Best cities to live in Vietnam

70 years old wrote:

Agreed, though the Visa Exemption helps. To me the biggest issue is that, while excellent Medical care is available in Sai Gon, Ha Noi and Da Nang, even the Doctors head for the big Cities when they have serious illnesses and weren't shy about encouraging to do it. We've had a lovely home for almost 20 years. Now, with my wife's grave illness, we have had to rent a house in Sai Gon. While parts of Sai Gon, like Binh Tan are quite livable, neither my wife or I like the "Big City" life whether in Viet Nam, the USA or anywhere else.

You don't have to live in the centre of Saigon, there are some nice places about ten Km out from D1, if thats not too far to travel to get to the hospital (about 12 - 15 mins by taxi). The Mega Ruby Estate in D9, for example, is very quiet, has its own fishing river, security and maintenance staff and the houses are quite inexpensive compared with D1 and D2 - and it has a swimming pool too.

I think it all depends on your needs and wants. Cities have the vibrancy( bars, restaurants,etc,etc ) that appeal to tourists and young working expats- HCMC in particular. But for me - an older type - in my travels up and down the country over the past 7 years, I think I'l settle on Quy Nhon which I think is still a hidden gem. Not for long though as word is getting out. Great food, people, beaches but some might think it a bit quiet. The good thing is there's not too many bloody tourists! Yet!

Interested in your choice Andrew and would love to hear how it turns out for you if you do settle there.

I enjoyed Bien Hoa for 6 months on a working assignment and think that the tourist ridden places are good to visit but not to live

Pretty spot on MikeyMac,although the tourists keep me in touch with the sentimental past and present. ( I find that necessary)The future, however, lies somewhere north of the McDonnell Ranges(if your not from Aus, it's that enchanting lonely place where dreamers often go)

Nha Trang anytime... Best for enjoying a nice vacation... But from jobs point of view not much to offer except banking...I moved here six months back... Location wise it's amazing.. Not very far from Saigon, Danang, DALAT....

Hi 70 Year old.
Sorry to hear about your ill wife.
I would like to know where this excellent Doctors and hospital are in HCMC as I haven't had much luck in this area.
Thanks in advance.     Mariner42

Cabraman, I tend to agree with you because I love visiting Da Lat.  When I come to Saigon annually for three months, the only trek I take is a quick hop to DL to stay a couple nights to play golf.  I do love that golf course, but only when it's dry.  It can be a real pain when it's wet.  But anyway, the only question I have for you is to ask you where you go for your yearly physicals, and, if diagnosed with a serious condition, where would you go?  I don't recall seeing a medical center or hospital in DL, but I know there's got to be something there.  Also, are you toast if you have a medical emergency?  Thanks,

I love Can Tho too,... but you say, you lived a long time in Canada and you think Can Tho has a cool climate - what an odd claim.

International SOS has a decent clinic that Does accept Tricare(retired and active duty US Military) insurance. For a long time the Franco Vietnamese Hospital was great and I had a couple of very well done surgeries their. Unfortunately, they got very popular and we eventually switched to City International Hospital and are very happy with our care.

Cho Ray Hospital is a mad house and people may have to wait days for treatment unless things have changed. But, they treat foreign patients that are willing to pay a premium rate very well. Cho Ray unquestionably does have, with few exceptions, the best Doctors in Viet Nam. Languages may be an issue and Cho Ray is a mad house. I've been treated there.

True. For example, Bình Tân District is definitely livable. Still some of us much prefer small towns and the countryside. For us living in an area where English is spoken is a big disadvantage. Bình Tân has relatively few English speakers. Very thankfully, the town of "Liên Hương" is out of the way and until we were forced to leave the house that we bought in 1997 for medical reasons, we were very happy with living in Liên Hương.

My survival tool for places like District One is to keep repeating, "Lo siento mucho. No hablo." until I've completed my business. Almost no one in Việt Nam speaks Spanish. Mostly "Little Americas," Little Japans" or in America and other Countries "Little Việt Nams" are not a good place to learn about the cultures and people of the host country.

I understand that my views are a minority, But, I have been in and out of Việt Nam since 1969 and have been married to a Vietnamese Woman for 43 years, that I met in 1970, while we served together in what is now named  Đồng Tháp. I was an Advisor and She was an assistant to the Unit Medical Officer.

herbj wrote:

HCMC - has work, if you're into that, entertainment, pollution, limited areas for recreation that are free for use.  It is centrally located to the north of Vung Tau, east of the Mekong and west of the eastern beaches of Mui Ne etc....Has complete infrastructure and importantly foreigners have access to government agencies that they don't have in the other Provinces.

I prefer the Mekong where I have my long boat tied at the back fence in the canal, located 15min from Vinh Long City and 35min from Can Tho City. Has most infrastructure, but must go to HCMC to get vehicle licences.  Hospital services are good (the People's) Army Hospital even did some minor work on my damaged fingers (stitches) - know the hospitals that are listed to deal with foreigners before you really need them.  Traditional Medicine works along side with Modern Medicine.
It is cheaper than HCMC with more land for children to play. I grow some of my own food and medicinal needs.

As I have mentioned elsewhere, I found the Mekong Delta area to be a fascinating place . The river traffic on the 9 Dragons River is incredibly diverse and seeing 1200 ton river freighters moving majestically up and down the waterways so heavily loaded as to be almost impossibly low in the water, is a real sight see.

The countryside is rolling and even underwater by up to 3 meters depth for several months at a time in many places when the Mekong floods occur.

I have had the experience of going out by boat over flooded areas with 2 - 3 meters of water under the keel and then walking the same area some months later when the water has gone and the rice is knee high - an incredible feeling.

I lived in Hong Ngu for some months and Bac Lieu as well as Tra Vin and any mother places. It really is another world

My son was sick while I was on deployment.  My wife took him to a French Hospital in HCMC and had him taken care of without waiting hours to be seen bring a doctor.

Saigon for work and women, Nha Trang and Vung Tau for chil beach towns, Delta for chill out..

jkelly5762 wrote:

Cabraman, I tend to agree with you because I love visiting Da Lat.  When I come to Saigon annually for three months, the only trek I take is a quick hop to DL to stay a couple nights to play golf.  I do love that golf course, but only when it's dry.  It can be a real pain when it's wet.  But anyway, the only question I have for you is to ask you where you go for your yearly physicals, and, if diagnosed with a serious condition, where would you go?  I don't recall seeing a medical center or hospital in DL, but I know there's got to be something there.  Also, are you toast if you have a medical emergency?  Thanks,

There is a public hospital in Dalat as well as a private hospital, and I have used both. Unfortunately the public hospital doctors don,t have a good reputation when it comes to diagnosis. I could tell stories about that.The private hospital is better but in my case when I had a general health check and an irregularity was found with my heart I was told I may have an aneurism in the aorta and that "you need to have treatment". That prompted me to take a very quick trip to a heart hospital in HCMC where I had tests done, with the upshot being diagnosed for hypertension after coronary artery disease was discounted as a possible cause of the symptoms.I think it cost me about 1.5million dong for tests and prescribed medication For anything major,I will automatically go to HCMC where there are specialists available.For any emergency I would go to the private hospital and then try to get down to HCMC as soon as circumstances allow

I suggest Hue city. Its not as crowded as HCMC, there are many job opportunities, and affordable cost of living. Not only that the food are great!

Hello Julian,
It may depend on what type of life you're looking for... do you want to work part time, full time or just relax or volunteer? It's pretty easy as an expat with a good working background to get work anywhere in Vietnam but obviously HCMC & HANOI are the best choices for higher paying jobs & services. I really like Dalat, Quy Nhon & Nha Trang & Vung Tau myself. Danag, a big beach city further north is gearing up to be the newest central business hub in Vietnam in a few years with many plans for it's future. however, everything in VN takes time, a lot of it... ***. All is possible here! Wonderful people everywhere but be wary in business transactions.

T. Dang:

Hello. I am in Saigon ( HCMC ) right now. Yes it is fast  here. Traffic is real difficult if you cannot adapt.
I like the crazy way people drive , except speeding on the sidewalks. Bikes speeding down sidewalks is bad for kids. For Elders.
I came to marry a person I wrote a long long time b ut it did not work out. We both had preconceptions and there were some problems I did not anticipate, personal issues that are not cultural.
So now I try to start over, Finding friends and loved one's. It is not easy as all is fast.


Hope can re connect and fall into another truly rewarding relationship with a person , to settle down with.
Yes, very big plan indeed.
Okay Best city was incredible reading , to hear the thoughts of so many person's. I am indebted to all of you for your knowledge.

T. Dang ; again thanks for your help as well. Chris.

Are you kidding, right?. It was one of most dangerous places during the war. Is it opened again?