Previously known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is the largest city in Vietnam. As of 2017, a whopping 8.6 million people live in the extended 810 square mile metropolitan area. The hodgepodge population, tropical climate and overall variety in shopping centers and city markets can make this city feel like a great home away from home for expats. With a metropolis steeped in rich history, along with a fast-paced lifestyle, Ho Chi Minh City is a great place for expats to visit, work in and move to. This is especially true if you are used to being in a large city.
There is a mixture of French-colonial architecture combined with skyscrapers and high-rise buildings right alongside old fashioned markets. Combine that with busy shopping malls, that sell all the latest in designer goods, it can feel almost like you never left home.
Weather
The weather in Ho Chi Minh City is pretty temperate year round. The months May through October are considered the wet season with November through April tending to be hot and humid1131. Overall, the weather in Ho Chi Minh City is moderate and provides the kind of climate most would find living near the ocean.
Transportation
Because there are so many people living and working in the city, transportation can be difficult. As we discussed in the previous chapter, private transportation in Vietnam in general can be expensive and sometimes border on the dangerous side. Accidents in the city are common and if you can avoid driving on the roads, it is best to do so.
Everything in Ho Chi Minh City is relatively close making the need for you to drive mostly unnecessary. Being that it is a major hub in Vietnam it has every mode of transportation you should possibly need including domestic and international flights from Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) which operates from two terminal buildings1141.
Other transportation services include an abundance of taxi, bus and train options. With the weather as beautiful as it is in this city, the majority of the year walking or riding a bike can also be a fantastic local way to get around.
Food
When it comes to food in Ho Chi Minh City, there is an abundance of international choices, which may be great IF Vietnamese food may not always be your favorite selection. This guide is not about the food of Vietnam. However, do your research as there are so many local cuisines to try including one of the most globally well-known being Pho, Vietnamese noodle soup, usually served with beef (ph d bo) or chicken (ph d ga).
Being new to most cities, including HCMC, means you should see where the locals are eating and try those places first. If the locals eat there regularly, you know it should be a good place to try out. Another helpful hint, when first arriving in the city, is to look for places that cook the food fresh and in plain sight. Everywhere you look, there is food being prepared and eaten in the city. There are carts on the street, a plethora of restaurants and even some hole in the wall type places that might seem sketchy, but often have some of the best tasting food in the entire city. From the variety of International food selections to traditional Vietnamese, you are sure to find something that suits your palate.
Nightlife and Shopping
With plenty of places to eat and shop during the day, we would be doing a disservice if we disregarded the nightlife in Ho Chi Minh City. There are many things to do at night after dinner from getting a drink in a cool, quiet place to live music, dancing and clubbing until the early hours of the morning.
No matter your interests, you will be able to find something you like to do after the sun goes down in the city. A quick Google search, on things to do at night in Ho Chi Minh City, will yield tons of results giving you numerous places to check out. No doubt you will find your favorite places to enjoy pretty quickly.
Ho Chi Minh City has an outstanding shopping scene that offers much more than just the smaller boutique shops and street vendors. There are several large shopping malls, street markets scattered around the city, craft markets and a variety of everything in between. No matter the niche, you can always find a place to meet your preferred style of shopping.
Recreational activities
The city has plenty of things to keep you entertained, fit and active including bowling, golf, fitness workout facilities, yoga, and yes, even massage. The come in a variety of price levels so look around to find something within your budget and area to keep you active while living in Ho Chi Minh City.
Cost of living
Let’s review the general cost of living in Ho Chi Minh City. Earlier, we showed the conversion of US dollars (USD) to the Vietnamese Dong (VND).
- Rent for a 900 square foot apartment (one bedroom) fully furnished in a more expensive part of the city is approximately 28,000,000 VND while rent for the same apartment (also fully furnished), in what might be referred to as a normal area, is less than half that cost at approximately 12,500,000 VND per month.
- Utilities including heating, gas and electricity average about 1,800.00 VND per month.
- Internet accessibility is available all over the country and 60 Mbps will run about 250,000 per month.
Those are some of the basics as far as living costs goes. You will also need to factor in groceries, clothes and other expenses