Rent Serviced Apartments in Ho Chi Minh City

Facts About Ho Chi Minh 

Before settlements by the Vietnamese back in the 17th century, Ho Chi Minh was a sparsely populated zone which had been included in age-old Khmer, Champa and Funan Empires. With the Vietnamese arrivals, the area started witnessing growth in its population and the city was established from 1623-1698. Here are some interesting facts about the city that you should know: 

• Ho Chi Minh was ceded in 1862 to the French and the name Saigon was adopted before a rapid urbanization program was undertaken. 
• It remained the South Vietnam capital until the conclusion of the Vietnam War and victory of the North Vietnamese in the year 1975. 
• The Government of unified Vietnam named Saigon in commemoration of Ho Chi Minh in the year 1976. 
• Ho Chi Minh is the major economic hub of Vietnam and a popular tourism and transportation hub. 
• The city houses Vietnam’s busiest airport, the Tan Son Nhat International Airport. 
• The original name of the city was Forest City or Prey Nokor and then it became Gia Dinh under the Vietnamese.
• Although it occupies only 0.6% of overall land area in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh is the biggest city in the country. 
• It is also the 50th costliest city in Asia to live in. 
• Vietnam Dong is the currency in this majorly cash-based economy. 

As of the year 2005, Ho Chi Minh contributed a whopping 20% of the country’s GDP along with 28% of its industrial output. The GDP per capita touched $2,800 in 2009 for the City as compared to the average of $1,042 in Vietnam at this time. 

Ho Chi Minh City has the Tan Son Nhat International Airport, the biggest in Vietnam, handling 15.5 million people as of 2010, drawing more than 50% of total countrywide air traffic. The Long Thanh International Airport is anticipated to be ready by 2025, lying 40 kilometers away from the City. 

Cost of Living in Ho Chi Minh 

Costs of meals range between 30,000 and 600,000 VND while this is usually between 6,000 and 9,000 VND for a one-way local transportation ticket. Monthly passes usually require somewhere around 170,000 VND while basic utility costs hover around 1,505,488.91 VND approximately. 

Rentals start from approximately 12,547,638.32 VND for a 1 bedroom apartment in the City Center and go up to 25,831,578.61 VND for a 3 bedroom apartment in the City Center. They drop to 8,361,927.43 VND for 1 bedroom apartments outside the City Center on an average and 17,213,217.88 VND for 3 bedroom apartments outside of the City Center. 

Tips for Visiting Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh City is welcoming to travelers and has its own share of wonderful attractions and historical landmarks. Here are some tips for visiting the beautiful city that you will find useful: 

• Have sufficient cash since that is the prevalent system in the city. 
• Not every shopping mall is affordable in Ho Chi Minh City; luxury buyers should venture to Parkson, Diamond or Vincom. 
• Ben Thanh market is ideal for budget souvenir purchases while Tan Dinh market is great for affordable clothing. 
• There is a rainy season between end-May and end-October and weather changes are sudden and swift. Carrying an umbrella is advised. 
• First-time visitors should rely more on taxis for initial transportation. Once you get the hang of the city, you can start taking buses which are more affordable. 

Things to Do In Ho Chi Minh City 

Ho Chi Minh City has a plethora of attractions available for tourists and visitors. Here’s taking a closer look at the same. 

Q. What are the most popular things to do in Ho Chi Minh? 

Some of the most popular things to do in Ho Chi Minh City include visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels, Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater, War Remnants Museum, Mekong Delta and Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon along with the Post Office, Reunification Palace and Thien Hau Temple in Chinatown. 

Q. What are some free things to do in Ho Chi Min? 

Popular free activities including exploring the famous Backpackers District and Buddhist Temples along with free walking tours, visiting the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Post Office, window shopping at the Ben Thanh Market and free concerts at the Ho Chi Minh Opera House. 

Q. Does Ho Chi Minh have many romantic attractions? 

Some of the romantic attractions in Ho Chi Minh include the War Remnants Museum, Cu Chi Tunnels, Ho Chi Minh Opera House, Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater, Independence Palace and Post Office. 

Q. What are the most family-friendly things to do in Ho Chi Minh? 

Family-friendly activities in Ho Chi Minh include the Water Puppet Theater, Saigon Zoo & Botanical Gardens, Dam Sen Water Park and Artinus 3D Art Museum along with the Suoi Tien Cultural Amusement Park. 

Q. What are the more unusual things to do in Ho Chi Minh? 

Some unusual things to do in Ho Chi Minh City include exploring the Backpackers District, visiting Buddhist Temples, taking photographs of the Pink Church or the Tan Dinh Church, enjoying delicious Pho at streetside outlets and discovering Cholon or Chinatown. 

Places to Visit in Ho Chi Minh

There are numerous beautiful places worth visiting in Ho Chi Minh City. Some of them include the following: 

• Cu Chi Tunnels – The Cu Chi Tunnels are 60 kilometers away from the city, covering 250 kilometers of tunnels which were a base for the military operations of the VietCong during the Vietnam War. 
• Mekong Delta – The Mekong Delta is a great day excursion, passing through a beautiful mélange of rivers, islands and palm-dotted channels. The delta produces most of the country’s exports and grains while containing famous floating markets that set up in the early hours. 
• Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater – The Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater is ideal for families, owing to its numerous entertainment and recreational activities. Water puppetry originated in the Red River Delta and has been practiced for 1,000+ years in Vietnam. 
• Thien Hau Temple, Chinatown – This beautiful temple lies in Chinatown and is dedicated to worshipping Thien Hau, the Lady of the Sea. 

Places to Eat in Ho Chi Minh 

There are several great places to eat in Ho Chi Minh including Shri Restaurant & Lounge that offers gorgeous views and lip-smacking cuisine and Skewers Restaurant that whips up Mediterranean delights. You should also try Cuc Gach Quan for local Vietnamese cuisine. 

Street Food in Ho Chi Minh

Street food in Ho Chi Minh includes the popular Banh Mi and Op La along with Pho which is served up at several eateries including Pho Le, Pho Pasteur, Pho Tau Bay and others. Bun Rieu is another delicacy worth trying during your stay. 

Shopping In Ho Chi Minh

Shopping in Ho Chi Minh means checking out Vincom and Saigon Square among other premier malls in tandem with fashion boutiques such as L’usine and Mayhem Saigon. Other places to shop include the Ben Thanh Market, Juno for shoes and Valerie Cordier for bags. 

Transportation in Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh has its Tan Son Nhat International Airport with another international airport coming up by 2025. There is a railway network throughout the city along with waterways on the Saigon River. The Ho Chi Minh City Metro network is being developed in multiple phases while there are public buses on several routes. 

Weather in Ho Chi Minh 

The weather in Ho Chi Minh City is mostly overcast and cloudy throughout the dry and wet seasons. The temperature is mostly humid and the best time to visit is between early December and late in March.