Living in Saigon
Housing, transport and districts in Ho Chi Minh City.
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First Week in Ho Chi Minh City: Day-by-Day Checklist
On day one, register a SIM with a passport still valid for your stay, make sure your accommodation declares your stay, and note when your visa-free stay or e-visa ends. Spend days two to seven on cash, emergency numbers, transport, an area, the lease and the motorbike licence rule.
All guides (34)
Choosing a home
- Where to Live in Ho Chi Minh City: Areas, Rent, WardsThao Dien, Phu My Hung, District 1, District 3, Binh Thanh and Phu Nhuan compared: rent for one to three bedrooms, new ward names, flooding and schools.Verified
- District 2 vs District 7: Rent, Schools, Commute, FloodsThao Dien (District 2) and Phu My Hung (District 7) compared on rent, commute, international schools and tide flooding, with the new ward names.Verified
- District 1 Guide: Rent, New Wards, Clinics, FloodingDistrict 1 rent by bedroom and project from October 2026 listings, the four new wards, clinics, metro and bus links, and what the tide record says.Verified
- District 3 Guide: Rent, New Wards, Clinics, FloodingDistrict 3 rent by bedroom and project from October 2026 listings, furnished and unfurnished prices, the three new wards, clinics, food and tide record.Verified
- District 7 (Phu My Hung) Guide: Rent, Schools, FloodingPhu My Hung rent by bedroom and project from October 2026 listings, the four new wards, international schools, FV Hospital, supermarkets and tide flooding.Verified
- Thao Dien (District 2) Guide: Rent, Schools, FloodingThao Dien rent by bedroom and project from October 2026 listings, the new ward names, international schools, hospitals, metro, and street flooding.Verified
- Binh Thanh Guide: Rent, New Wards, Metro, FloodingBinh Thanh rent by bedroom and 20 projects from October 2026 listings, the five new wards, schools, Vinmec, metro stations and the Thanh Da flood record.Verified
- Ho Chi Minh City Flooding: Tide Dates and Streets by WardWhen the tide floods Ho Chi Minh City, which streets and wards the city names, how rain floods Thao Dien and the airport routes, and what to do.Verified
Renting
- Find an Apartment in Ho Chi Minh City: Rent, Deposit, ScamsWhere to look, what rent to expect, the lease and deposit rules, and the scams City Police warn about when renting in Ho Chi Minh City.Verified
- Rental Contract in Ho Chi Minh City: Clauses and NoticeThe items a written home lease holds in Ho Chi Minh City, the clauses to check, how a lease ends and where a dispute goes.Verified
- Rental Deposit in Ho Chi Minh City: Amounts and ReturnRental deposit amounts by area in Ho Chi Minh City, the Civil Code rule on the deposit, getting it back at move-out and where a dispute goes.Verified
- Landlord Electricity Price in Ho Chi Minh CityThe household electricity tiers, the tenant quota, the fine for overcharging and the EVNHCMC contacts for renters in Ho Chi Minh City.Verified
Getting around
- Getting Around Ho Chi Minh City: Free Bus, Metro, GrabHow to get around Ho Chi Minh City: the free city bus and its October check, metro, waterbus, Grab, Xanh SM, Be, the airport and motorbike licence rules.Verified
- Grab vs Xanh SM vs Be in Ho Chi Minh City: Fares ComparedGrab, Xanh SM and Be compared in Ho Chi Minh City: first-2-km fares for cars and bikes, fees, the foreign-card charge, airport pickups and table dates.Verified
- Ho Chi Minh City Bus Guide: Free Fare, Tap Rules, 13 Changed RoutesBuses are free on 134 routes until 31 December 2026. See what to tap, the MultiGo app and the routes that changed path.Verified
- Metro Line 1 in Ho Chi Minh City: Fares, Hours, StationsBen Thanh to Suoi Tien metro: single fares, day and month passes, the last published hours, every station and how to pay, including by VNeID.Verified
- Tan Son Nhat Airport to the City: Bus, Grab, TaxiWhich Tan Son Nhat terminal you land at, where the city buses, Grab, Xanh SM and taxis pick up, and their hours and fares.Verified
- Long Thanh Airport: Opening Date, Flights, Getting ThereACV now targets 24 December 2026 for Long Thanh Airport. See which flights go first, the planned express buses and how to reach it.Verified
Safety and emergencies
- Ho Chi Minh City Emergency Numbers: Police, Fire, MedicalEmergency numbers in Ho Chi Minh City for police, fire and medical help, how the city ambulance centre works, and the emergency lines hospitals publish.Verified
- Ho Chi Minh City Safety and Scams: Reported Risks and Who to CallDated police and tourism-department reports on bag snatching, airport taxi fare scams and booking scams in Ho Chi Minh City, and who to call.Verified
Daily life
- Tipping in Ho Chi Minh City: When to Tip, What to PayWhere a tip is a habit in Ho Chi Minh City, what to leave at restaurants, spas and on Grab, and what to do when the price is higher than listed.Verified
- Food Delivery Apps in Ho Chi Minh City: Fees ComparedGrabFood, ShopeeFood, beFood and Xanh SM Food compared for foreigners in Saigon: published fees, night surcharges, cash and card, and how to order.Verified
- Hire a Maid or Nanny in Ho Chi Minh City: Contract and PayHow to hire a regular maid, nanny or housekeeper in Ho Chi Minh City: written contract, minimum wage, insurance payment, rest days and the notice to your ward.Verified
- Coworking in Ho Chi Minh City: Day Pass and Monthly PricesCoworking in Ho Chi Minh City compared: the Hive, WorkFlow, Saigon Coworking and Sharespace, with day-pass, monthly and hourly prices and hours.Verified
Seasons and events
- Best Time to Visit Ho Chi Minh City: Dry and Rainy MonthsWhen to visit Ho Chi Minh City: dry and rainy season months, afternoon rain, the tide-flood peak and the Tet holiday dates.Verified
- Rainy Season in Ho Chi Minh City: Dates, Rain and FloodsRainy season in Ho Chi Minh City: when the rain comes, how storms and floods behave, and what Grab and tour operators say about weather.Verified
- Tet in Ho Chi Minh City: Dates and What ClosesThe Tet 2027 break runs 4 to 10 February. See what closed and kept running at Tet 2026: banks, markets, metro, buses, flower street.Verified
More
- Ho Chi Minh City Bus Stations: Mien Dong and Mien TayWhich coach station serves your trip: old Mien Dong, new Mien Dong or Mien Tay, with addresses, hotlines, metro and bus links, fares and scam tips.Verified
- How to Meet People in Ho Chi Minh City as an ExpatWhere expats in Ho Chi Minh City meet people: InterNations events, coworking communities, group Vietnamese classes, festivals, a marathon and volunteering.Verified
- Phu Nhuan and Tan Binh Guide: Rent, Wards, AirportPhu Nhuan and Tan Binh rent by project from October 2026 listings, the nine new wards, airport trade-offs, hospitals, buses and flooding.Verified
- Saigon Train Station: Times, Fares, TicketsSaigon railway station address, trains to Nha Trang, Da Nang and Hanoi with times and fares on a sample day, and how a foreigner buys a ticket.Verified
- Serviced Apartment vs Lease in Ho Chi Minh CityServiced apartment or yearly lease in Ho Chi Minh City: what each rate includes, electricity and water bills, deposit and the exit rules.Verified
- Thu Duc Guide: Twelve New Wards, Rent, Metro, FloodsThu Duc is now a ward inside Ho Chi Minh City. Its twelve new wards, October 2026 rent for Thu Duc and old District 9, metro stops, hospital and flooding.Verified
Offices
- HCMC Immigration Management Division, Public Security Department (Phòng Quản lý xuất nhập cảnh)196 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Xuan Hoa, Ho Chi Minh, VietnamOpen in Google Maps ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- Ho Chi Minh City Public Administration Service Centre (Trung tâm Phục vụ hành chính công)43 D. Nguyen Van Ba, phuong, Thu Duc, Ho Chi Minh, VietnamOpen in Google Maps ↗ (opens in a new tab)