Ho Chi Minh City - Post Report Question and Answers

What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?

Housing is mixed: large villas in a gated community with all the amenities, and near schools; spacious apartments (as big as five bedrooms) with many amenities also near schools; or smaller apartments walking distance from the Consulate. They just added a new apartment building to the pool, but it is furthest away from Consulate. It is not walking distance to anything worth walking to...there is only one small family there now. - Sep 2021


We lived in a serviced apartment downtown near the Independence Park. I usually walked to work (10-15 minutes). Three-bedroom, two-bath. The building is excellently maintained, the staff are very responsive. Small gym, indoor pool, yoga room, and small playroom for little kids. - Jul 2019


Masses of huge apartment buildings are going up in District 2, which used to be semi-countryside, Villas in and out of compounds, local houses, as long as you can handle the noise from the neighbours. - Mar 2016


We have many serviced apartments in District 1, which is where the consulate is. Out in District 2, which is a 15-20 minute drive to the consulate (30-40 with traffic), we have about 6 houses in a very nice compound on the main strip of Thao Dien with shops and restaurants. Then we have 8 apartments in Riverside. This is where we live, and we couldn’t be happier. The apartments are a little outdated, but the outdoor space and amenities make living here great. We are next door to the International School of HCMC. Nearby there is a park, a pool, restaurants, spa, market, coffee shop, kids' garden, gym, yoga classes, Zumba classes, basketball courts, tennis courts, volleyball court, and a bus and boat shuttle into D1 multiple times throughout the day. Riverside has one of the largest green spaces here. - Aug 2015


We live in an expat area with lots of compounds. Houses are fairly large, concrete. Split pack air conditioners. Commutes vary greatly based on where you live and work. From our house in district 2 to work in district 1, it takes anywhere from 15 minutes (Sunday morning) to 40 minutes on a rough morning with flooded streets and traffic. - May 2014


Apartments are a big plus. That is pretty much across the board. Most of my visitors ask me about my favorite place in HCMC, and I say my apartment. After all, almost every where delivers. Families are out in a compound outside of the city. You must have a car and you must fight this traffic. Most people dislike the commute, many try to find a place in the city in the long run. - Jul 2011


We live in the very center of HCMC in a furnished Condo with 12 floors, a pool and a small restaurant. We can be anywhere within 20 mins or less. There are good taxi's and also motor bike taxis called Xe Om (pronounced Say Om. If you get to know a couple of the old guys that stand on your street corner with their motor bikes, they make very good modes of transport, they look out for you. Helmets must be worn here it's the law and is enforced, but they are mostly building site plastic things. we brought 2 good strong helmets from the USA (made in China of course sigh!)Across the river a longer commute, 20 minutes from center on a motor bike, 40 minutes in a car not rush hour,as bad as a couple of hours if in rush hour and construction going on. This area is called Anh Phu and is where all the compounds and schools are, good facilities for families with children. - Sep 2010


Compounds of varying quality, huge apartment blocks, local houses for expats; and prices have finally come down. - Nov 2009


There is one compound for families and several high-rise full-service apartments with three bedrooms, two baths, pools and gyms. - Dec 2008


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