Transportation
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Saigon Railway Station (Ga Sài Gòn) in District 3
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Grab (Car/Bike), Gojek, or Be
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Tigit Motorbikes (approx. 1,500,000 VND/month) or TNGO public bicycle sharing
- Best Beach Nearby
- Vung Tau (approx. 2 hours via ferry or bus)
- Top Regional Airline
- VietJet Air or Bamboo Airways
- Top International Airline
- Vietnam Airlines (SkyTeam)
- Highway Access
- CT01 (Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway)
- Public Transport Passes
- Unicard for buses (single fare approx. 7,000 VND), though apps are preferred
- Regional Travel
- Futa Bus (Phuong Trang) for inter-city travel to Da Lat or Mui Ne
Essentials
- City
- Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Southeast Region, Vietnam
- Population
- Approximately 9,300,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 100-150 Mbps on fiber optic; 5G widely available (Viettel/Vinaphone)
- Currency & Banking
- Vietnamese Dong (VND). 1 USD ≈ 25,400 VND, 1 EUR ≈ 27,100 VND
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable. Use 19L bottled water delivery (La Vie/Vinh Hao) approx. 65,000 VND
- Power
- 220V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type A, C, and G sockets
- SIM Card
- Viettel or Vinaphone. Tourist SIM approx. 200,000 - 300,000 VND for 4GB/day
- Banking for Expats
- HSBC Vietnam, Shinhan Bank, or Timo (Digital Bank for local transfers)
- Accommodation
- Serviced apartments and high-rise condos (Vinhomes Central Park, Masteri Thao Dien)
- Cashless Friendly
- Very high via QR codes (Momo, VNPay) and cards in malls; cash still needed for street food
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, M Village (Coliving), and Cityhouse Apartment
- Budget Accommodation
- The Hideout Hostel (District 1) - Approx. 250,000 VND/night
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- District 1 (Ben Thanh/Da Kao) for attractions and nightlife
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- District 2 (Thao Dien) for expat community or District 7 (Phu My Hung) for quiet/greenery
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Dreamplex (Locations in D1, Thao Dien). Hot desk approx. 2,500,000 VND/month
- Best Cafe for Work
- The Workshop Coffee (27 Ngo Duc Ke, D1). High-speed Wi-Fi and ergonomic tables
- Networking Events
- Tech in Asia meetups, Web Wednesday Vietnam, and Creative Mornings Saigon
- Social Events for Expats
- Saigon Expats (Facebook Group) and InterNations Saigon Monthly Mixers
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- FV Hospital (District 7) or Family Medical Practice (District 1)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center or Jiva Yoga Saigon (Thao Dien)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- California Fitness & Yoga. Memberships approx. 1,000,000 VND/month
- Laundry Services
- Heramo (App-based delivery) or local 'Giat Ui' shops (approx. 30,000 VND/kg)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- GrabFood or ShopeeFood
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Com Tam (Broken Rice) at Com Tam Ba Ghiem (District 10)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Shamballa Vegetarian, Bistro & Tea House (District 1)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Maison Marou Flagship (Fine Vietnamese Chocolate and pastries)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Co.op Mart or WinMart for general groceries
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Shopee.vn or Lazada.vn
- Grocery Delivery
- Chopp.vn or GrabMart
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Bui Vien Walking Street (Budget) or Thao Dien (Upscale bars)
- Local Brewery
- Heart of Darkness Craft Brewery or Pasteur Street Brewing Co.
- Wine Bars
- The Wine Stand by Red Apron (Thao Dien)
- Street Food Stalls
- Ho Thi Ky Food Street (District 10)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Pizza 4P's (Japanese-Italian fusion) - multiple locations
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- War Remnants Museum, Independence Palace, and Notre-Dame Cathedral
- Museums & Art Venues
- Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts (District 1)
- Historical Sites
- Cu Chi Tunnels (approx. 1 hour drive from city center)
- Religious Sites
- Jade Emperor Pagoda (Chua Ngoc Hoang)
- Annual Events
- Tet (Lunar New Year) and Nguyen Hue Flower Street Festival
- Cultural Districts
- Cholon (District 5/6) - Largest Chinatown in Vietnam
- Theater Venues
- Saigon Opera House (Municipal Theater) for A O Show
- Local Markets
- Ben Thanh Market and Tan Dinh Market
- Music Scene
- Sax n' Art Jazz Club or Lush Nightclub
- Street Art
- 3A Station (though evolving) and alleyways in District 1/4
- Cooking Classes
- The Vietnam Cookery Center (District 1)
- Art Galleries
- Galerie Quynh (Contemporary Art)
- Historic Buildings
- Central Post Office (designed by Gustave Eiffel)
- Local Heritage
- Ao Dai cultural dress and French colonial architecture
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve
- National Parks Nearby
- Cat Tien National Park (approx. 3.5 hours away)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Vinhomes Central Park or Sala Park (District 2)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Skydeck at Bitexco Financial Tower or Landmark 81 Observatory
- Birdwatching Locations
- Can Gio Bird Sanctuary
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- The BCR (District 9) for outdoor camping/BBQ
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Giao Hang Nhanh (GHN) or Viettel Post
- Tech Repair Services
- Dien May Xanh or local repair shops on Ton That Tung street
- Table Tennis Spots
- Ho Xuan Huong Sports Center (District 3)
- Language Classes
- VLS (Vietnamese Language Studies) Center
- Libraries & Study Spots
- General Sciences Library (69 Ly Tu Trong)
- Community Centers
- American Center Ho Chi Minh City
- Gaming Lounges
- Kingdom Next Gen (Multiple locations)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Club Vegas at Caravelle Hotel (Foreign passport holders only)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $5,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $220,000 / ~5.6B VND)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $2,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $88,000 / ~2.2B VND)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $5,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $300,000 / ~7.6B VND)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $2,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $120,000 / ~3.0B VND)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $4,800 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $384,000 / ~9.7B VND)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $1,800 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $144,000 / ~3.6B VND)
- Corporate Tax
- 20% (Standard)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0% for individual shareholders of a limited company; 5% for capital investments
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for tax residents (present >183 days)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 35%
- VAT
- 10% (standard); some items currently 8% depending on stimulus)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No specific CFC rules currently in Vietnam
- Property Tax
- Very low non-agricultural land use tax, typically <0.1%
- Property Transaction Tax
- 2% personal income tax for the seller; 0.5% registration fee for the buyer
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Vietnam recently introduced/updated E-visas (90 days). No dedicated nomad visa yet, but low living costs offset high income tax brackets.