Discovering South-East Asia by moving to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)

What is it like to live in Ho Chi Minh City? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

I first came to Ho Chi Minh City on a temporary basis but I was immediately seduced by this country and decide I would stay on and try my luck over here.

I think it is a vibrant city and certainly a good example of Asia mixing chaos and kindness at the same time. Every day feels like an adventure and I certainly prefer it to the routine of living in Europe.

What is the student lifestyle like in Ho Chi Minh City?

I enjoyed living here as an Erasmus student because you have plenty of time to visit and get to learn the culture. For going out with friends and meeting new people, you have plenty of options. This doesn't mean that it is a walk in the park as far as studies go. I had to prepare pretty well during my freetime to get my courses ready for when I was back in Paris.

How much does it cost to live in Ho Chi Minh City?

I recommend you try to east as much as possible as a local, prices are very very cheap. However, if you go to expat places, this is another story.

I rented a room in a shared apartment with other Erasmus students (I recommend living in D2) and it cost me 275 USD/month.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Ho Chi Minh City? Is there any advice you can give?

There are plenty of options for sharing a room in an apartment or a house. If you are lucky, you secure a spot in a house with a pool! Just post and read the facebook groups for people living in Saigon and you will see many offers for sharing homes.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

My favorite is the Vietnamese pancake (Ban Xeo), really delicious and crunchy. The soup, "Pho" being the most famous one are also very tasty and healthy.

What places would you recommend visiting in Ho Chi Minh City?

My favorit in Saigon is Than Da island, near the city center but you will have to look it up to find it. It is surrounded by rivers and on Sundays it is a great place to go for a walk or a ride on a bike.

The Mekong Delta is pretty cool too, for a day out of the city.

I also spent some time touring the city and writing reviews as a part-time job for a city-guide that a friend of mine set-up, this gave me a great opportunity to visit many places around the city. Have a  look at my reviews here, I personnaly recommend quite a few places: http://hcmc.com/

Is it good to eat out in Ho Chi Minh City? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

Just in front of the Zoo, on the corner of Nguyen Binh Kiem, D1, you have the white palace, a great place to eat Chinese food and dumplings, my favorite!

Is the nightlife good in Ho Chi Minh City? Where is good to go?

Places come and go but you have the classics like Apocalypse now (go once and then perhaps never go back :-), the city center is full of new ventures for clubbing, concerts or just chilling out.

What advice would you give future students headed to Ho Chi Minh City?

Try not to spend all your time with foreign students and get to know locals, many are just too happy to be able to chat with a foreigner and improve their English. Vietnamese people are very friendly, get to know them.