How to Meet People in Ho Chi Minh City as an Expat
Start with InterNations, which runs 5 monthly events in Ho Chi Minh City. The Hive coworking spaces run community events, and Vietnamese group classes seat 3 to 14 students. Nomads.com has no upcoming meetup. The HCMC Marathon is on Sunday 17 January 2027.
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No Nomads.com meetup is scheduled in Ho Chi Minh City, and the last one was on Tuesday 11 March 2025. Do not plan your first week around it. Start with InterNations, the Hive and the other channels below.
Where to meet people in Ho Chi Minh City: quick picks
| Channel | Next date | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| InterNations | Open mic night, Monday 19 October 2026 | Newcomers who want a ready-made crowd |
| The Hive coworking | Community events all year | Remote workers |
| Vietnamese group classes | 2-month regular course | Language learners meeting classmates |
| Saigon Outcast | Saigon Japan Fest 2026, date not set | Festival crowds |
| HCMC Marathon | Sunday 17 January 2027 | Runners |
| saigonchildren | Apply any time | Giving back |
InterNations: monthly events for newcomers
InterNations counts 27,322 members in Ho Chi Minh City. It runs 5 monthly events and has 7 interest-based groups.
Go to a Newcomers’ Event first: it is the starting point where new arrivals meet other members. The next open mic night is at Sky 9 Rooftop Bar on Quoc Huong Street, Thao Dien. It is free; you pay for your own food and drinks. The calendar says Monday 19 October 2026, 18:30, so confirm the night in the group before you go.
Good for:
- Newcomers who want a ready-made crowd of other expats.
- Anyone who prefers hosted events over cold introductions.
Skip it if you want a fixed weekly night: the chapter runs 5 events a month. Join to see every upcoming event.
Nomads.com: nothing scheduled right now
Nomads.com has no upcoming meetup in the city. It has 14 earlier meetups on record, the newest on Tuesday 11 March 2025. Host your own if you want one.
Coworking communities: the Hive
The Hive Thao Dien offers community events as one of its facilities. A Hive member is welcome at any Hive location in Saigon. One membership can therefore open more than one room.
The Hive Thao Dien is at 94 Xuan Thuy Street, An Khanh. The Hive District 1 is on Huynh Khuong Ninh Street, Tan Dinh.
the Hive, 94 Xuan Thuy, An Khanh, Ho Chi Minh 713385, Vietnam · Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
Open the Hive Thao Dien in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
Huynh Khuong Ninh/26 Ward, Street, Tan Dinh, Ho Chi Minh 700000, Vietnam · Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
Open the Hive District 1 in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
Prices and day passes sit in Coworking in Ho Chi Minh City.
Group Vietnamese classes
The Center for Vietnamese Language for Foreigners runs group classes of 3 to 14 students. The regular course lasts 2 months. The centre is at 10-12 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Sai Gon Ward. Call 028-38225009 to enrol.
Fees and levels are in Learn Vietnamese in Ho Chi Minh City.
Festivals and the January marathon
Saigon Outcast festivals
Saigon Outcast is a roaming movement that brings East and West together across the city. It hosts festivals such as the Saigon Burger Festival and Craft Beer Festival. Saigon Japan Fest 2026 has no date yet.
Come to eat, drink, listen, discover and hang out, and meet new people. Its rooftop home base is Ronin Izakaya.
HCMC Marathon
The next HCMC Marathon is on Sunday 17 January 2027. The start and finish are at 30/4 Park on Le Duan. Races run over 42 km, 21 km and 10 km.
Pick the 10 km as a first race. It starts at 4:15 AM, has a 2-hour cut-off and takes runners aged 12 and over. The late-phase fee runs from 5 September to 5 November: VND 1,210,000 for residents and VND 1,600,000 for non-residents. Residents include foreigners with a valid residence card.
Entry fees are non-refundable.
More than 150,000 runners from 75 countries have run it since 1992.
Volunteering with saigonchildren
saigonchildren, a children’s education charity, takes volunteers through a form. Fill out its Volunteer Interest Form. Volunteers are typically 18 or older.
It usually needs help with events, fundraising, graphic design and photography. Chances to work directly with children are limited. The charity cannot reply to every interested volunteer.
Before you go
- InterNations: join to see all upcoming events.
- Nomads.com: expect no meetup to join, and host your own if you want one.
- The Hive: one membership works at any Hive location in Saigon.
- Classes: call 028-38225009.
- Marathon: register before the quota fills; late entries after 15 October 2026 get no printed bib name.
- Volunteering: apply through the Volunteer Interest Form, aged 18 or older.
Photos and clips uploaded to Google Maps (the Hive Thao Dien on Google Maps (opens in a new tab), the Hive District 1 on Google Maps (opens in a new tab)) by Stephan February, Tieu Tu Vi.
Not confirmed: InterNations open mic: the calendar shows Monday 19 October 2026, the write-up Friday 9 October; confirm the night in the group. Marathon: the late phase can close before 5 November if the quota fills.
Common questions
Where do expats meet people in Ho Chi Minh City?
InterNations runs 5 monthly events and has 7 interest-based groups in the city. Coworking spaces such as the Hive host community events.
How big is InterNations in Ho Chi Minh City?
It counts 27,322 members in the city. Its Newcomers' Events are the starting point where new arrivals meet other members.
Are Nomads.com meetups still running in Ho Chi Minh City?
No meetup is upcoming. The last one was on Tuesday 11 March 2025.
Where can I meet other learners of Vietnamese?
The Center for Vietnamese Language for Foreigners runs group classes of 3 to 14 students. The regular course lasts 2 months. Call 028-38225009.
Where does the HCMC Marathon start?
The start and finish are at 30/4 Park on Le Duan. The next race is on Sunday 17 January 2027.
Can I volunteer in Ho Chi Minh City?
saigonchildren volunteers are typically 18 or older. Apply through its Volunteer Interest Form. The charity cannot reply to every applicant.
What is Saigon Outcast?
It is a festival organiser that describes itself as a roaming movement across the city. It hosts events such as the Saigon Burger Festival and Craft Beer Festival.
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