Ho Chi Minh City - best place to live

Where goats go to escape
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lilyw
Posts: 88
Joined: Tue Jun 30, 2020 4:53 pm

When the current restrictions lift I'm considering a move to HCM city for a year. I know that the air quality & pollution generally is dreadful but the opportunity is exciting (even at my advanced years). The only question at the moment is whether or not the opening will still exist if the borders remain shut for more than a couple of months.

I'd be alone as it doesn't suit my wife to move so I'm looking for suggestions as to areas to live. Most of the ex-pat websites talk about Districts 1 & 3, & Binh Thanh. I don't need exciting bars (recovering alcoholic) but restaurants & cultural life would be nice; ideally with people older than 25 (I'm 57). Given the air pollution I imagine that I'll be looking for a gym rather than outdoor exercising. I'm probably looking for a 1 bed apartment.

Any posters with experience beyond a backpackers' holiday?
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iarmhí
Posts: 376
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 9:18 pm
Location: Dublin

Ben Thanh is the best place to stay. I stayed in the area around September 23rd Park. Pretty safe but no matter where you are in Saigon, trying to cross that road is an experience :lol:
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lilyw
Posts: 88
Joined: Tue Jun 30, 2020 4:53 pm

I've been told - just walk & don't stop.
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iarmhí
Posts: 376
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 9:18 pm
Location: Dublin

lilyw wrote: Thu Jul 02, 2020 10:40 pm I've been told - just walk & don't stop.
You walk but look towards the oncoming bikes and make eye contact, then they swerve around you. Do not stop
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Caley_Red
Posts: 441
Joined: Tue Jun 30, 2020 5:12 am
Location: Sydney

Just out of interest, what made you choose HCM (I assume from your above comment that you haven't been there)?
And on the 7th day, the Lord said "Let there be Finn Russell".
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Scottish Blackface
Posts: 32
Joined: Wed Jul 01, 2020 7:55 am

Wouldn't recommend any part of Asia bar Singapore until world politics settles down a bit. Russian is the only Superpower with a sane leader at this stage and The SCS is the next battlefield.
Could you settle for a trip to the takeaway or a local Chinatown instead?
Trust me I'm not making this up. :roll:
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Caley_Red
Posts: 441
Joined: Tue Jun 30, 2020 5:12 am
Location: Sydney

Scottish Blackface wrote: Fri Jul 03, 2020 6:28 am Wouldn't recommend any part of Asia bar Singapore until world politics settles down a bit. Russian is the only Superpower with a sane leader at this stage and The SCS is the next battlefield.
Could you settle for a trip to the takeaway or a local Chinatown instead?
What did you used to post under?
And on the 7th day, the Lord said "Let there be Finn Russell".
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The sun god
Posts: 176
Joined: Wed Jul 01, 2020 6:40 am
Location: It's nice in Nice.

lilyw wrote: Thu Jul 02, 2020 10:33 pm When the current restrictions lift I'm considering a move to HCM city for a year. I know that the air quality & pollution generally is dreadful but the opportunity is exciting (even at my advanced years). The only question at the moment is whether or not the opening will still exist if the borders remain shut for more than a couple of months.

I'd be alone as it doesn't suit my wife to move so I'm looking for suggestions as to areas to live. Most of the ex-pat websites talk about Districts 1 & 3, & Binh Thanh. I don't need exciting bars (recovering alcoholic) but restaurants & cultural life would be nice; ideally with people older than 25 (I'm 57). Given the air pollution I imagine that I'll be looking for a gym rather than outdoor exercising. I'm probably looking for a 1 bed apartment.

Any posters with experience beyond a backpackers' holiday?
What a strange move to make at your stage of life....... It takes all sorts I guess.
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Zig
Posts: 213
Joined: Wed Jul 01, 2020 12:07 am

I don't know anyone who's lived there. I was only there for a week myself, about 10 years ago. I didn't really like it. Too busy. If I was picking a place to live in Vietnam I'd probably go for somewhere like Da Nang, Hue, Hoi An or Nha Trang.

Best of luck anyway mate.
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Guy Smiley
Posts: 6636
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 7:52 pm

The sun god wrote: Fri Jul 03, 2020 7:40 am
lilyw wrote: Thu Jul 02, 2020 10:33 pm When the current restrictions lift I'm considering a move to HCM city for a year. I know that the air quality & pollution generally is dreadful but the opportunity is exciting (even at my advanced years). The only question at the moment is whether or not the opening will still exist if the borders remain shut for more than a couple of months.

I'd be alone as it doesn't suit my wife to move so I'm looking for suggestions as to areas to live. Most of the ex-pat websites talk about Districts 1 & 3, & Binh Thanh. I don't need exciting bars (recovering alcoholic) but restaurants & cultural life would be nice; ideally with people older than 25 (I'm 57). Given the air pollution I imagine that I'll be looking for a gym rather than outdoor exercising. I'm probably looking for a 1 bed apartment.

Any posters with experience beyond a backpackers' holiday?
What a strange move to make at your stage of life....... It takes all sorts I guess.
Thank fuck for that, the world would be a boring place otherwise. Good on you LilyW
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