Black market

Thao Dien has garnered a reputation among the Saigonese as a hotbed for foreigners to live, particularly English-speaking expats. It’s one of the largest expat areas in Saigon, with the other main spot for foreigners to lớn settle being Phu My Hung in District 7. There are many reasons why expats might choose lớn live in Thao Dien; from the variety of places lớn eat, léman luxury apartments with pools and a multitude of international/bilingual schools khổng lồ either teach at or send your kids to. I’ve been living in Thao Dien for a couple of years and thought I would put together this guide with details on how to set up your expat life in this area of Saigon.

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Where is Thao Dien?

Thao Dien is one of the wards that hóa trang Saigon’s District 2. This district is found north of the centre of Ho đưa ra Minh đô thị (District 1). Thao Dien is an enclosed neighbourhood, with the river looping around 3 sides và the Hanoi highway closing in the other side. Thao Dien is trang chủ to lots of international schools và where a large portion of Saigon’s expat community lives.

Why vì expats lượt thích to live in Thao Dien?

There’s no denying that Thao Dien is a popular place for foreigners khổng lồ live in Saigon. However, there is often a divide among expats with regards khổng lồ this area of the city; some love it và some hate it. Ultimately it depends on what you are looking for in your neighbourhood. If you’re looking for somewhere comfortable where you can adjust khổng lồ life in Vietnam then Thao Dien is a great option. However, if you’re looking lớn live in a super local area where you rarely see foreigners then you’re going to lớn want lớn stay away from Thao Dien. Basically, the many reasons why expats might decide to lớn base themselves in Thao Dien are often the same reasons why others want to avoid living in Thao Dien. Each lớn their own. These are the reasons why I personally decided to lớn move to Thao Dien:

✅ Nice accommodation with security, gyms and pools✅ An abundance of beautiful cafes khổng lồ work from✅ Both Vietnamese & foreign food for a cheap price (I adore Vietnamese food but sometimes you need khổng lồ change it up)✅ Can buy imported items easily (think cheese, pasta, beauty products)✅ Lots of English spoken✅ A large expat community, which especially if you’re single, makes it easier khổng lồ meet people. For me, it means that most of my existing friends live nearby which is convenient. Plus, due to the high density of foreigners, Thao Dien has become a hub for social events.

✍️ check out this post for more pros và cons of living in Ho bỏ ra Minh City.

Where to live in Thao Dien?

There are lots of different accommodation options in Thao Dien, from studios and apartments lớn gated communities và villas. Most foreigners opt to lớn live in one of the many apartment blocks, though gate communities are very popular with families. Some of the big apartment buildings are HAGL (popular among teachers), Masteri (minimal flooding), Tropic Gardens (has a beautiful pool) & the Vista (slightly removed from the hub of Thao Dien). These complexes are some of the most popular but there are hundreds of smaller apartment buildings.

Xem thêm: Tra Cứu Báo Cáo Tài Chính Doanh Nghiệp, Tra Cứu Báo Cáo Các Công Ty Việt Nam

✍️ Willful and Wildhearted has a great post about how khổng lồ find a serviced apartment in Saigon.

Some areas of Thao Dien flood during monsoon season and/or full moons. This is because of the location next lớn the river. Some of the worst areas for flooding are next to HAGL, The American School và around hem 204, và Nguyen Van Huong. The junction where Quoc Huong & Duong So 65 intersect is notably the worst area for flooding.

Getting phối up in Thao Dien

Here is a little rundown of where khổng lồ find what you need in for living in Thao Dien. Everything is pinned on the map so you can find things with ease. These are just personal recommendations of where lớn go for things – if you have any other spots worth adding, please pop them in the comments so I can update it.

Quick Essentials

• Phone/laptop/tech repairs – HAGA Smart Tech, iKnow, Daniel Vo• Household items – Uncle Bills, cho Thao Dien• Laundrette – blue Ribbon Laundry

Shopping for food

• Fresh market – Quoc Huong street• Supermarkets – Tops Markets, Aeon Citimart, An Phu Supermarket (also lots of import goods) & Vinmart (inside VinCom Mall)• Specialist/import food stores – Annam Gourmet Market, nam An Market, black Market, L’Epicentre, Ryan’s Grocery

Working spaces

• Co-working – The Hive & The Hive Villa• Cafes for working in – The Coffee House, Dolphy Cafe, The Loop, Soma Art Lounge, Shalom Coffee

Fitness in Thao Dien

• Gyms – UFC, Nutrifort, Bodyshape• Classes – Crossfit, Waterfit+, Yogapod, Dancenter, Hustle, K1 Fitness, long Fitness, Bout

Beauty in Thao Dien

• Spas – Saigon Dep ($$), Beauty salon tóc Quỳnh ($)• Nails – Bamboo Nails, Fame Nails, Orchid Nails & Spa, Privé• Cosmetics – Guardian (import shampoos, moisturisers etc)

Social hubs

• For events – Saigon Outcast, Soma Art Lounge, The Hive• Bars – Escape Lounge, Evita, Bia Craft, Aperitivo, 86 Proof, Twist Coffee và Bar• Cafes – Dolphy Cafe, Twist Coffee and Bar, OKKIO, Shalom Coffee

Getting around Thao Dien

• Motorbike rentals – Saigon Motorcycles (they even offer Honda Cub rentals so you can grab a motorbike like mine)• Ride-hailing apps – Grab Vietnam, Go Viet, Be (no English translation but cheaper)

Living in a foreign country isn’t easy, especially if you’re solo, which makes living in an area that is popular with other expats perfect for getting used khổng lồ everyday life in Vietnam, even if it’s just while you find your feet. Thao Dien is that spot in Saigon, where you can get used to lớn life in Vietnam at a leisurely pace, with trang chủ comfort & a community within easy reach.