Landmark 81 Observation Deck

Landmark 81 stands on the west bank of the Saigon River in Binh Thanh district, eighty-one floors and around four hundred and sixty metres, the tallest building in the country since it was completed in 2018. The observation floors sit near the top, reached by lift from inside the shopping mall at its base, and take in the whole spread of the city: the river bending north and south with barges working it, the tight grid of District 1, and the new towers going up on the far bank. One level opens onto an outdoor terrace, and a glass floor panel draws a queue. The lower floors hold a mall and an ice rink.

What you actually see

• The river bend - the Saigon River curving north and south with barges working it.
• The open terrace - an outdoor level where the view is not through glass.
• The glass floor - a panel looking straight down, with a queue for it at busy times.
• Dusk over the sprawl - the lights coming on across a very flat, very wide city.

When to go

Late afternoon into dusk is the popular slot, so tickets for that hour sell out and the deck is crowded; late morning is emptier though the light is harder. The dry season from December to April has the clearest air. Book online for a timed entry, and allow two hours including the queue at the lifts.

Honest expectations

It is an expensive ticket for a lift ride, and the deck sits on top of a shopping mall, which sets the tone. Haze over the city is common and flattens the view for much of the year. Interior lighting reflects badly in the glass, so photographs need a lens pressed to the pane. The outdoor terrace is small and busy.

Nearby

The District 1 riverfront and the bridges across to Thu Thiem are a short ride north.