Living in Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam · tropical
Ho Chi Minh City is a big city of roughly 9,000,000 people inland in Vietnam. The climate is tropical. It has a lively, popular feel and is considered very safe. A typical month of living costs around $900. Healthcare is strong, and the internet is fast enough for full-time remote work. People come here for food and eating out, nightlife.
By 2026 something concrete is due to change here: Long Thanh International Airport. Private healthcare (5/5) is clearly better than the public system (2/5): budget for insurance. Starlink and satellite internet cannot be used in this country.
Ho Chi Minh City at a glance: cost, climate, safety
Who tends to love living in Ho Chi Minh City
- Making a budget stretch further
- Feeling safe day to day
- Working remotely with reliable internet
- A genuinely good food scene
- Access to strong healthcare
- Raising a family
All parameters
💉 Childhood vaccines: Compulsory by law
The Law on Prevention of Infectious Diseases makes the expanded programme compulsory for children under five.
If you skip them: Nothing in practice: the law names no penalty for a parent.
Exemptions: The law names none.
Source: Georgetown AMP EID, survey of national legislation, 2024
📈 Popularity & prices: Growing
Accommodation prices have moved about +43% in the last 5 years.
Estimates, for orientation only.
🔭 Where this place is heading
Today’s data. Tap a year to see where it is heading.
What to know before moving to Ho Chi Minh City
- • Can get busy with visitors in peak season.
⚠️ The downsides of living in Ho Chi Minh City
- •Dengue circulates in the wet season (mosquito-borne).
- •Rabies risk from stray dogs, think twice before petting animals.
- •Tap water isn't reliably drinkable, budget for filtered or bottled.
- •Air quality: PM2.5 averages ~28 µg/m³ (WHO guideline is 5).
Health, air (WHO PM2.5), water & crime figures are rough country-level estimates, verify for your case.
Where is Ho Chi Minh City?
₿ Spend Bitcoin around Ho Chi Minh City
Open the Bitcoin merchant maps for this area, cafés, shops and ATMs that accept Bitcoin.
Merchants: BTC Map, from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Events and meetups: Club Orange.
Questions, answered
How much does it cost to live in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam?
A typical month in Ho Chi Minh City costs around $900, covering rent and everyday expenses for one person. It is an estimate meant for comparing places, not for budgeting exactly.
Is Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam safe?
Arcadia rates personal safety in Ho Chi Minh City at 4 out of 5, which is good.
What is the internet like in Ho Chi Minh City?
Internet in Ho Chi Minh City is rated 4 out of 5 for remote work, which is good. Starlink is not available in this country.
What is the weather like in Ho Chi Minh City?
Ho Chi Minh City has a tropical climate.
Is healthcare good in Ho Chi Minh City?
Healthcare in Ho Chi Minh City is rated 4 out of 5 overall, which is good. Public healthcare is 2/5 and private healthcare 5/5.
How easy is it to move to Vietnam?
Arcadia rates the ease of getting residency in Vietnam at 3 out of 5, which is reasonable. The place page lists the visa routes that apply and which depend on your passport.
Is Ho Chi Minh City actually right for you?
Ho Chi Minh City is one of 3,500+ places we compare. Answer a few honest questions and we will tell you the handful that truly fit your life, ranked and explained.
Find my place →⏱️ ~5 min · one payment · no newsletter