Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City!

Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam. The city centre is located on the banks of the Saigon River, 37 miles [60 km] from the South China Sea and 1,094 miles [1,760 km] south of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.

In the past decade, Vietnam has been improving its legal infrastructure, banking system and overall economic and social environment. On January 11, 2007, the country became the 150th member of the World Trade Organization. Today, the local business community is passionate about the growth and future potential of foreign investors. In fact, foreign direct investment in Vietnam is expected to reach $15 billion in 2008, more than double the same period in 2007.

Ho Chi Minh City is the financial center of Vietnam with more than 300,000 companies in the technology, electronics and construction industries. This is a fast-paced city that is growing rapidly in both its industry and its population. The city's vibrant cultural and historical atmosphere - coupled with an optimistic workforce [many of whom did not directly remember the war with the United States that ended in 1975] - has made the city one of the fastest growing economies in Asia.

Consisting of the city centre and surrounding towns, the metropolitan area has a population of over 9 million and is the largest metropolitan area in Vietnam and Indochina. Through the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, people feel modern and traditional Asian atmosphere.

The local language is Vietnamese, but English is used in almost all places. All foreign restaurants have English speaking staff, and most taxi drivers speak English. The street and shop signs are all Vietnamese. Learning at least a bit of Vietnamese will make life easier, and efforts to do so will be appreciated by locals.

All foreign tourists must obtain a visa. Foreigners who come to live and work in Vietnam usually obtain a visa through their sponsoring organization. For a three-month or six-month work visa, you will need to show your passport and invitation letter or transfer letter. Passports with relevant visas are the most important documents for Vietnamese foreigners. It is recommended that all visitors register with the local consulate or embassy when they arrive in Ho Chi Minh City.

The local currency is the Vietnamese Dong [VND]. This item has paper money and coins, and the price ranges from 200 to 500,000 VND. It is recommended that you bring US dollars into Vietnam and redeem them upon arrival. Although East is the most common payment method for daily shopping [such as groceries], you can use and change the US dollar. Larger venues accept credit cards, but they will charge a 3-5% service charge. Smaller local markets only accept cash.

There are many foreign banks in Ho Chi Minh City, and the account is easy to open. Most banks are open from 8 am to 3 pm, Monday through Friday. There are all-weather automatic teller machines [ATMs] around Ho Chi Minh City.

For foreigners seeking housing in Ho Chi Minh City, proximity to school and safety is the most important issue. Most foreigners choose to live in an expatriate community. Ho Chi Minh City combines old French villas with modern serviced apartments. Expatriates seeking to live in the house often live outside the city, where there are larger villas with exquisite gardens and swimming pools. International schools are also located in these areas outside major cities. Foreigners usually rent a house. The lease agreement requires deposits to be equal to three months' rent, and the lessee needs to pay six months' rent in advance.

Utilities are extra and need to be paid separately, usually in cash. The furnished home is decorated to suit the taste of the landlord and may not be suitable for typical expatriates. Depending on the length of your lease, it is sometimes possible and more common to negotiate with a landlord without furniture and purchase furniture according to your own taste.

Overall, Ho Chi Minh City is not a dangerous city. However, thieves and house burglaries involve many foreigners. Home security systems are not very expensive and are worth recommending.

International schools are very popular with foreigners in Ho Chi Minh City. International schools in the UK, Australia, France, Japan and Korea are fine, but they can be quite expensive. There are plenty to choose from, but it's hard to find a place. The British International School and the Ho Chi Minh City International School have pre-school education courses. The school year begins at the end of August and ends in early July.

The water in Ho Chi Minh City is not suitable for drinking from taps, but it is safer to brush and clean dishes. Bottled drinking water is delivered to the home or purchased from the store. The "pharmacy" in Vietnamese is "Nha Thuoc Tay", which is spread throughout the city. The "doctor" in Vietnamese is "Bac Si."

In addition to malaria capsules, Vietnamese travelers are advised to receive various vaccines such as hepatitis A and hepatitis B, epidemic encephalitis and typhoid fever. Visitors should carry extra prescription drugs as it may be difficult to find in Vietnam. The medical facilities in Ho Chi Minh City are limited, but they continue to improve with the opening of international clinics.

There are some foreign health care providers who can offer different things. These include International SOS, the Saigon Clinic in Colombia and the Franco/Vietnamese Hospital. Visitors can evacuate to Singapore or Thailand if the required range of care is beyond the scope of the Ho Chi Minh City Foreign Hospital. It is recommended that all visitors study this information as soon as they enter the new home.

The rapid development of the city has caused unbearable traffic throughout the city. Since the traffic regulations are not strictly enforced and the driver's education is limited, you must wait patiently for the road. Visitors wishing to drive need to obtain a Vietnamese driving license. Usually, foreigners have their own cars and drivers. People drive on the right side of the road. Ho Chi Minh City does have buses, but they are very crowded.

Motorcycles are currently the most common means of transportation. It is not uncommon to see the entire family on a motorcycle. They are incredible across the road. Visitors must have confidence to find the gap in the traffic, make eye contact with any oncoming driver, slowly cross, and always move forward, do not hesitate, do not back off.

In order to travel outside the city, there are trains going out every day and there are rental cars. Taking a mini bus is another option. These are small, air conditioned and clean.

Foreigners may want to bring their favorite designer brand clothing, cosmetics and sporting goods - because it is difficult to buy real articles in Vietnam. There are more choices for shopping in Ho Chi Minh City than in other cities. For large clothing or shoes, it is recommended that foreigners bring enough clothes to stay. Finding the right outfit can be challenging, but custom tailoring is an option.

The serviced apartment's shop sells foreign items. The local market is used for fresh dairy products and agricultural products, and bargaining is the norm. It is a good idea to learn the numbers in Vietnamese. It is best not to be too interested in a project. When bargaining, if you do not accept it, you should make an offer and leave. If the seller changes his mind, he will call the person. A good rule of thumb for bargaining is to offer a counter-offer at half the price of the original price and then bargain to the midpoint. In addition, there is still a long way to go for a smile!

Counterfeit goods - from handbags to mineral water - are everywhere in Ho Chi Minh City. It is best to buy such goods from department stores or other official retailers rather than street vendors. For other household items such as cleaning materials and household items, Ben Thanh Market and Diamond Plaza are two places in Ho Chi Minh City to find such items. The Ben Thanh Market is everything that people need, such as clothing, shoes, household items, souvenirs, and fruits, vegetables and other very interesting foods.

However, the spouse is allowed to work and it may be difficult to find a job. In addition, there are professional associations for women. For entertainment, joining the golf and tennis groups is a popular choice. Bars and restaurants are popular gathering places. In addition to expatriate groups, the Vietnam International Women's Club, the Amicale des Francais [French Association] and various business organizations are also very popular.

Traveling or watching sports, going to local beaches and taking a stroller is also one of the city's most popular entertainment activities for kids. School-related activities are great for teenagers looking for activities. Clubs and sports are very popular. People can enjoy tennis, squash, swimming, badminton and rugby [Australian rules] and more.




Orignal From: Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City!

No comments:

Post a Comment