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So why did we choose Ho Chi Minh City? 🇻🇳

When I first landed in Vietnam with my partner, son, and a few suitcases, I remember standing outside Tan Son Nhat airport thinking, ‘What have I just done?’ I was sweating, sleep-deprived, and holding a toddler who kept pointing at every motorbike that whizzed past (and now he's obsessed with motorbikes).

But HCMC turned out to be a fascinating paradox: part megacity, part village. It’s got the chaos of Bangkok (a city I also love), the opportunity of Singapore, and the warmth of a close-knit community, if you know where to look.

Some of the reasons we fell in love with it:

• Affordable international schools and healthcare (and in general)

• Modern infrastructure mixed with Southeast Asian cost of living

• A thriving expat scene where English is widely used

• A culture built on resilience, community, and hustle

• Fantastic job opportunities with interesting companies like Elfie

This city quickly became a launchpad for our next life chapter; both professionally and personally. 

Where to live, and why it matters 🏡

Deciding where to live in HCMC can be overwhelming. Luckily, I've already lived in all of the locations I'm going to suggest below, except Diamond Island. Shout out to our Head of People Kevin for this suggestion! 

For my family, we ended up settling in Thao Dien. This location offered us the ultimate balance between chaos, affordability, convenience, and calm.

And for us, we prefer exploring areas where a modern skyline assembles as the backdrop to traditional streets and alleyways that exude tons of character.

Nevertheless, here are three suggestions for you to consider based on your own situation: 

Cost of living 💰 

One of the biggest shocks when relocating from a city like London to Ho Chi Minh City is how much further your money goes. The difference in day-to-day expenses is massive. 

Here’s a quick overview comparison to give you a feel for it:

Rent

We pay around $750 /month (including bills) for a spacious 2-bedroom apartment in Thao Dien with a view of the Landmark 81, with weekly cleaning, a gym, and pool included.

Food. 

Lunch? Usually under $5. Here's my go-to, Soumaki, which costs $4.50 including delivery. 

But this is a comparatively pricey lunch in Saigon. If you decide to eat local cuisine, lunch can go as low as $0.80 for a Pho dish.

Transport

I personally zip around on a Yamaha NVX 155 2020. Fast, reliable, safe and a nice aesthetic. It's a far cry from my BMW X6, but I forget all about that when I'm at the petrol pump filling up for $1.50.

I paid $850 on Facebook Marketplace for my one, 2nd hand. You can also rent them for around $80 per month. I can recommend a great guy for rentals in Thao Dien, Jan. Tell him I said hi if you stop by.

Jan's Motorbike

Here's me trying to take a "professional" photo of my NVX on the Ba Son Bridge, and failing miserably 🥲

And if you need to jump in a taxi, Grab is your best bet. As you saw from my comparison table, taxi prices are extremely affordable and are a viable option. Airport to D1 (6km) is about $2.40.

Do not hail a taxi when you land in HCMC. Prices are extortionate. Connect to the airport WIFI and use Grab.

Top tip: You could make it even cheaper by getting a Grab Bike.

Mobile

I can only recommend Viettel. Extremely reliable 5G in most of urban Vietnam. And as of the time I'm writing this in May 2025, you can get a sim card with a phone number, calls, and 5GB per day of data for $6 per month. 

This one really does astound me. In the UK, I was paying $60 per month for 2GB per day, capped at 50GB per month.

Top tip: Do NOT get a sim card at the airport. They almost never work. Go into a Viettel store once you're in the city.

Things to Do 🤽🏾‍♀️

Saigon is literally packed with things to do - of course, for me it's more family focused, but there is even more to do for singles or couples.

Families:

If you’re raising kids here like me, Thao Dien is a solid bet. It’s packed with soft play centres, international schools, and indoor kid zones inside malls like Vincom Mega Mall. 

My personal favourite cafe in Thao Dien, The Loop, blends brunch and playground and is always packed with expat families, great for networking.

There’s also a growing scene of weekend markets, riverwalks, and western-style gyms.

After Dark:

When the sun sets, Saigon shifts gears. The city comes alive with contemporary rooftop bars like my personal favorite, Banana Mama.

The nightlife scene is diverse though; from low-key wine bars in Thao Dien, to full-on DJ sets and parties in Bui Vien if you’re in the mood for that type of thing.

And when you need to reset, cheap and fast weekend flights to Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Dalat, or even Bangkok mean your next beach, mountain, or escape is never more than 90 minutes away.