Where to Live in Ho Chi Minh City: Areas, Rent, Wards
No census says where most expats live, but AffordWhere calls Thao Dien an expat hub. Its one-bedroom rents run from VND 7,000,000 to 13,000,000 in Binh Thanh up to VND 15,000,000 to 27,000,000 for a District 1 sublet. Thao Dien now sits in An Khanh ward.
On this page
The address on a Thao Dien listing now reads An Khanh, because the former Thu Thiem, An Loi Dong, Thao Dien and An Khanh wards became one ward. District names are no longer administrative units. Listings and rent sites still use them, so this guide keeps them as area labels.
Quick picks
- Expat services, international schools and space: Thao Dien.
- Lowest rent of the five areas: Binh Thanh, VND 7,000,000 to 13,000,000 for a first-hand one-bedroom.
- Closest to the centre: District 1, at 0 minutes on foot.
Where expats live
No source counts foreign residents by area, so this guide does not rank by expat numbers. AffordWhere calls Thao Dien an expat hub across the river. It says Thao Dien may suit families and longer-term renters who want space.
For District 7 (Phu My Hung) it says the same thing. For District 1 it says renters who want to be close to the center. For District 3 it names value-conscious renters and students.
For Binh Thanh it names renters weighing rent against commute. Phu Nhuan has no AffordWhere page, so it has no rent range below.
Rent by area
The rent figures below reflect official statistics compiled in January 2026. First-hand contracts come straight from the landlord or housing company. Second-hand contracts are sublets, and they usually cost more. The first table gives monthly rent for a one-bedroom.
| Area | 1-bed first-hand | 1-bed second-hand |
|---|---|---|
| District 1 | VND 12,000,000 to 22,000,000 | VND 15,000,000 to 27,000,000 |
| Thao Dien (former District 2) | VND 10,000,000 to 18,000,000 | VND 12,000,000 to 22,000,000 |
| Phu My Hung (District 7) | VND 9,000,000 to 16,000,000 | VND 11,000,000 to 19,000,000 |
| District 3 | VND 8,000,000 to 15,000,000 | VND 10,000,000 to 18,000,000 |
| Binh Thanh | VND 7,000,000 to 13,000,000 | VND 9,000,000 to 16,000,000 |
Two-bedrooms and three-bedrooms cost more, as the second table shows. Figures are second-hand sublet ranges per month.
| Area | 2-bed second-hand | 3-bed second-hand |
|---|---|---|
| District 1 | VND 25,000,000 to 42,000,000 | VND 40,000,000 to 65,000,000 |
| Thao Dien (former District 2) | VND 20,000,000 to 34,000,000 | VND 30,000,000 to 52,000,000 |
| Phu My Hung (District 7) | VND 18,000,000 to 31,000,000 | VND 29,000,000 to 50,000,000 |
| District 3 | VND 17,000,000 to 29,000,000 | VND 27,000,000 to 45,000,000 |
| Binh Thanh | VND 15,000,000 to 27,000,000 | VND 24,000,000 to 42,000,000 |
Numbeo’s crowd-sourced average, on a page last updated on 5 October 2026, for a city-centre one-bedroom is VND 15,218,255.56 a month, against VND 7,735,070.05 outside the centre. For a three-bedroom the averages are VND 32,973,195.80 and VND 18,767,312.96.
Deposits are usually 1-2 months, typically 2 months’ rent.
Numbeo’s average for basic utilities in an 85 m2 apartment is VND 2,692,209.65 a month. Unlimited 60 Mbps broadband averages VND 271,785.71 a month.
Thao Dien
Thao Dien is in An Khanh ward. It is 20 minutes from the centre by car. Its Thao Dien page lists international schools and western restaurants.
Three international schools are registered in this ward: the ISHCMC An Phu campus, the BIS HCMC secondary campus and AIS Saigon.
28 Vo Truong Toan, An Khanh, Ho Chi Minh 700000, Vietnam · Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
Phu My Hung
Phu My Hung is 25 minutes from the centre by car. FV Hospital’s address is in Tan My ward, which merged the former Tan Phu ward of District 7 with the rest of Phu My ward.
Saigon South International School is in Tan Hung ward, and Renaissance International School Saigon is in Tan Thuan ward.
6 Nguyen Luong Bang, Khu do thi Phu My Hung, Tan My, Ho Chi Minh 70000, Vietnam · Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
78 Nguyen Duc Canh, Tan Hung, Ho Chi Minh 700000, Vietnam · Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
District 1 and District 3
District 1 is the centre, 0 minutes on foot. District 3 is 10 minutes by motorbike. The former District 1 is now Sai Gon, Ben Thanh, Tan Dinh and Cau Ong Lanh wards.
Sai Gon ward merged the former Ben Nghe ward with parts of Da Kao and Nguyen Thai Binh. Ben Thanh ward merged Ben Thanh and Pham Ngu Lao.
The former District 3 is now Ban Co, Xuan Hoa and Nhieu Loc wards. Xuan Hoa merged the former Vo Thi Sau ward with the rest of Ward 4.
Victoria Healthcare International Clinic is in Tan Dinh ward, and Family Medical Practice is in Sai Gon ward.
20-20Bis-22 Dinh Tien Hoang, Tan Dinh, Ho Chi Minh 700000, Vietnam · Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
Binh Thanh and Phu Nhuan
Binh Thanh is 15 minutes from the centre by motorbike. The former Binh Thanh district is now Binh Thanh, Thanh My Tay and Binh Quoi wards. Landmark 81 SkyView and Vinmec Central Park are in Thanh My Tay ward.
208 Nguyen Huu Canh, Vinhomes Tan Cang, Thanh My Tay, Ho Chi Minh 700000, Vietnam · Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
Phu Nhuan is now three wards: Duc Nhuan, Cau Kieu and Phu Nhuan. Hoan My Sai Gon General Hospital is in Cau Kieu ward.
295 Phan Xich Long, Cau Kieu, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam · Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
Flooding and tides
Streets named in the October 2025 tide floods include Binh Quoi - Thanh Da, Tran Xuan Soan and Huynh Tan Phat. A city official blamed low land against a 1.82 m tide peak on Thanh Da.
The tide season runs from the 8th to the 12th lunar month, and 1.82 m was above alert level 3. The city operates 388 tide-control valves and 10 large pumping stations.
This year’s peak is forecast at Phu An station for 27-29 October, 0.10-0.15 m above alert level III. The city told wards to review places that flooded deeply before.
Getting around
Metro line 1 cash fares run VND 7,000 to 20,000 by distance. Ben Thanh and Thu Duc stations are both registered as metro stops. Bus fares are 100% supported from 1 July to 31 December 2026.
Not confirmed: No dated Phu Nhuan rent table was found, so Phu Nhuan has no rent range here. No count of foreign residents by ward was found, and no list of buildings that rent to foreigners.
Common questions
Where do most expats live in Ho Chi Minh City?
No source counts foreign residents by area. AffordWhere calls Thao Dien an expat hub with international schools and western restaurants.
How much is a one-bedroom in District 1?
Expect VND 12,000,000 to 22,000,000 first-hand and VND 15,000,000 to 27,000,000 second-hand.
What is the cheapest of the five areas for rent?
Binh Thanh, at VND 7,000,000 to 13,000,000 first-hand for a one-bedroom.
Which ward is Thao Dien in now?
The former Thao Dien ward was merged into the new An Khanh ward.
How big is the deposit?
Deposits are usually 1-2 months, with 2 months' rent the typical ask.
Which streets flooded in the last October tides?
Binh Quoi - Thanh Da, Tran Xuan Soan and Huynh Tan Phat were among the streets named.
When is the 2026 tide peak?
Forecasters expect the peak on 27-29 October, 0.10-0.15 m above alert level III.
Read next
Places in this guide
- general hospitalgeneral hospitalFV Hospital6 Nguyen Luong Bang, Khu do thi Phu My Hung, Tan My, Ho Chi Minh 70000, Vietnam★ 4.0 (2,260)
- private hospitalprivate hospitalHoan My Sai Gon General Hospital295 Phan Xich Long, Cau Kieu, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam★ 4.5 (6,075)
- international schoolinternational schoolInternational School Ho Chi Minh City (ISHCMC) - An Phu Campus28 Vo Truong Toan, An Khanh, Ho Chi Minh 700000, Vietnam
- international schoolinternational schoolSaigon South International School78 Nguyen Duc Canh, Tan Hung, Ho Chi Minh 700000, Vietnam
- medical clinicmedical clinicVictoria Healthcare International Clinic (Phong kham Quoc te Victoria Healthcare)20-20Bis-22 Dinh Tien Hoang, Tan Dinh, Ho Chi Minh 700000, Vietnam★ 4.9 (2,205)
- general hospitalgeneral hospitalVinmec Central Park International Hospital720A Dien Bien Phu Street, Thanh My Tay Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam★ 3.8 (1,677)
General information checked against the sources listed above, not legal advice for your situation. Rules and office practice change; confirm with the immigration office or a licensed adviser before you act. See how guides are checked.
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