Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

A short history

1. The earliest settlement was a Funan temple from the 4th century. The Cham founded Baigaur here in the 11th century, and under the Khmer Empire it became Prey Nokor, a fishing village and forest. ³
2. France took the city by treaty in 1862 and built the botanical garden, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Hotel Continental and Bến Thành Market. ³
3. Saigon became the capital of the State of Vietnam in 1949 and then of South Vietnam. ³
4. After 30 April 1975 Saigon and Gia Định province were joined into one city, Saigon–Gia Định. On 2 July 1976 the National Assembly officially named it Ho Chi Minh City. ^{3 5}

Key dates are checked against a second source where we found one (official portal, UNESCO or a founding institution).

Life there

Climate

Hot all year. Average highs stay between about 31.6 and 34.9 °C (89–95 °F), peaking in April–May. The rainy season runs May to October, with 13–19 rainy days a month; December to April is much drier (1–5 rainy days a month). ³

Expat community

Expat.com estimates 80,000–100,000 foreign residents, led by Koreans, Japanese, Chinese, Americans and French (unofficial). ⁴ The U.S. Consulate General is here. ¹¹

Healthcare

The city has about 100 government hospitals and medical centres, plus dozens of international facilities; the 1,400-bed Chợ Rẫy Hospital is the best known public one. ³ The U.S. Embassy lists FV (Franco-Vietnamese) Hospital, Vinmec Central Park, City International Hospital, Raffles Medical and Family Medical Practice among the international options, and Chợ Rẫy, University Medical Center and Thống Nhất among the public hospitals. ¹¹

The U.S. Embassy notes that care in Vietnam is generally below U.S. standards outside the big international hospitals, and that serious cases may need medical evacuation. ¹¹ More on the healthcare page (coming soon).

Getting around

Metro Line 1 opened in 2024, running from Bến Thành to Suối Tiên. Motorbike taxis and Grab and Gojek apps are everywhere, and the Saigon Waterbus has run since 2017. The city has about 3.5 million motorbikes. ³ Long Thành International Airport, about 40 km east, is scheduled to open in 2026. ³

Safety

The U.S. Embassy rates crime "HIGH" in Ho Chi Minh City. OSAC explains that this scale is about threats to U.S. government interests, while the travel advisory for ordinary visitors stays at Level 1. ^{14 13} OSAC also says HCMC police run on-the-spot drug tests at nightclubs, and a prescription may not prevent arrest. ¹³

Across Vietnam

• The U.S. State Department rates Vietnam Level 1, "exercise normal precautions" (advisory issued 24 June 2026; checked Oct 27, 2026 in a browser). It names two risks: petty crime in tourist areas, and landmines and unexploded ordnance, which it says are a low risk in urban and tourist areas. ¹² OSAC's 2026 report, which we read, gives the same level. ¹³
• The crimes foreigners meet most are phone theft, pickpocketing and bag snatching by thieves on motorbikes; petty crime rises around Christmas and Tết. ¹³
• Traffic is the biggest danger: OSAC says road accidents are the leading cause of death, serious injury and medical evacuation for foreigners in Vietnam, and helmets are required on motorbikes. ¹³
• OSAC says the June–October monsoon brings flood and landslide risk; in 2025 the country had 11 typhoons and tropical depressions between May and October. ¹³
• Emergency numbers: 113 police, 114 fire, 115 ambulance. ¹⁴

How residents rate crime here (crowd-sourced, not official)

Numbeo crime index

49.8 / 100 (lower = less crime perceived) ¹⁵

Numbeo safety index

50.2 / 100 (higher = safer) ¹⁵

Things to do and experience