Living in Ho Chi Minh City is probably not like living anywhere else you have ever been. Perhaps the thought of indulging in an unending supply of mouthwatering street cuisine, the prospect of cruising around on a scooter, or the alluring scent of freshly brewed coffee streaming through your window every morning are what beckons you. 

​​​​Overview of Ho Chi Minh city

Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City, historically known as Saigon, is located in the southeast Vietnam. To the east are the provinces of Ba Ria, Vung Tau, and Dong Nai; to the north are the provinces of Tay Ninh and Binh Duong; to the west are the provinces of Long An and Tien Giang.

The city is 150 km long from northwest to southeast and 75 km long from west to east. The city center is roughly 50 km west of the Eastern Sea and 1,730 km south of Hanoi (where it meets the sea in Can Gio District).

Ho Chi Minh city Vietnam

With 2,061.4 km2  as a whole, the urban region makes up just roughly one-third of the suburban area. In the central region, the average height above sea level is approximately 5 meters, while in the northern suburbs, it is approximately 16m

Regarding hydrography, there is a vast network of rivers and canals in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The two major rivers that flow through and close to the city are the Saigon River and the Dong Nai River (the central freshwater).

Ho Chi Minh City is a major hub for air, sea, and land transportation because of its strategic location in Southeast Asia. It serves as an international port and links the provinces of southern Vietnam.

Based on 2016 figures, the population of Ho Chi Minh City is 8.3 million, or around 9% of all Vietnamese inhabitants.

Weather of Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh's weather is all year round, it's hot, but from May to October, when the monsoon rains arrive, there are frequent afternoon showers. It's hot and dry throughout the rest of the year. The range of daytime temperatures is 25–35°C, and 75–80% humidity is not uncommon. But don't worry—all of the following are fully air-conditioned: restaurants, shops, houses, taxis, and schools.

The pros and cons to living in Ho Chi Minh City

Travel in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City is inexpensive and simple to navigate, yet occasionally quite an adventure!

The majority of foreigners go by cab or motorbike. Small 125cc motorcycles are reasonably priced to buy or rent, but a helmet is a necessary. Apps like Grab and Be make motorbike taxis easily accessible. 

Top tip: Don't forget to bring your driver's license if you're thinking about purchasing or renting a motorbike/car. 

If you pick a reliable operator and use the meter, Ho Chi Minh City has relatively affordable taxi rates. We suggest Mai Linh and Vinasun.

At first, crossing the street can be a little intimidating. To be seen by incoming vehicles, we advise you to walk steadily and slowly while waving your arm in the air. The cars and motorbikes may maneuver around you if you walk at a steady pace.

If you want to travelling with family and rent car without driver, let's contact with Vietnam Trust Car Rental. Vietnam Car Rental service with us will help you have memoriable experience in Vietnam. You can explore many beautiful lancapes, culture and Vietnamese people. 

Cost of living in Ho Chi Minh

The Vietnamese Dong (VND) is the currency in use in Vietnam. All things considered, Ho Chi Minh City has an excellent level of living. Spa treatments, fine eating, and traveling around city are examples of accessible and reasonably priced luxury activities.

Best advice: Don't be scared to barter in marketplaces. Vietnamese culture values bargaining, so be sure to secure a reasonable deal for the items you're buying.

Even though living in Vietnam is inexpensive, you might find it a little more expensive if you enjoy eating or shopping for Western goods.

This is where people seeking luxury won't be disappointed. The city is filled with five-star hotels, fine dining establishments, upscale retail stores, and upscale spas.

Ho Chi Minh's food

Like practically every other country, Vietnam has large malls stocked with food and merchandise, but there is also a sizable local market. These places offer an amazing variety and freshness of items (fruits, vegetables, cereals, tofu, meat, and seafood). This place's seafood area, where you can buy eels, mussels, scallops, squid, prawns, and all types of fish. This food will typically be alive so that consumers can verify the product's freshness.

Enjoy local food in Ben Thanh Market

Vegetables, herbs, and spices are among the many fresh ingredients found in Vietnamese cuisine. The dish is nutritious since it uses a lot of grilled or boiled meat and little oil. Saigon has enough to offer foodies of all stripes, from Michelin-starred restaurants to street food carts. There's nothing better for lunch than a hot and flavorful bowl of Pho or a delicious banh mi (pork, radish, carrot, coriander, chili, and cucumber on a french roll) paired with fresh sugar cane juice from a food cart. 

Things to do in Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh City offers a wide range of attractions, from historical and cultural landmarks to scenic locations that showcase the city's diverse aspects.

Ho Chi Minh City is the most numerous museum in Vietnam, ranking first out of the 11 museums. With more than 30,000 objects, the Museum of Vietnamese History is the oldest and largest museum in the city.

Central Post Office in Ho Chi Minh

The vast river deltas of the Dong Nai, Saigon, Vam Co Dong, and Vam Co Tay created the Can Gio Biosphere Reserve in Can Gio District, home to a variety of plant and animal species. Because of the distinctive plant and animal systems found in the mangrove forest, UNESCO designated this area as a global biosphere reserve. Moreover, this woodland has been recognized by the Vietnamese government as a national tourist site.

The Cu Chi Tunnels, one of Vietnam's national historical sites, is another popular tourist destination. Located in Cu Chi District, roughly 60 kilometers northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, are the tunnels, an underground defensive system. The tunnels extended over 250 kilometers and reached a depth of 10 meters below the surface.

Explore the Cu Chi Tunnels

Besides, Ho Chi Minh city is also many attraction such as Ben Thanh market, Notre Dame Cathedral, Independence Palace. 

>>> See more: TOP 25 THINGS MUST DO IN HO CHI MINH 2024