Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Report of what it's like to live there - 04/12/25
Personal Experiences from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Background:
1. Was this post your first expatriate experience? If not, what other cities have you lived in as an expat?
Not a first experience.
2. What is your home city/country? How long is the trip to post from there, with what connections? How easy/difficult is it to travel to this city/country?
It's long. The most popular routes to the US are via Tokyo, Seoul, or Doha.
3. How long have you lived here?
Several years.
4. What brought you to this city (e.g. diplomatic mission, business, NGO, military, teaching, retirement, etc.)?
Diplomatic mission.
Housing, Groceries & Food:
1. What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
Most families with kids live in district 2, while singles and couples live in district 1. Both areas could be described as urban. District 1 housing is within walking distance of the consulate. Those in district 2 take a shuttle, rideshare, drive, or bike to work. Housing consists primarily of serviced apartments. We've been very pleased. Our housing is comfortable and modern, includes free housekeeping, and is centrally located near cafes, restaurants, and grocery stores.
2. How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
Everything is available, fresh, and very reasonably priced. I don't see any reason to bring consumables.
3. What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?
None.
4. What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?
There are more restaurants and cafes than you could possibly try in a tour. Local cuisine is fresh and healthy, and unbelievably cheap. A wide variety of high-quality international cuisines are available. Everything is available for delivery via grab. You could easily go without ever cooking for yourself if you wanted to.
5. Are there any unusual problems with insects or other infestations in housing?
Beyond a few ants, we haven't had any issues. While not incredibly common, dengue is present, so watch out for mosquito bites, but mosquitos seem to be less of an issue in the dense city center than in other countries we've lived in.
Daily Life:
1. How do you send and receive your letters and package mail? Are local postal facilities adequate?
DPO.
2. What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
High-quality help is available for very reasonable rates. People employ cooks, nannies, and personal trainers. Most don't need housekeepers since the majority of housing is already serviced.
3. What kinds of gyms or other sports/workout facilities are available? Are they expensive?
In addition to facilities in apartment buildings, there are many local gyms across a wide range of price points.
4. Do you feel that it is safe to walk, run or hike outside? Are there areas where bike riding is possible? What is the availability and safety of outdoor space for exercising? Are these easily accessible?
Safe, yes. There is very little crime here, and we have no issues walking anywhere at any time of day. Traffic is probably the biggest issue, and sidewalks are not uniformly present or maintained. Watch out for the motorbikes while walking and you'll be ok, though it's maybe not the most peaceful experience. Some people bike, but personally I think I'd find weaving in and out of the traffic stressful. There are some parks for exercising, but in general, the city lacks significant green space.
5. Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
They're widely used, but many people have also had their card compromised. It's happened to me twice here; keep a backup at home for the times when you're waiting for your bank to send you a new one. There are still many smaller cafes and restaurants that only accept cash.
6. How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?
There is a surprisingly good level of English in districts 1 and 2 in Ho Chi Minh City. You can certainly get by just fine. That being said, Vietnamese is helpful outside of those areas and in the rest of the country. It's a tough language: if your pronunciation is not perfect, no one will understand you.
7. Would someone with physical disabilities have difficulties living in this city?
Sidewalks are poorly maintained or non-existent.
Transportation:
1. Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
Everyone relies on grab, the local ride-sharing app. You can order a car or a motorbike. It's insanely cheap, convenient, and is quite reliable. There's a new metro, but so far there's only one line, so it's not super convenient, but may become more so in the future as they expand. There are busses that seem fine, but honestly, it's not much more expensive to get a grab.
2. What kind of vehicle(s) including electric ones do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, infrastructure, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car or vehicles do you advise not to bring?
I don't see much need for a vehicle here. There's very limited parking, the traffic is bad, and it's so cheap to use local rideshares. Some people buy their own motorbikes.
Phone & Internet:
1. Is high-speed home Internet access available? How long does it typically take to install it after arrival?
Yes, already installed when we arrived.
2. Do you have any recommendations regarding mobile phones? Did you keep your home-country plan or use a local provider?
It's super inexpensive and easy to get a local phone plan. We use it because the data is very affordable. Most local communication is done via apps like Messenger and Zalo.
Pets:
1. Are qualified veterinarians and/or good kennel services available? Do animals need to be quarantined upon entry to the country? Are there other considerations regarding pets that are particular to this country?
There are good international vets and pet stores here. Many people have pets.
Employment & Volunteer Opportunities:
1. What is the typical dress code at work and in public places? Is formal dress ever required?
Fairly casual. Ties are rare, and people dress for the year-round heat.
Health & Safety:
1. Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.
It's very safe here. The government maintains tight control. I've never felt uncomfortable or worried at any time of day anywhere in the country.
2. Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
Medical care is better than expected. Local facilities are certainly questionable, but at least in HCMC there are a wide variety of international doctors and clinics that seem to have good care. There are 24 hour international walk-in clinics that have provided good service. The med unit at the consulate is helpful in identifying doctors and making appointments. For complex issues, most people go to Bangkok, fewer than two hours away, for world-class care.
3. What is the air quality like at post (good/moderate/bad)? Are there seasonal air quality issues? Does the air quality have an impact on health?
Honestly, it's not bad. Sure, there have been a few days where you can see smog, and I can't imagine that the exhaust from the millions of motorbikes is very good for anyone, but compared to many other dense Asian megacities (and even compared to Hanoi) HCMC enjoys far more blue sky days. All housing comes with air filters.
4. What do people who suffer from environmental or food allergies need to know?
For the amount of fresh vegetables and street food, food-borne illness is surprisingly not a major issue. Stay away from known risks, like eating seafood on the street, and you'll be mostly fine. Even locals don't drink the water, so you can be fairly certain that any water or ice in/on your food is bottled.
5. Are there any particular mental health issues that tend to crop up at post, such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (winter blues)?
Not that I know of.
6. What is the overall climate: is it extremely hot or cold, wet or dry, at any time of year, for example?
Hot and hotter. May and June can be oppressively hot and sticky, with the heat index regularly nearing 110F or more. Rainy season can bring torrential downpours, though they rarely last more than an hour or so. The winter from December to February is the most pleasant time of year, when you might feel relieved to experience a nighttime low of a chilly 70F and daytime highs in the 80s.
Expat Life:
1. What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
Large expat community. Many Americans, Australians, French. Many diplomatic missions and multinational companies. A wide variety of other European and Asian groups. Morale tends to be high compared to other countries we've lived in.
2. What are some typical ways to socialize, either with local people or with other expatriates? Are there groups or clubs that you can recommend?
There's an endless variety of cafes, bars, restaurants, gyms, etc.
3. Is this a good city for single people? For couples? For families? Why or why not?
Seems good for all.
4. Is it easy to make friends with locals here? Are there any prejudices or any ethnic groups who might feel uncomfortable here?
Forming close friendships with locals has been a little difficult here. Everyone is universally friendly, though.
5. Is this a good city for LGBT expatriates? Why or why not?
This is a very popular city for LGBT expats. Expect no issues as an LGBT foreigner; locals are very welcoming and accepting of all.
6. Are there problems with ethnic, race/racial minorities or religious prejudices? Gender equality?
It doesn't seem so.
7. What have been the highlights of your time in this country? Best trips or experiences?
It is so convenient and cheap to travel, both within the country and within the region. Opportunities are endless.
8. What are the particular advantages of living in this city?
You can have the best (and cheapest massage) of your life every single week.
Words of Wisdom:
1. What do you wish you had known about this particular city/country before moving there?
Corruption among local officials is real and definitely affects locals and some foreigners a lot, but diplomats are unlikely to be hassled or shaken down for bribes. The bureaucracy can sometimes make work difficult, which can affect you more or less depending on your role. I came without a lot of preconceptions and didn't really know what to expect, and this country has exceeded all expectations.
2. Knowing what you know now, would you still move to this city?
Absolutely. I don't think there's a better value-for-money out there. On an expat salary, you can live quite luxuriously and still save a lot.
3. If you move here, you can leave behind your:
winter clothes.
4. Do you recommend any books or movies about this city/country for those who are interested in learning more?
The Mountains Sing and Dust Child by Nguyen Phan Que Mai.
