Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 🇻🇳
#517
,
Nomad Score:
75%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
87%
Weight: 150
Very affordable compared to Western cities; daily expenses including food and transport are low.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
79%
Weight: 80
Affordable apartments and shared accommodations are widely available, though prices vary by district.
🍎 Food & Groceries
91%
Weight: 40
Street food and local markets offer cheap and diverse options; groceries are inexpensive.
🚌 Transportation Cost
93%
Weight: 20
Public transport is very cheap; motorbike taxis and ride-hailing apps are affordable and convenient.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
84%
Weight: 15
Affordable nightlife, cinemas, and cultural events; many budget-friendly options.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
72%
Weight: 10
Gyms are reasonably priced, though premium facilities cost more; many affordable local gyms.
💱 Currency Stability
61%
Weight: 30
Vietnamese Dong is relatively stable but subject to inflation risks and currency fluctuations.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
78%
Weight: 100
Generally good internet speeds with fiber available in most urban areas; occasional outages.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
85%
Weight: 40
Numerous coworking spaces catering to digital nomads with modern amenities.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
90%
Weight: 30
Abundant cafes with reliable WiFi, popular among remote workers.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
87%
Weight: 30
Many cafes offer comfortable seating, power outlets, and good internet.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
89%
Weight: 100
Ho Chi Minh City is a well-known hub for digital nomads in Southeast Asia.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
74%
Weight: 30
Busy city life but plenty of leisure options; work culture is flexible for freelancers.
🌳 Environmental Quality
43%
Weight: 15
Air pollution and traffic congestion impact environmental quality negatively.
🧼 Cleanliness
51%
Weight: 10
Street cleanliness varies; some areas well-maintained, others less so.
🗨️ Language Barrier
68%
Weight: 30
English is commonly spoken in tourist and expat areas but limited outside these zones.
💨 Air Quality
39%
Weight: 15
Air pollution is a significant issue, especially during dry seasons.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
67%
Weight: 20
Private hospitals and clinics offer decent care; public healthcare is basic.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
80%
Weight: 25
Medical services are affordable compared to Western standards.
🏥 Healthcare
69%
Weight: 20
Access to quality healthcare is good in private facilities but limited in public ones.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
86%
Weight: 80
Tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round; hot and humid but mostly sunny.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
52%
Weight: 10
Moderate risk of flooding during rainy season; typhoons less frequent than in northern Vietnam.
🏞️ Green Spaces
58%
Weight: 10
Some parks and green areas exist but limited compared to city size.
❄️ Air Conditioning
91%
Weight: 15
Widely available in accommodations, cafes, and coworking spaces.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
32%
Weight: 10
Tropical climate means little seasonal variation; mainly wet and dry seasons.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
88%
Weight: 20
Rich cultural heritage with vibrant street life, markets, and historical sites.
🌃 Nightlife
84%
Weight: 15
Active nightlife with bars, clubs, and live music catering to expats and locals.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
61%
Weight: 15
Limited natural outdoor spaces within city; nearby countryside accessible for day trips.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
73%
Weight: 10
Many language schools and informal opportunities to learn Vietnamese.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
85%
Weight: 10
Wide range of cultural tours, cooking classes, and local experiences available.
🎳 Indoors Fun
76%
Weight: 10
Shopping malls, cinemas, and entertainment venues provide indoor activities.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
94%
Weight: 25
World-renowned street food and diverse culinary options at very affordable prices.
🧠 Yoga Studios
71%
Weight: 10
Several yoga studios catering to expats and locals, though not as abundant as in some cities.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
74%
Weight: 15
Good availability of gyms and fitness centers with modern equipment.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
80%
Weight: 15
Plenty of fresh produce and healthy Vietnamese dishes; organic options growing.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
75%
Weight: 20
GMT+7 is convenient for Asia-Pacific and some European time zones but less so for Americas.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
82%
Weight: 25
Active expat and digital nomad communities with frequent meetups and events.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
60%
Weight: 20
Limited local remote job market; most digital nomads rely on international clients.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
71%
Weight: 20
Growing freelance community supported by coworking spaces and networking events.
🏢 Coworking Quality
83%
Weight: 30
Modern, well-equipped coworking spaces with good amenities and community events.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
65%
Weight: 15
Emerging startup ecosystem with increasing investment but still developing.
💳 Local Payment Services
69%
Weight: 10
Mobile payments and e-wallets are growing but cash remains dominant.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
57%
Weight: 15
Interest in crypto is rising but regulatory environment is cautious.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
78%
Weight: 30
Tan Son Nhat International Airport offers many regional and some international flights.
🚇 Public Transit
45%
Weight: 20
Limited public transit options; bus system exists but not very efficient; metro under development.
🚶 Walkability
62%
Weight: 20
Walkable in central districts but sidewalks can be crowded and uneven.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
90%
Weight: 15
Popular ride-hailing apps like Grab widely used and affordable.
🚲 Cycling
50%
Weight: 10
Cycling is possible but traffic and road conditions can be challenging.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
73%
Weight: 15
Good bus and train connections to other Vietnamese cities; affordable flights available.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
92%
Weight: 10
Scooter rentals are ubiquitous and inexpensive, popular among locals and expats.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
84%
Weight: 20
Strong 4G coverage citywide; 5G rollout progressing.
🔒 VPN Reliability
76%
Weight: 20
VPNs generally work well, though some restrictions apply.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
79%
Weight: 15
Stable electricity supply with occasional short outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
68%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi available in cafes and malls but not widespread outdoors.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
63%
Weight: 40
Tourist visas easy to obtain; longer stays require more paperwork.
📊 Tax Friendliness
55%
Weight: 30
Tax system can be complex for foreigners; no specific digital nomad tax benefits.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
34%
Weight: 15
Government controls media and restricts some speech; limited compared to Western standards.
🏛️ Political Stability
72%
Weight: 20
Stable one-party state with low risk of political unrest.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
59%
Weight: 15
Possible for foreigners but requires paperwork and local address; process can be slow.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
61%
Weight: 10
Bureaucratic but improving; foreign ownership restrictions apply.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
20%
Weight: 35
No official digital nomad visa; relies on tourist or business visas.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
83%
Weight: 50
Welcoming community and infrastructure for digital nomads despite visa limitations.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
77%
Weight: 25
Regular meetups and events organized by coworking spaces and expat groups.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
80%
Weight: 20
Active online forums and social media groups for digital nomads in the city.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
75%
Weight: 100
Generally safe for tourists and nomads; petty theft is the main concern.
♀️ Female Friendly
70%
Weight: 50
Women can travel and work safely but cultural norms require some caution.
✊ Racial Tolerance
68%
Weight: 50
Generally tolerant but occasional discrimination reported; expat community is diverse.