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Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
An Australian expat in Ho Chi Minh advises newcomers to bring plenty of clothes for very warm weather since clothing there runs very small. He also recommends looking at a lot of apartments before choosing and taking into consideration proximity to work, supermarkets, swimming pools, because traffic is a major issue.
Ho Chi Minh City
I wish I'd brought more clothes suitable for a VERY warm climate. The climate here is hotter than I anticipated (C32 degrees in the wet season and C37+ in the dry). I am an average size in Australia but all the clothes are too small for me here and I have them made. Everything else is pretty much available. I wish I'd left behind the two pairs of 500 thread-count sheets I filled a small suitcase with - and brought clothes instead!
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Find a couple of real estate agents in the area and look at a lot of apartments before choosing. Consider whether you need to be close to a supermarket. Consider whether you'd like to be near a swimming pool. Consider your transport options: taxis, rent a scooter or is there a bus route close by?
I have a 3 bedroom / 2 bathroom apartment; mostly 1 or 3 seemed available at the time and I occasionally have overseas friends to stay. The people who live in my apartment blocks include western expats but are mainly Korean expats or Vietnamese people.
Having spent the past 6 years doing a long commute to work I decided to live close to my job if it was feasible - and it was. I live in District 7 of HCMC on the 14th floor of a group of 25 storey apartment blocks. In the centre of the 4 blocks is a sort of village square with several swimming pools, a gym, small shops/cafes/ hairdressers, a large good supermarket and two tennis courts. More shopping centres are within 5 minute's taxi ride, and I can get into District 1 shopping in 20-30 minutes depending on traffic. I used a local real estate office to find my apartment, someone recommended by a work colleague.
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Rental costs are slightly lower than in my area of Australia and much lower than cities such as Sydney and Melbourne. Depending on the size and standard of apartment in HCMC, median apartment costs would be 400-800 USD a month in my area. I think they are slightly higher in District 1.
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If you're moving to Vietnam, healthcare and health insurance require careful consideration. This article covers the quality of healthcare at hospitals and clinics in Vietnam, the availability of prescription medications, vaccinations and more.
A retiree in Ho Chi Minh city talks about returning to Vietnam after serving there during the war. The cost of living, friendly Vietnamese people and the relaxed lifestyle all brought him back to HCMC.
An Aussie expat in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam has had no problems setting into the culture there. Read about some of his experiences and his take on culture shock.
The culture is vibrant, and new. The cost of living is cheap, even in HCMC which is the viet equivalent to new York city. I actually stay in D7 which is close to Saigon South which is where most foreigners hide.
It's an exciting time to live in Vietnam - with more and more tall buildings crowding the city skylines and rural areas developing rapidly as well. Learning Vietnamese poses a major challenge for most expats, but Vietnam's warm, welcoming people make up for the challenge.
Peter Goudge explains all about Vietnam's iconic hat, the non-la, and how it ties into the South East Asian nation's history, folk lore and every day life. There's a lot more to this simple hat than meets the eye!
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Expats who have moved to Vietnam report a positive experience living in the Southeast Asian nation. They cite the culture, the food, the people as some of the things they love about Vietnam. The heat is a challenge for some!
Get a quote for expat health insurance in Vietnam from our partner, Cigna Global Health.
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If you're moving to Vietnam, healthcare and health insurance require careful consideration. This article covers the quality of healthcare at hospitals and clinics in Vietnam, the availability of prescription medications, vaccinations and more.
Support your favorite restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City as they recover from the pandemic. Submit a free listing for them on Expat Exchange to help spread the word about them to the expat community.
A retiree in Ho Chi Minh city talks about returning to Vietnam after serving there during the war. The cost of living, friendly Vietnamese people and the relaxed lifestyle all brought him back to HCMC.
An Aussie expat in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam has had no problems setting into the culture there. Read about some of his experiences and his take on culture shock.
The culture is vibrant, and new. The cost of living is cheap, even in HCMC which is the viet equivalent to new York city. I actually stay in D7 which is close to Saigon South which is where most foreigners hide.
It's an exciting time to live in Vietnam - with more and more tall buildings crowding the city skylines and rural areas developing rapidly as well. Learning Vietnamese poses a major challenge for most expats, but Vietnam's warm, welcoming people make up for the challenge.
Peter Goudge explains all about Vietnam's iconic hat, the non-la, and how it ties into the South East Asian nation's history, folk lore and every day life. There's a lot more to this simple hat than meets the eye!
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