$PlaybookChiang Mai
Thailand
80 Mbps
5/10
9/10
6/10
Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam
Vietnam's engine city — high-energy, ultra-cheap, and fueled by pho and startup ambition
ModerateStart Playbook
The short answerLast updated July 2026
Ho Chi Minh City is a budget-friendly base for digital nomads — around $878/month all-in, with 70 Mbps internet and a 8.3/10 nomad score. Check entry requirements before you go. Best months to visit: Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar.
Nomad Score
8.3/10
Cost Tier
Budget ($)
Internet
70 Mbps
Safety
7.5/10
Walkability
5/10
English-Friendly
6/10
About Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is the fastest-moving city in Southeast Asia — a place where French colonial architecture sits next to gleaming glass towers, and where a full pho breakfast costs under a dollar while a craft cocktail bar on the rooftop above runs world-class. For digital nomads, the draw is an extraordinary cost-of-living-to-quality ratio: comfortable studios for under $400/month, a maturing coworking scene anchored by spaces like Toong and Dreamplex, and a burgeoning startup scene that attracts entrepreneurial nomads from across Asia. The trade-offs are real — walkability is low (scooter is king), US citizens need a visa, and the monsoon season from May through October brings flooding and chaos.
Ho Chi Minh City at a glance
The honest pros and cons, straight from the numbers on this page.
Pros
- Low cost of living (~$878/mo)
Cons
- Tap water isn't drinkable
- Best to avoid May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct (weather)
- US citizens need a visa before arrival
Monthly Budget Breakdown
Estimated monthly costs in USD for a single digital nomad.
Rent (Studio)$400
Coworking$90
Groceries$150
Eating Out$180
Transport$30
Phone/SIM$8
Gym$20
Total Monthly$878
Visa & Stay
Visa-Free for US Citizens
No
Max Stay (Visa-Free)
45 days
Digital Nomad Visa
Not Available
No dedicated digital nomad visa. US citizens must obtain an e-visa ($25) allowing 90-day single entry or multiple entry stays. Vietnam also offers an e-visa for 90-day multiple entry visits. For longer stays, border runs or visa extensions through a local agent are common.
Climate
Climate Type
tropical
Best Months
Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Avoid Months
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Monsoon season brings heavy daily flooding across District 1 and outer areas, with streets regularly impassable after afternoon downpours.
Monthly Temperatures
Average daily high–low in Ho Chi Minh City, °C (°F). 5-year averages (2019–2023).
Jan
23–32°C (73–90°F)
Feb
23–34°C (73–93°F)
Mar
25–35°C (77–95°F)
Apr
26–34°C (79–93°F)
May
26–33°C (79–91°F)
Jun
25–32°C (77–90°F)
Jul
25–31°C (77–88°F)
Aug
25–31°C (77–88°F)
Sep
24–31°C (75–88°F)
Oct
24–30°C (75–86°F)
Nov
24–31°C (75–88°F)
Dec
23–32°C (73–90°F)
Source: Open-Meteo historical reanalysis, 2019–2023 daily normals.
Timezone
ICT (UTC+7)
Currency
Vietnamese Dong (VND)
Language
Vietnamese
Continent
Asia
Good to know in Vietnam
Facts verified 2026-07-27The practical stuff worth knowing before you land.
Country calling code
+84
Plugs & voltage
Type A, Type B, Type C· 230V/50Hz
Emergency number
113 police / 115 ambulance / 114 fire
Tap water
Do not drinkDo not drink; avoid ice; use bottled or boiled water.
Tipping
Not customary; round up or leave small change for good service.
Topics & Vibes
budgetfoodculturenightlifecoworkingstartup scene
Is this information still accurate?
Before you go to Ho Chi Minh City
Four things worth sorting before you land, and the honest reason each one matters.
🏦
Why you need a VPN
Your home bank, broker, and PayPal often block or freeze logins from Ho Chi Minh City, and the cheaper the country, the harder they block it. A VPN gives you a home-country IP so your accounts, and your home streaming, keep working.
📶
Why you need an eSIM
Land with working data before you find Wi-Fi. Maps, ride-hailing, and the 2FA texts your bank sends all work the moment you step off the plane, with no airport SIM queue and no roaming bill.
🛡️
Why you need travel insurance
Hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City usually want payment up front, and your policy back home rarely follows you abroad. Monthly nomad cover fills that gap and you can start it after you have already left.
💸
Why you need a multi-currency account
Skip the 3-7% your home bank quietly adds every time you spend or get paid abroad. Hold local currency, pay at the real exchange rate, and get local bank details for rent and invoices.
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Related guides
Everything you need before and after landing in Ho Chi Minh City.
🛂Digital Nomad Visas→💳Banking for Nomads→💸Wise vs Revolut→🛡️Travel Insurance→🏠Finding Accommodation→🏘️Airbnb vs Booking.com→🧾Taxes as a Nomad→📶SIM Cards & eSIMs→🔒Best VPN for Nomads→
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Frequently Asked Questions — Ho Chi Minh City
Common questions from digital nomads researching Ho Chi Minh City.
Is Ho Chi Minh City good for digital nomads?
Yes — Ho Chi Minh City scores 8.3/10 on Settled Nomad's nomad index, making it an excellent choice for remote workers. Vietnam's engine city — high-energy, ultra-cheap, and fueled by pho and startup ambition. The city is rated "moderate" difficulty for new arrivals, with a 6/10 English-friendliness score and 7.5/10 for safety. Internet averages 70 Mbps. Overall, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is the fastest-moving city in Southeast Asia — a place where French colonial architecture sits next to gleaming glass towers, and where a full pho breakfast costs under a dollar while a craft cocktail bar on the rooftop above runs world-class.
How much does it cost to live in Ho Chi Minh City as a digital nomad?
A typical single digital nomad can expect to spend around $878/month in Ho Chi Minh City. The budget breaks down as: studio apartment rent ~$400, coworking space ~$90, groceries ~$150, eating out ~$180, local transport ~$30, phone/SIM ~$8, and gym ~$20. Overall, Ho Chi Minh City is a budget-friendly destination. Costs vary depending on neighbourhood, lifestyle, and whether you cook at home.
Do US citizens need a visa to work remotely in Ho Chi Minh City?
US citizens require a visa before entering Vietnam. Check with the nearest consulate for current visa requirements.
What is the internet like in Ho Chi Minh City?
Internet speeds in Ho Chi Minh City average around 70 Mbps, which is solid — adequate for most remote work including video calls. Dedicated coworking spaces reliably deliver faster and more stable connections than cafes or short-term apartments. If you plan to work from home, confirm fibre availability before signing a lease — co-working memberships are a reliable fallback during slower periods.
Is Ho Chi Minh City safe for digital nomads?
Ho Chi Minh City has a safety rating of 7.5/10 on our scale — considered very safe for digital nomads. Standard urban awareness (securing valuables, using reputable transport) is all that is needed. As with any city, basic precautions apply: use ride-hailing apps rather than unmarked taxis, don't leave laptops unattended in cafes, and be aware of your surroundings in busy tourist areas.
What is the best time of year to visit Ho Chi Minh City?
The best months to base yourself in Ho Chi Minh City are December, January, February, March. The climate type is tropical. We recommend avoiding May, June, July, August, September, October — monsoon season brings heavy daily flooding across District 1 and outer areas, with streets regularly impassable after afternoon downpours..
What currency is used in Ho Chi Minh City and how should I handle money?
Ho Chi Minh City uses the Vietnamese Dong (VND). Cards are widely accepted in cities. For the best rates when converting USD, use Wise or Revolut rather than airport exchange kiosks. Keep some VND cash on hand for markets, transport, and smaller establishments.
Plan your trip to Ho Chi Minh City
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Gear up for Ho Chi Minh City
Tools the Settled Nomad community relies on — vetted, nomad-tested.
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SafetyWing
Travel & medical insurance for nomads
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eSIM for 190+ countries
Skip the airport SIM queue. Buy a local eSIM before you land and stay connected from day one.
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Wise
International banking without the fees
Hold 50+ currencies, get local bank details in 10 countries, and send money at the real exchange rate.
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NordVPN
Stay secure on public Wi-Fi
Essential for coworking spaces and coffee shops. Access home streaming services and keep your data private.
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Booking.com
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Filter by monthly price, kitchen, and workspace. Thousands of nomad-friendly apartments not on Airbnb.
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Compare hundreds of airlines in seconds. Set price alerts and book when the fare drops.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose the best digital nomad city for me?
Start by filtering on your non-negotiables: if budget is tight, sort by cost and look at cities under $2,000/month (Chiang Mai, Medellín, Tbilisi). If fast internet is critical for video calls, filter by internet speed score. If you're on a US passport in Europe, check Schengen status — cities in Georgia, Albania, or the UK give you unlimited stay without the 90-day limit. Use the quiz to get 3 personalized picks based on your specific priorities.
What is the 'nomad score' shown on each city?
The nomad score is a 0–10 composite rating built from verified data: internet speed (25%), cost of living vs. global median (25%), safety index (20%), English proficiency (15%), and coworking availability + visa friendliness (15%). A score of 7+ indicates a city that works well for most nomads. The score is recalculated quarterly as underlying data refreshes.
Which digital nomad cities have the best internet?
The consistently highest-rated cities for internet speed are: Tallinn, Estonia (average 100+ Mbps, fiber everywhere), Seoul, South Korea (gigabit fiber standard), Chiang Mai, Thailand (fast and cheap, coworkings have 200+ Mbps), Lisbon, Portugal (fiber widely available, 100–500 Mbps in most apartments), and Mexico City (100+ Mbps in Roma/Condesa neighborhoods). For video-heavy work, any of these cities provides reliable upload speeds for HD streaming.
Can I live in these cities without speaking the local language?
Most top-ranked nomad cities have high English proficiency — Lisbon, Tallinn, Amsterdam, Prague, and Bangkok all have strong English-speaking nomad communities and service sectors. Cities with lower English scores (Tokyo, Medellín, Chiang Mai) still work well for nomads because the expat community is large, coworkings operate in English, and translation apps handle most daily situations. Every city guide includes an English proficiency rating and practical notes on language.