Apartments For Rent in Ho Chi Minh City : A Guide to Saigon’s Best Districts

If you are considering moving to Vietnam and live in Ho Chi Minh City, there are a few important things you need to know that may influence the type of rental or housing location you can consider.

Do not use dollar currency

All across the postwar period of insecurity, the US dollar served as the official unofficial currencies of Vietnam, but you will now need to utilize the national currency, the Vietnam Dong. Certain banks and exchange counters in malls and department stores also offer this service, though at a higher cost.
And, while your home bank may charge a fee for foreign transactions, there are ATMs throughout the city that are free to use. While cashless transactions are increasing in popularity, you will still need a wad of Vietnam’s high-tech plastic banknotes to go around.

Must-visit museums

The cheap admission charge to several of Saigon’s major repositories is well worth it merely to get a glimpse inside some of the city’s increasingly uncommon ancient structures. In comparison to a comparable London or New York City, the Ho Chi Minh City Museum, in particular, may fall flat.

Once known as the Gia Long Palace, the tower served as his temporary residence at the time and is probably more deserving of your time than the dusty and slightly out-of-date exhibitions it houses.

In the turbulent months and years following World War II, the Palace also served as headquarters and residences for an ever-changing series of Japanese, French, Vietnamese, and British commanders and governors.

Must-watch view of the canal

The Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe canal, which spans more than five miles and passes across five central Saigon districts, is a work of urban architectural genius. Along the river’s twisting banks, a ribbon of tree-lined pathways, city park space, and highly desirable real estate currently runs.

Mornings here are as they should be lively with runners and dog walkers, fresh coffee, fresh juices, and a new Banh Mi covered in yesterday’s newspaper. Meanwhile, an ever-expanding selection of restaurants and bars transforms the canal into a nighttime wonderland.

Keep yourself dry

Whether you’re traveling mostly during the rainy season, which runs from April to October, pack flip-flops as well as a small portable towel. When the daily rainfall arrives, seek shelter inside or beneath a plastic poncho.

Umbrellas are ineffective against a Saigon rainstorm. If you are unable to go during the dry season, do not fret. Rainstorms are often brief, severe, and somewhat predictable. Mornings are normally dry, and fold-away umbrellas, blankets, and parasols help maintain a sense of normalcy in Saigon, even if that normalcy begins to drift away in the street.