Job Discussion Forums

[aTomsLife]

I am hoping to find out more about where to look for an apartment upon arrival in HCM. I looked on Wikipedia and counted 19 districts, but it didn't really explain what each had to offer.

I don't need to konw everything about every one, at this point. But it would be nice to know the best districts to live, and which to stay away from.

What should I expect to pay for a two bedroom? On craigslist the lowest price I can find is $400, and from the pictures the apartments look pretty nice.

[snollygoster]

District #1 is the area where most ex pats live- There is good access to restaurants serving western and Viet food, and facilities with English speaking staff. The area round Pham Ngu Loa is famous (or infamous) for its high concentration of foreigners.
If you are prepared to mix it with the locals a little more, District 3 is well serviced and has a good sized foreign population. Similarly District 5.
Most other areas are heavily Viet populated, and its their country so thats to be expected.
Craiglist? Most people I know find it frustratingly short on information- Get here and ask around, or ask an agent- You will get better deals.
At $400 for a 2 bedroom its not expensive, especially if its in good repair and clean.
Best to stay in a backpacker hotel (they are much more comfortable than the name suggests) for a few nights at first and look around to find a suitable place. A lot of foreigners stay in them for years.

[deadlift]

District 1 is bigger and more varied than some imagine (not addressing you specifically, snollygoster). I work in D7 and live in D1, and some of colleagues seem to assume that I must be living above a massage parlour in Pham Ngu Lao.

Da Kao ward, which is roughly the area between Vo Thi Sau/ Hai Ba Trung/ Le Duan/ and Nguyen Binh Kiem, is nice. Quiet and safe (comparatively), some nice alleyways to live in, and a lot of dining/cafe options. Walking distance to Dong Khoi, and no hassle from xe oms, postcard/book/sunglass/massage vendors. Certainly you'll pay a little more, but you'd be surprised at what you can find, especially if you're willing to share a house.

District 7 is full of foreigners living in Korean style apartments. Obviously a lot of Western amenities, and the wide tree lined streets are pleasant for their coolness, relative lack of traffic, and relative cleanliness. But for some it feels isolated and lacking in character.

[aTomsLife]

Ok, cool. Thanks for the replies! This is the info I was looking for.