So you have arrived to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's largest and most populated city. The city is divided into 24 districts with 19 inner districts and 5 suburban districts and each district will offer a distinctively unique experience, and when you are deciding on your next new neighbourhood, it is important to consider each district's characteristics.
The heart of the city is located within Districts 1 and 3. These are ideal for travellers or short-term expats as they are close to all the action and activity. For expats who plan on living long term in Ho Chi Minh City, Districts 2 and 7 are the better options.
Taking commuting times into consideration is highly recommended as traffic in and out of the city center can become very congested during rush hour.
Here are your ‘need-to-knows’:
District 1
District 1 is the center for all financial, commercial and administrative activity. Although it is still Vietnamese in character, this district has felt the effects of globalisation and development most heavily. Restaurants and shops offering cuisines and goods from around the world are found alongside expensive, upscale hotels.
For the shopaholics, District 1 has an ever-expanding commercial scene with high-end stores like Louis Vuitton and Marc Jacobs planted on the most prestigious streets such as Dong Khoi Street and Nguyen Hue. And here your will find most of the city's museums, tourist attractions, historical sites, to include Ben Thanh Market and The Reunification Palace (Independence Palace).
District 1 offers some of the highest living standards in the city with a range of serviced apartment buildings. Rental in this district is of course higher as expected in comparison to other districts, but on the other hand, it also caters to many budget travellers in the backpackers' area of Pham Ngu Lao and Bui Vien.
As District 1 is the city center, one of the busiest districts and is where most of the action happens. Traffic within the district itself is not terrible, but the traffic entering and leaving the district can be heavy, especially during rush hour.
District 2
District 2 is home to many long-term expats who want living standards close to that of their home countries. While this district is close to the city centre, it's still far enough away to be secluded from District 1's endless activity.
District 2 (specifically Thao Dien Ward and An Phu Ward) is an alluring family-friendly settlement for Western expats and wealthy Vietnamese as it provides a high standard of living. These two wards offer less chaotic streets, numerous international schools, and Westernised housing options.
Thao Dien and An Phu both have high-quality residential apartments, large houses and villas – some with pools and in walled and secure compounds – at reasonable prices. Numerous restaurants, retail shops, grocery stores and commercial offices can be found lining the streets here.
District 3
An excellent location just by bordering District 1, this allows for expats to stay close to the action but also escape for a more peaceful, quieter sleep. Many young expats opting to stay close to the bars, restaurants and shops of District 1 choose to live in this area as it still offers a range of recreational activities and parks.
District 3 offers apartments (serviced or non-serviced), houses tucked down alleys and old French colonial villas. Prices vary depending on the type of accommodation but expect them to be cheaper than District 1.
As with many other districts, motorbikes and taxis are the best forms of transportation. But do note that the small streets of this district do contribute to the traffic congestion.
Nonetheless, District 3 is considered by many to be the ideal place to live here in Ho Chi Minh City.
District 5
As the local saying goes, “Go out in District 1, live in District 3, and eat in District 5”.
District 5 is known as the China Town of Ho Chi Minh City. It offers prominent cultural experiences in food and architecture, as it is famous for its street food and holds the largest number of pagodas and temples in HCMC.
Accommodations are similarly priced to District 3. Commuting times range from 10 to 20 minutes on a motorbike into District 1 and also public bus transport is convenient and it will take about 40 minutes to get to Ben Thanh Market. Quite a few hospitals can also be found in this district.
District 7
Similar to District 2, many expats choose to make District 7 their home. The district is filled with wide, tree-lined streets surrounded by high-quality apartment buildings and villas for long-term residents. There is little development outside of housing accommodation, so it is a perfect spot to enjoy personal space as well as extensive greenery.
Phu My Hung is the most popular area of District 7, catering to expats with international schools, swimming pools, Western grocery stores and an increasing number of restaurants and shops.
Do not expect much in terms of nightlife activities or street life. The allure of District 7 is its peaceful and quieter atmosphere. Designed with a wealthy, high-income population in mind, houses here are more expensive than other areas of the city.
Commuting times into District 1 will take around 30-40 minutes and with less convenient public transportation options. While it is nowhere close to a true Vietnamese experience, District 7 offers a peaceful lifestyle for families away from the noise and chaos of the city.
District 10
Cheap, tasty food options and affordable rental prices make District 10 a popular spot for Ho Chi Minh City's student population. Traffic to and from the city center can get pretty congested due to the small streets and dense population. Fortunately, though, District 10 is located conveniently close to District 1.
Because of the large student presence, the district offers many recreational activities from swimming pools to cafés and fitness centres.
Binh Thanh
Binh Thanh's cheap housing makes it very popular among young English teachers. Sandwiched between District 1 and District 2, it has become an increasingly lucrative spot for property developers. High-rise, high-quality, serviced apartment buildings such as The Manor and Saigon Pearl are located in this district.
This area has seen a steady stream of road construction over recent years and is an entry hub for many trucks, so it can be noisy at times.
Phu Nhuan District
Considered to be the geographical center of Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Nhuan is located between District 1 and the airport, sharing borders with many of the inner districts. Because of this, numerous main roads run through Phu Nhuan, leading to quickly congested streets.
It is one of the most heavily populated districts of the city but still maintains a Vietnamese charm with vibrant street life, a fair number of parks, and of course an abundance of coffee shops. Living in Phu Nhuan may be a good option for those working close to the airport but who also want to remain close to the buzz of the city center.
Housing options in Phu Nhuan tend to be serviced apartments or alley houses.