Vietnam offers everything from fast-paced megacities to laid-back beach towns and cool mountain retreats. Whether you’re drawn to the energy of Ho Chi Minh City, the history of Hanoi or the beaches of Da Nang, each region has its own climate, pace of life and expat community. Note that since July 2025, Vietnam has merged many provinces and removed the district level of government, so official addresses have changed, but most people still use the old district names, as we do here.
Ho Chi Minh City & Surrounds
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, still widely called Saigon, is Vietnam’s largest city and its economic engine. It is fast, loud and ambitious, with a huge food scene, a lively nightlife and the country’s biggest expat community. It has a tropical climate that is warm all year, with a dry season from about December to April and a wet season with short, heavy afternoon rain from about May to November.
Each neighborhood has its own character, and choosing the right one is one of the most important early decisions for anyone moving here.
District 1
District 1 is the city center, home to the main business district, landmark hotels, rooftop bars and many of the best restaurants. It is lively, convenient and busy, and it has the city’s widest range of serviced apartments. It suits professionals and newcomers who want to be in the middle of everything.
Thao Dien
Thao Dien, in the former District 2, is the city’s best-known expat neighborhood, with leafy streets, villas, cafés, international restaurants and several international schools. It is quieter than the center and popular with families. Metro Line 1 now links the area to District 1.
Thu Thiem
Thu Thiem is a new urban area directly across the river from District 1, with modern high-rise apartment projects, wide roads and riverside views. It is still developing, but it offers some of the newest buildings in the city.
Binh Thanh
Binh Thanh sits between District 1 and Thao Dien, with good-value apartments, large modern developments such as Vinhomes Central Park, and easy access to both. It is a practical choice for people who want to be central without paying District 1 prices.
District 3
District 3 is a central, more residential area with tree-lined streets, French colonial villas, local markets and many of the city’s best cafés. It feels more local than District 1 while staying close to it.
District 7 (Phu My Hung)
Phu My Hung, in District 7, is a planned area in the south of the city, with wide streets, parks, shopping malls and international schools. It is clean, calm and very popular with families, particularly from Korea, Japan and Taiwan.
Phu Nhuan
Phu Nhuan is a compact, central neighborhood near the airport, with a local feel, great street food and more affordable rents than the expat areas.
Read our full Ho Chi Minh City Guide, with neighborhood profiles, rents, transport, healthcare, schools and daily life.
Vung Tau
A coastal city about two hours from Ho Chi Minh City by road, or less by fast ferry, Vung Tau is a popular weekend escape and home to a long-established community of expats and retirees. It offers beaches, seafood and a slower pace, at lower prices than the city.
Can Tho
The largest city in the Mekong Delta, Can Tho is known for its floating markets, riverside life and relaxed pace. It has a small expat community and is one of the most affordable cities in the south.
Hanoi & the North
Northern Vietnam is a region of limestone mountains, rice terraces, historic temples and the country’s political capital. Unlike the south, it has four seasons, with a hot, humid summer and a cool, damp winter from about December to February.
Hanoi
Hanoi is Vietnam’s capital and its cultural heart, with a thousand years of history, tree-lined boulevards, lakes, French colonial architecture and a famous street food scene. It is slightly slower and more traditional than Ho Chi Minh City, and generally a little cheaper.
Hanoi’s neighborhoods each have a distinct character:
Tay Ho (West Lake)
Tay Ho is Hanoi’s main expat area, set around the city’s largest lake, with international restaurants, cafés, bars and a relaxed, green atmosphere. It is popular with families and long-term residents, and close to several international schools.
Ba Dinh
Ba Dinh is the city’s political center, home to government buildings and embassies. It is calm, green and well located, with good access to both the Old Quarter and Tay Ho.
Hoan Kiem (Old Quarter)
Hoan Kiem is the historic heart of Hanoi, around Hoan Kiem Lake and the busy streets of the Old Quarter. It is full of character, food and culture, but also crowded and noisy, and better for a first few months than for family life.
Cau Giay
Cau Giay is a modern district in the west of the city, with high-rise apartments, offices and universities. It offers good-value, newer apartments and suits professionals who work nearby.
Ciputra and Long Bien
Ciputra, north-west of West Lake, and the Vinhomes developments in Long Bien, across the Red River, are large gated communities with villas, apartments, shops and international schools. They suit families who want space, security and a quieter life.
Read our full Hanoi Guide, with neighborhood profiles, rents, transport, work, healthcare, schools and daily life.
Hai Phong
A major port and industrial city about two hours from Hanoi, Hai Phong has a growing number of foreign professionals working in manufacturing and logistics, a strong local food scene and lower living costs than the capital.
Ha Long
Home to the famous limestone islands of Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site, Ha Long is mainly a tourism city, but it attracts some expats working in hospitality and people looking for a quieter coastal base within reach of Hanoi.
Da Nang & the Central Coast
Central Vietnam has long sandy beaches, historic towns and mountains close to the sea. Its climate is warm, with a dry, sunny season in spring and summer, and a rainy season from about September to December, when typhoons and flooding can occur.
Da Nang
Da Nang is the fastest-growing expat destination in Vietnam. It combines a long city beach, modern infrastructure, an international airport and a much calmer pace than the big cities, at noticeably lower cost. Most expats live near the beach in An Thuong and My An, or on the quieter Son Tra peninsula, while Hai Chau, across the river, is the more local city center.
Read our full Da Nang Guide, with neighborhood profiles, rents, transport, work, healthcare, schools and daily life.
Hoi An
About 45 minutes south of Da Nang, Hoi An is a beautifully preserved trading port and UNESCO World Heritage site, with lantern-lit streets, rice paddies and nearby beaches such as An Bang. It attracts creatives, remote workers and retirees, although the old town is very touristic and floods in the rainy season.
Read our full Hoi An Guide, with neighborhoods, rents, healthcare, schools, the flood season and daily life.
Hue
The former imperial capital, Hue is known for its citadel, royal tombs and the Perfume River. It is quiet, cultured and affordable, with a small expat community, and it is one of the rainiest cities in Vietnam.
Quy Nhon
A coastal city further south, Quy Nhon has beautiful beaches, excellent seafood and far fewer tourists than better-known destinations. It is growing in popularity with remote workers and retirees looking for a quieter, low-cost base.
Nha Trang & the South-Central Coast
The south-central coast is Vietnam’s driest and sunniest region, with long beaches, clear water and a relaxed resort lifestyle.
Nha Trang
Nha Trang is a well-established beach city with a long seafront, islands in the bay and a year-round warm climate. It has an international airport, a range of apartments by the beach and a mixed expat community, although parts of the city are very focused on tourism.
Read our full Nha Trang Guide, with neighborhoods, renting traps, seasons, healthcare, schools and daily life.
For a quieter coastal lifestyle, the kitesurfing town of Mui Ne and smaller beach communities along this coast offer lower prices and a slower pace.
Da Lat & the Central Highlands
At around 1,500 meters above sea level, Da Lat has a mild, spring-like climate all year, with pine forests, lakes, flower farms and French colonial villas. It is a popular choice for people who want to escape the heat, including retirees and remote workers.
Da Lat
Da Lat is small, affordable and relaxed, with a strong café culture and easy access to hiking and nature. Healthcare and international services are limited, so many residents travel to Ho Chi Minh City for specialist care.
Buon Ma Thuot
The capital of Vietnam’s coffee region, Buon Ma Thuot is a working city with a very local feel. It suits people who want an authentic, low-cost life away from the tourist trail, and are comfortable with little English.
Phu Quoc & the Islands
Vietnam’s islands offer tropical beaches and a slower pace of life, with good air links to the mainland.
Phu Quoc
Vietnam’s largest island, Phu Quoc sits in the Gulf of Thailand and has an international airport, large resorts, beaches and a growing number of expats working in hospitality and tourism. Foreign visitors can visit the island visa-free for up to 30 days, although living here long-term still requires a normal visa.
Con Dao
A small, protected archipelago off the south coast, Con Dao is known for its unspoiled beaches and national park. It is very quiet, with limited services, and better as a retreat than a full-time home for most people.
Frequently Asked Questions: Best Places to Live in Vietnam
Which city in Vietnam is best for expats?
It depends on your lifestyle. Ho Chi Minh City suits people who want career opportunities and a big-city buzz, Hanoi suits those who want culture and seasons, and Da Nang suits people who want the beach, a calmer pace and lower costs.
Where are the most international schools?
Ho Chi Minh City, mainly in Thao Dien, District 7 and around District 1, and Hanoi, mainly around Tay Ho, Ciputra and Long Bien. Da Nang has a smaller number of international schools.
How does the climate differ between the north and south?
The south, including Ho Chi Minh City, is warm all year, with a dry season and a rainy season. The north, including Hanoi, has four seasons and a cool winter. The central coast has a rainy season from about September to December, when typhoons can occur.
Can I get by without speaking Vietnamese?
In the expat areas of Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang, yes, for most daily life. Outside these areas, English is much less common, so learning some Vietnamese and using translation apps makes a big difference.
Which destinations are the most affordable?
Smaller cities such as Hue, Quy Nhon, Can Tho and Da Lat offer the lowest costs. Among the main expat hubs, Da Nang is generally the most affordable.