Ho Chi Minh City digital nomad guide

Digital Nomad FAQ’s

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Visitor / Working Visas

The visa information below may not be up to date information, nor should be used as visa advice for people working while abroad. We do not claim that you can work legally with a visitor visa or any other visa in this country or any other country in the world. As always, you will need to refer to your embassy for the latest information. We at Digital Nomad Lifestyle believe in the heavenly mandate granted to each government of every modern nation, and thus the laws and regulations therein. Therefore rules outlined by the almighty state should be followed unwaveringly and without question. In Government We Trust – Digital Nomad Lifestyle

E-Visa (most travelers): Apply online for a tourist e-visa valid up to 90 days. Available as single-entry or multiple-entry. You choose your entry/exit checkpoints during the application.

Processing time: Usually a few working days, but apply early.

Passport rules: At least 6 months validity on arrival and at least 1 blank page.

Visa-exempt entries: Some nationalities get short, visa-free stays. Lengths vary by passport (often 14–45 days).

On arrival: Bring a print or offline copy of your e-visa approval and ensure you enter through the checkpoint listed on your e-visa.

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Cost Of Living / Traveling Through

• 🧍Avg. Cost Of Living (For Single Adult) -$1,540/mo USD
• 🏨 Avg. Price Per Night For Hotel Room (near city center) -$30–$65/night; USD, I pretty much only use Booking for hotel accommodations
• 🏩 Avg. Price Per Night For Hostel Dorm Room (near city center) -$15/night avg, here is the top 6 colives in Ho Chi Minh you can book now!
• 🏡 Avg. Price for apartments (near city center) -$730/mo on average
• ☕️ Latte -$3
• 🍺 – .5 Liter Beer -$2.70
• 🏋️‍♀️ – Monthly Gym Membership -$50
• 🚊 – Local Transport – Avg. One Way Ticket Price -Avg. One Way Ticket Price –$1
• 🍝 Avg. Dinner Price -$3–$6
• 📱 – Avg. Data Plan Per Month -$10, Airalo is the only ESIM company I use.
• 🏢 – Avg. Cowork Per Month (near city center) -$85–$230 depending on location

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Wifi Speed Tests

Read my guide to getting fast wifi anywhere in the world here

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Co-Lives & Where I Stayed

A Map Of The Places I Stayed & Recommend

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meander saigon

• OVERALL – 4.5/5 Modern hostel in District 1—central, lively area packed with restaurants, cafés, and bars. Spacious common areas, attentive staff, and standout cleanliness.
• Affordability – 4/5 Strong value for D1: mix of shared dorms and privates. Prices can start around $20 USD, depending on the room type.
• Wifi – 4/5 Good speeds for day-to-day work and video calls.
  • Avg. Download Speed = 63.0 Mbps
  • Avg. Upload Speed = 22.0 Mbps
  • Avg. Latency = 51 ms
• Sense Of Community – 4.5/5 Large, quiet lounge and coworking area, plus a shared kitchen you can use all day. Easy to socialize without a party vibe. Fridays: free walking tour of the neighborhood.
• Location – 4.5/5 Right in District 1, walking distance to the Saigon Opera House and City Hall; very walkable area.
• Amenities – 4.5/5
  • Kitchen and coworking space, 24/7 reception, A/C, elevator, luggage storage, laundry, free filtered water, outdoor seating, and airport transfer option.
• Cleanliness – 5/5 Very clean in both common areas and rooms; well maintained.
  

Places To Stay – Honorable Mentions

This is a section where I’ll add hotels / places to stay at that I either didn’t stay at, or had a flaw

SAigon chill hostel

• Central District 1 location—walk to markets, bars, and key sights; an easy base for exploring HCMC. Travelers praise the friendly staff, social lobby/bar, clean rooms, good value, comfy beds with lockers, and a tasty breakfast. Only caveat: the Wi-Fi rates lower than other categories, so bring a hotspot if you rely on video calls.

BOOK a night with SAigon chill hostel

city backpackers hostel

• Central base on Nguyễn Trãi, walkable to Ben Thanh Market and key sights. Travelers highlight the super-friendly staff, clean, comfortable rooms, and great value, with free Wi-Fi and helpful tour/transport assistance.

BOOK A NIGHT with city backpackers hostel

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Co-Works & My Favorite Places To Work From

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trung nguyen coffee

• OVERALL – 4.5/5 Reliable chain café with A/C, plenty of seating, and a laptop-friendly vibe—an easy stop to focus and sip a solid cà phê sữa đá.
• Wifi – 4.5/5 (fast & stable)
  • Download Speed = 102 Mbps
  • Upload Speed = 94 Mbps
  • Packet Loss = not measured
  • Avg. Latency = 10 ms
    • *Not sure what these metrics mean? Read my guide to getting fast wifi here.
• Service & Friendliness – 5/5 Efficient, friendly staff; orders come out quickly.
• Amount Of Outlets – 4/5 Plenty along the walls, grab a table with a nice view and a nearby plug.
• Amenities (Places to take calls, etc.) – 4.5/5 Indoor seating with A/C; typical café noise. Good place to work quietly, with light bites if you get hungry.

bibli library café

• OVERALL – 4/5 Bookish, Harry-themed café with two floors and several quiet rooms you can use. Cozy, A/C, and morning hours are especially calm, great for focused work or a quick call.
• Wifi – (good for most calls)
  • Download Speed = 34.2 Mbps
  • Upload Speed = 25.3 Mbps
  • Packet Loss = not measured
• Avg. Latency = 5 ms
  • *Not sure what these metrics mean? Read my guide to getting fast wifi here.
• Service & Friendliness – 5/5 Polite, helpful staff; orders come out quickly.
• Amount Of Outlets – 4/5 Plugs along the walls and near some tables—easy to find a powered seat.
• Amenities (Places to take calls, etc.) – 4.5/5 Multiple rooms and nooks; quiet in the morning, No dedicated call booths, but headphones work perfectly.

cason coffe

• OVERALL – 4/5 Night-friendly café with a calm vibe. You might hear some street music, but the inner room is quieter—good for focused work or calls. Drinks and light meals available.
• Wifi – 4/5 Blazing speeds and low latency, but the loss can disrupt long video calls—use the quiet room and keep a hotspot as backup.
  • Download Speed = 166 Mbps
  • Upload Speed = 149 Mbps
  • Packet Loss = 10.95%
• Avg. Latency = 9 ms
  • *Not sure what these metrics mean? Read my guide to getting fast wifi here.
• Service & Friendliness – 5/5 Warm, efficient staff; orders come out quickly.
• Amount Of Outlets – 3.5/5Some along the walls, fine if you grab a wall table; bring a battery just in case.
• Amenities (Places to take calls, etc.) – 4/5 A/C, indoor quiet zone, open late, light food and coffee; no dedicated call booths, but short calls with headphones work well.

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Finding Community / Making Friends

Interested In Building Community As A Nomad? I interviewed 9 other digital nomads to come up with a complete digital nomad guide to building community, check it out!

HOSTEL

MUNDO LINGO

• For an easy win outside the hostel, check out Mundo Lingo at SOMA Saigon: every Thursday from 8 PM they host a language-exchange night. Pick the flags for the languages you speak, grab a drink, and you’re set to mingle and meet new people. (As always, double-check the day/time on their socials in case it changes.)

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Transportation

• Motorbike rental (my pick)I rented a bike from day one since I was staying over a month. You can also rent by the day, prices vary by model and shop. It’s the fastest way to get around, but traffic is intense.
• Grab / Bolt (ride-hailing) Works great citywide. Compare both apps; prices can swing with surge. For short hops, GrabBike/Bolt moto is usually the quickest.
• Taxis Use reputable companies like Vinasun or Mai Linh and ask for the meter.
• Buses Cheapest way to move. Routes cover most districts, use BusMap, Moovit, or Google Maps to plan.
• Metro / urban rail Limited but expanding, check the latest status for your area. Most visitors still mix ride-hail + buses for longer cross-town trips.
• Walking & cycling Great within District 1 for clusters of sights. When crossing streets, keep a slow, steady pace so drivers

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What I Drank / Nightlife

distric 1(rooftops, karaoque, and everything in between)

• If you want range, D1 has it—cocktail bars, karaoke rooms, craft-beer spots, and hotel rooftops with big skyline views. It’s easy to hop between places and end the night somewhere with music but not full chaos. You’ll also find adult-oriented “massage” streets in the area; they’re part of the nightlife here. If you’re just curious, stroll through; if you engage, set expectations up front, agree on prices, and keep your valuables tight.

bùi viên walking streeT

• Neon, speakers on blast, cheap beers, and staff dancing outside to pull you in—it’s Ho Chi Minh City’s party lane. Expect shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, buckets, and music battles from bar to bar. Fun if you want maximum energy; not great if you’re after conversation. I have to confess this area was really fun for me because, while I was having a beer at a small spot on the street, I could watch how the girls offering “massages” managed to convince men to take their services.

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Exercise / Outdoors

In Saigon, you’ll find plenty of ways to work out here are a few I tried, along with my notes.

• Plenty of local gyms with enough machines to run a full routine. Day passes are around $7, and most places don’t have A/C, so be ready for the heat.

PArk

• You’ll find public bars and stations in a few areas. Free, and great for a quick push–pull–core circuit after your run.

Want to stay fit & eat healthy while traveling? Check out my guide to diet fitness while traveling here!

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