Job Discussion Forums

Trumpcard · Joined: 29 Sep 2005 Posts: 50

I arrived in HCM a few days ago with a friend. We're both experienced teachers and looking for jobs. We're staying in the hustle and bustle of District 1 in the backpackers' area. I'm wondering where the long termers live? What district, neighbourhoods? Are there good cafes, sipermarkets, amenities in those areas? Other than here, where else is a good place to search for jobs?

mark_in_saigon · Joined: 20 Sep 2009 Posts: 837

I just don't like the hustle that they put on you in 1. I guess if you get off the beaten path it is not so bad. I feel like a target over there, and feel much more at home everywhere else. Anywhere else, actually. And there are opportunities to spend your money EVERYWHERE, that is not a problem, but it is generally a better bargain outside of 1. I would say you should live close to your work, but that is just my feeling. If you really like driving in it a lot, maybe that is not important either. The thing about searching for jobs, I will let others address, although I do have a western contact that does that for a living, she does charge. I think she is pretty good, if you want her name, IM me. I am not exactly recommending her, just making her deal known.

blateson · Joined: 12 Mar 2006 Posts: 144

No, in HCMC there are no 'advantageous' neighborhoods, there are no places with superb cafes, supermarkets, spacious shopping and activities. HCMC is not Bangkok, nor Hong Kong. Each district is basically a carbon copy of the one next to it (save for some cultural temples or stuff like that), with slightly less development in the outer districts as you get further outside. The only place in HCMC that is different from pretty much the rest of Vietnam is the Nguyen Hue / Dong Khoi streets.

Any respectable differences between the dist/neighborhoods would be quite minor in comparison to the big cities of most other countries. In general though you should get off pnl/buivien streets real fast.

jb0072009 · Joined: 26 Feb 2009 Posts: 127 Location: Saigon

Blateson is basically correct. However district 7 is about as close to suburbia as you will get without being too far away. Many expats live there and there are many apartments for rent. The streets are wider, less traffic, good stores and even a decent (by Viet standards) hospital FV

thomas123 · Joined: 10 Mar 2008 Posts: 26

The Phu My Hung area of District 7 is quite nice, uncrowded, and pleasant. A person could actually go jogging along the roads there without dodging traffic. Rent is a bit higher there though, but worth it in my opinion.