nguyen Van Linh, Tan My Ward, Ho Chi Minh City and remains one of the city’s major venues for exhibitions and trade fairs. When an exhibition lasts several days, staying in southern Ho Chi Minh City can significantly reduce the need to cross the city at the beginning and end of every day.
This matters especially for business travellers. A full day at an exhibition may run from morning to late afternoon, followed by partner meetings, dinner or additional work. In that situation, accommodation with a kitchen, workspace and stable living environment may be more useful than a hotel chosen mainly for sightseeing convenience.
SECC is currently in Tan My Ward. CityHouse NEST Bellita is in Tan Hung Ward and connects to SECC via a short journey within southern Ho Chi Minh City. Bellita should therefore be understood as a balanced base between the city centre, residential areas and SECC — not as a hotel directly outside the exhibition centre.
A Tan Hung Stay for Guests Who Value Privacy, Living Functions and Southern City Access
CityHouse NEST Bellita is located at 793/39 Tran Xuan Soan, Tan Hung Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, within the Kieu Dam residential area. Bellita is no longer positioned simply as a “luxury District 7 aparthotel”. Its current identity belongs to NEST by CityHouse – Quest for Calmness: private enough to live in, connected enough to keep moving.
CityHouse NEST Bellita
A self-contained apartment where guests can rest, cook, do laundry and work at their own rhythm — suitable for both shorter stays and longer periods in southern Ho Chi Minh City.
View Rooms & Book DirectPrivate Enough to Live, Connected Enough to Move
Bellita is designed so everyday routines can continue even when you are away from home.
Private space for resting, dining, working and everyday living.
More control over daily meals, especially useful for stays lasting several days or weeks.
Greater privacy and less dependence on external laundry services during longer stays.
A private place to maintain work routines without leaving the apartment.
A Location that Works Best When Your Schedule Includes More than One Destination
A Residential Setting without Feeling Disconnected from the City
According to current CityHouse information, Bellita offers convenient access to the central area, Lotte Mart, SC VivoCity, RMIT University, Ton Duc Thang University, Phu My Hung and SECC. Actual travel time depends on traffic conditions.
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Suitable for guests who still have meetings downtown but prefer returning to a quieter residential setting.
Convenient for work, academic visits, partnerships or family-related trips around the universities.
A good fit for exhibition visitors staying several days who do not necessarily need to be directly beside the venue.
This Area Works Best When It Makes Your Daily Travel Shorter and Simpler
Staying in the south reduces the need to cross the city every morning and evening during multi-day business trips.
Residential surroundings, supermarkets and apartment living functions become increasingly important when accommodation becomes part of everyday life.
You may not need to stay beside Ben Thanh if the purpose of your trip no longer revolves around central tourist attractions.
Relevant for parents, visiting guests, partners or anyone with repeated commitments around the universities in the south.
Residential areas such as Kieu Dam suit travellers who want a quieter place to return to after working or moving around the city.
If your main goal is to explore Ben Thanh, Nguyen Hue and central heritage sites over two or three days, downtown may be more convenient.
What Should You Know about the Former District 7 Area in 2026?
Not in its former administrative form. From July 1, 2025, the area was reorganised into Tan Hung, Tan Thuan, Phu Thuan and Tan My wards. “District 7” is still widely used as a familiar geographic reference.
It is not the city’s historic or tourism core. However, it is a major hub in southern Ho Chi Minh City, with Phu My Hung, SECC and significant commercial, educational and residential activity.
There is no universal answer. Southern Ho Chi Minh City is highly suitable if your work, school and daily routine are concentrated here, while people working mainly downtown or in eastern Ho Chi Minh City may prefer another area.
SECC is currently located at 799 Nguyen Van Linh, Tan My Ward, Ho Chi Minh City.
Bellita is located at 793/39 Tran Xuan Soan, Tan Hung Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, within the Kieu Dam residential area.
Yes, especially for guests who want to balance access to SECC, the city centre and a more private apartment with a kitchen, washing machine and workspace. Bellita is not directly beside SECC, so travel time still depends on traffic.
Both can work well. The self-contained apartment, kitchen, washing machine and work area make short stays more convenient and become even more valuable as the stay gets longer.
You Do Not Need to Stay in the “Best Area” — Stay in the Area that Best Fits the Way You Are Living in the City
If your schedule sits between downtown and southern Ho Chi Minh City, Bellita offers a private place to return to, enough living functions to maintain your routine and convenient access to continue moving through the city.
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