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Destination Guide
To
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
VIET NAM
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Asian Tigers Mobility VietnamAddress: Suite 903, REE Tower, 9 Doan Van Bo, District 4, Ho Chi Minh CityTelephone: + 84 83 825 4008 Fax: + 84 83 825 4089Email: [email protected] Website: www.asiantigers-mobility.com
Contents
Topic Page
Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 3
About Asian Tigers Mobility 4
Services by Asian Tigers Mobility 4
Contacts at Asian Tigers Mobility 5
Facts about Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 6 & 7
Local Culture 7
Cultural Dos & Don’ts 8
Getting Around 9
Air Travel 9
Train Services 9
Bus Services 9
Taxi Services 10
Leased Cars 10
Personal Cars 10
Driving License Requirements 10
Food 11
Tipping 11
Local Food 11
International Food 12
Business Entertainment 12
Medical Needs
Private Clinics 13, 14
Government Hospitals 15, 16
Housing 17
Temporary Accommodation 17
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Asian Tigers Mobility VietnamAddress: Suite 903, REE Tower, 9 Doan Van Bo, District 4, Ho Chi Minh CityTelephone: + 84 83 825 4008 Fax: + 84 83 825 4089Email: [email protected] Website: www.asiantigers-mobility.com
Permanent Housing 17
Schools
International Schools 18, 19, 20
Daily Needs
Banking 21
Utilities 21
Telephone and Mobile 22
Groceries 22
Home Repairs 22
Domestic Help 23
Cultural Norms
Social Norms 23, 24
Business Norms 24
Cultural Training & Vietnamese Language Lessons 25
Networking 25
Useful Links and Contacts 25
Emergency Contacts 26
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Asian Tigers Mobility VietnamAddress: Suite 903, REE Tower, 9 Doan Van Bo, District 4, Ho Chi Minh CityTelephone: + 84 83 825 4008 Fax: + 84 83 825 4089Email: [email protected] Website: www.asiantigers-mobility.com
Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Xin Chao! Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. We are glad to have you here.
Asian Tigers Mobility is delighted to assist you during your relocation to Ho Chi Minh City. We havethe ability to support you in every aspect of your transition. City Orientation, Home Finding, SchoolFinding, Settling In (finding domestic help or opening a bank account, etc) or any other relocationrelated need, a dedicated consultant will gladly assist you.
We understand that relocating is a stressful process, so we are here to help. Your Asian TigersMobility Consultant will guide you through the process in order to minimize the stress for you andyour family. Asian Tigers Mobility has designed this guide to get you familiarized with Ho Chi MinhCity. We want to avoid overwhelming you with too many pieces of information; hence we have keptthis guide short. You will find in this booklet: Useful contact numbers, Ho Chi Minh’s facts and fig-ures, information on culture and life style, and information on expat oriented services. Use thisbooklet in conjunction with the information in your AT Mobility Welcome Pack and you will haveall you need to plan your move to this great city.
Ho Chi Minh City is changing by the day; entire neighborhoods may be demolished to give way tonew apartment blocks or industrial estates, so please use this guide as a reference only.
Your dedicated consultant will be happy to assist with any questions you may have. For fur-ther Expat oriented services you may refer to the material provided as part of your AsianTigers Mobility Welcome Kit.
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Asian Tigers Mobility VietnamAddress: Suite 903, REE Tower, 9 Doan Van Bo, District 4, Ho Chi Minh CityTelephone: + 84 83 825 4008 Fax: + 84 83 825 4089Email: [email protected] Website: www.asiantigers-mobility.com
ASIAN TIGERS MOBILITY
Moving to a new country is challenging and never one move is the same. Whether the transition issmooth and hassle-free depends on how it is managed. Leaving these challenges to professionalswill ease your moving process.
Asian Tigers Mobility is glad to be of your service. We understand the problems that newcomersface and we are here to assist you with our experience in the settling-in process whilst accommo-dating your individual requirements.
OUR RELOCATION SERVICES
Pre-Assignment Area OrientationNot been to Ho Chi Minh City? Take a tour with our consultants to get a feel of this city before yourelocate. This orientation will fill you in on the ins and outs of Ho Chi Minh City and the history ofthe country. Based on your needs, housing tour and school tour are arranged to give you an ideaof what to expect when you are living in Ho Chi Minh City.
Your arrivalFinding a base is the priority when you reach Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. We can arrange for tem-porary short-term accommodation and recommend an experienced real estate consultant with yourhome search for permanent accommodation. We will be organizing your registrations of utilities orother applications that you need.
Settling inIf you have not, go for an orientation tour to know more about this city. Get to know where is thenearest post office, bank facilities, have your telecommunications set up etc. Anything you need tosettle in. Not sure how to go about buying or leasing a car or furniture? Take advantage of our linksto good partners by engaging our assistance. To ease your transition better, we can arrange lan-guage training or intercultural training or even assist in your search for a domestic helper.
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Asian Tigers Mobility VietnamAddress: Suite 903, REE Tower, 9 Doan Van Bo, District 4, Ho Chi Minh CityTelephone: + 84 83 825 4008 Fax: + 84 83 825 4089Email: [email protected] Website: www.asiantigers-mobility.com
School SearchHave an overview of the education system in Ho Chi Minh City and the international school optionsavailable. Short list schools suitable for your children’s requirements and go through the applica-tion process with our assistance.
DepartureMost expatriates love Ho Chi Minh City so much they can’t bear to leave but when you do, we wantto be able to pack up your belongings and arrange for cancellations of your utilities, telecommuni-cations, hand-over of your property and be your point of contact for service providers.
Your contact at AT-MOBILITY (Vietnam)
Thao Tran (Ms.)Relocation Services ManagerOffice phone: + 84 83 825 4008Mobile: + 84 891 848 4763Email: [email protected]: www.asiantigers-mobility.com
Facts about Ho Chi Minh City
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Asian Tigers Mobility VietnamAddress: Suite 903, REE Tower, 9 Doan Van Bo, District 4, Ho Chi Minh CityTelephone: + 84 83 825 4008 Fax: + 84 83 825 4089Email: [email protected] Website: www.asiantigers-mobility.com
Ho Chi Minh City covers an area of 2,095 square kilometers, and as of 2010, had a registeredpopulation of roughly eight million, making it the most densely populated area in Vietnam andSouth East Asia with 3,818 people per square kilometer.Being the financial and economic center of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City attracts citizens from allover the nation looking for opportunities that are not available in other regions of Vietnam. Ho ChiMinh City is the undisputed commercial, financial, and entertainment center of Vietnam.Ho Chi Minh City is located in the Southeastern region of Vietnam and has a tropical wet and dryclimate which is characterized by heat, humidity, rain and plenty of sunshine, which assuring year-round swimming & golfing weather and endless potentials for other leisure activities while accessis made convenient by an international airport.English is increasingly favored as a second language. There is more and more Vietnamese in HoChi Minh City learn to speak English. One can easily find English speaking channels and publica-tions in English.Ho Chi Minh City offers visitors and residents alike a fascinating mix between its unique Vietnam-ese charm and modern metropolis. Whether you are interested in cultural heritage, nightlife, diningout, or sports & fitness, you will find Ho Chi Minh City has a lot to offer!
Ho Chi Minh City’s Facts & Figures
LAND AREA 2,095 sq. kilometerPOPULATION 8 millionDENSITY 3,818 people per square kilometerGOVERNMENT Socialist RepublicTIME ZONE GMT + 7 hours (Vietnam does not observe daylight saving time)CURRENCY VNDRELIGION Mahayana Buddhists approximately 85%
Christianity and Roman Catholicism, roughly 8%And Taoism and Confucianism
LANGUAGE Vietnamese (national dialect);English is increasingly favored as a second language;French, Chinese, Khmer, and languages of other minority groups are alsospoken.
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Asian Tigers Mobility VietnamAddress: Suite 903, REE Tower, 9 Doan Van Bo, District 4, Ho Chi Minh CityTelephone: + 84 83 825 4008 Fax: + 84 83 825 4089Email: [email protected] Website: www.asiantigers-mobility.com
WEATHER Tropical monsoon climate, with high temperatures, high humidity, andlong hours of sunshine most of the year.Two distinctive dry and rainy seasons.Generally fair temperature between 16-40 degrees Celsius
Do not bringIMPORTANT LAWS Weapons, firearms, ammunition, explosives, military technical equip-
ments, any form of firecrackerAND REGULATIONS Debauched and reactionary products
Toys with negative impacts on the dignity education, social security andsafety
Local Culture
Hospitality and Friendliness are the most universal traits of the Vietnamese. One of the most im-portant things to consider is to always be prepared to be tolerant, open minded and to learn to ac-cept and embrace cultural differences. Vietnamese culture differs greatly from Western culture onmany fundamental levels. It is worth wide for foreigners to remember the prominent cultural atti-tude of the Vietnamese:
The Vietnamese tends to save face at all time. They take shame and embarrassment very se-riously. Confrontation is considered offensive especially in public.
Nervous smiling and giggling is commonly used to release tension in embarrassing situations,but it does not mean that the matter is being treated lightly.
The Vietnamese have a relaxed view of punctuality when it comes to social outings.The Vietnamese tend to be very curious. Staring and questioning by the Vietnamese are not
meant to be offensive but mere expressions of curiosity.The Vietnamese drive on the right side. And traffic discipline is usually at a minimum.
We have prepared a short Cultural Dos & Don’ts list for your quick reference.
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Asian Tigers Mobility VietnamAddress: Suite 903, REE Tower, 9 Doan Van Bo, District 4, Ho Chi Minh CityTelephone: + 84 83 825 4008 Fax: + 84 83 825 4089Email: [email protected] Website: www.asiantigers-mobility.com
More information on Vietnam Cultural Dos & Don’ts is available in your AT Mobility Wel-come Kit. Your AT Mobility Consultant will be happy to provide any details in the materials.
Cultural Do’s & Don’tsDOS DON’TS
Learn at least some basic Vietnam-ese words, greetings and introduc-tions in Vietnamese will be usefulfor you and locals will appreciatethe effort.
Do keep asking leading questions inorder to verify and extend yourknowledge of the situation.
Do arrive fifteen or thirty minutes af-ter the appointed time for parties.This will be considered punctual.
Do realize that the Vietnamese havea very different perspective on so-cial, political and business organi-zations, most of which are modeledon the extended family concept.
Do learn to address people with theright titles to avoid embarrassmentand possibly offending if you at-tempt to use Vietnamese
Don’t lose your temper. This is usuallyseen as a lack of respect for others.Don’t be offended by personal questionsand remarks.Don’t parade or display another coun-try’s flag, make negative commentsabout the government or its leaders,you could be jailed for committingcrimes against the party.Don’t attempt the good luck sign in Viet-nam by crossing the index and middlefinger. To the Vietnamese this is a veryoffensive gesture.Don’t signal someone to come by wig-gling an upward-pointing index finger.Don’t display affection in publicDon’t lose your temper if a driver is notusing the horn correctly behind you.The Vietnamese have very high toler-ance with it comes to noises.
Getting around
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Asian Tigers Mobility VietnamAddress: Suite 903, REE Tower, 9 Doan Van Bo, District 4, Ho Chi Minh CityTelephone: + 84 83 825 4008 Fax: + 84 83 825 4089Email: [email protected] Website: www.asiantigers-mobility.com
Private CarYour AT Mobility Consultant will be happy to help you arrange a car and driver if needed. Ifyou are planning to drive, your consultant is able to guide you through the process of get-ting a driving license.
Air TravelFlights to and from Ho Chi Minh directly are increasingly accessible. Otherwise, passengers cantransit through Hong Kong, Bangkok (Thailand), Singapore or Doha. Flights within Vietnam fromHo Chi Minh City are highly accessible, from one to five flights a day depends on the destination.The airport is conveniently located within 30 minutes from District 1. Passports are required for outof country travelling and in country travelling.
Links to some airlines websites:Vietnam Airlines: www.vietnamairlines.comCathay Pacific Airlines: www.cathaypacific.com/vnSingapre Airlines: www.singaporeair.comThai Airways: www.thaiairways.com.vnQatar Airways: www.qatarairways.com/vn/en/homepage.htmlStar Alliance www.staralliance.com
Train ServicesTrain rides are available from and to Ho Chi Minh City and some provinces: Phan Thiet, NhaTrang, Da Nang, Hue and Ha Noi. Air conditioned sleepers are available with prior booking.However, trains do not operate as public transportation within the city.Vietnam Railway: www.vr.com.vn/english/index.html
Bus ServicesBuses are the cheapest way to get around Ho Chi Minh City; however they are designed mainly forlocals without personal transportation. Bus routes are only printed in Vietnamese and bus stationstaff as well as bus drivers will most likely not speak English. Buses can sometimes get over-crowded as drivers will try to collect as many fares as possible. While the bus system in Ho Chi
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Asian Tigers Mobility VietnamAddress: Suite 903, REE Tower, 9 Doan Van Bo, District 4, Ho Chi Minh CityTelephone: + 84 83 825 4008 Fax: + 84 83 825 4089Email: [email protected] Website: www.asiantigers-mobility.com
Minh City may not be the most comfortable, it can be fairly convenient and inexpensive. It is best tospeak with a local before attempting a journey.
Taxi ServicesTaxis in Ho Chi Minh City are plentiful and affordable, any time of the day or night. Unfortunatelynot all taxis in Ho Chi Minh City use properly functioning meters. It is strongly suggested that pas-sengers only hail taxis from one of these established, legitimate companies: Mai Linh, Vinasun,Future, and Vina. These companies have fully functioning, tamper proof meters that display theexact, proper fare. Also, taxis operated by these companies have a 3 or 4 digit registration numberon the side which should be recorded in case of any problems.Most meters start at about 10,000 to 12,000VND and cost roughly 10,000VND from the secondkilometer onwards. Tipping is not required, but extra service and courtesy may warrant a small gra-tuity. Most people will round the fare up to the nearest 10,000VND increment.
Mai Linh Taxi: (08) 3838 3838Vina Sun Taxi: (08) 38 27 2727Vina Taxi: (08) 38 11 1111Future Taxi: (08) 38 18 18 18
Leased CarsThere are many car rental companies that provide vehicles, drivers, and fuel for daily or monthlyrent. Rental rates start from 50 USD daily or 1,100 USD monthly for a seven seat car. Some com-panies offer English speaking drivers for a higher fee. Most companies enforce a cap on distancetraveled and number of hours in service. Generally the customer will have to pay for any overtimeaccrued or extra distance traveled on top of the rental fee.
Personal CarsForeigners with a valid passport and work permit can legally buy and own a car in Vietnam.
Driving License RequirementsForeigners can successfully apply for a Vietnamese driver license in case they have an interna-tional driver license for the equivalent vehicle in their home country. Foreigners without a driver
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Asian Tigers Mobility VietnamAddress: Suite 903, REE Tower, 9 Doan Van Bo, District 4, Ho Chi Minh CityTelephone: + 84 83 825 4008 Fax: + 84 83 825 4089Email: [email protected] Website: www.asiantigers-mobility.com
license can legally apply for driving license exams in Vietnam. Unfortunately, the written test isheld in Vietnamese only.
Food
While Ho Chi Minh City may be a smaller city compared to other cities, there is an ever increasingnumber of options for dining out. New restaurants are seemingly opening daily which feature cui-sines from all over the world. There are restaurants that will suit every budget and taste, anythingfrom champagne brunch buffets at 5 star hotels, gourmet dining, and rooftop riverside restaurantsto western fast food and mouth watering street side fare that cannot be replicated in restaurants.
TippingTipping in Ho Chi Minh City is not mandatory but has become customary in restaurants and isgenerally greatly appreciated by wait staff. Tipping is more of a personal gesture for the apprecia-tion of the service you have received rather than an expected payment. There is no set percentagefor tipping, however some restaurants include a service charge of around 5% which is a goodguideline for tipping amounts. Make sure to inquire as to whether or not a restaurant includes aservice charge. The amount to tip and whether or not to leave a tip at all is entirely up to personalchoice.
Local FoodRice is dietary staple, consumed by the Vietnamese in some form or another almost every day.Other forms of rice include fresh white noodles, pho and congee. The usual meal consists ofsteamed rice with side dishes such as steamed or stir fried vegetable or soup and a main coursewith meat or fish. Main course cooking method is usually roasted, stir fry, steam or fry.
Yellow noodles made from wheat flour served with chicken or pork in its broth and green vegeta-ble, bean sprout and herbs; and baguette bread served with cold cuts and vegetable are also pop-ular alternatives to a meal with rice in Vietnam. Breakfast food can be very similar to lunch anddinner.The typical Vietnamese diet is high in carbohydrate, salt, sugar and fiber but comparatively low fatand usually lack calcium as milk and dairy products are not part of the diet.
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Asian Tigers Mobility VietnamAddress: Suite 903, REE Tower, 9 Doan Van Bo, District 4, Ho Chi Minh CityTelephone: + 84 83 825 4008 Fax: + 84 83 825 4089Email: [email protected] Website: www.asiantigers-mobility.com
A great way to sample authentic Vietnamese food is to make your way over to Tib or Hoang Yenrestaurants. Head over to Quan An Ngon where featuring various traditional street food stalls setup inside a French Villa for a unique Vietnamese cuisine experience.
International FoodThere is an abundance of up market eateries featuring Italian, French, Spanish, Mediterranean,Mexican, Korean, Thai, Japanese, Chinese especially in District 1. Most restaurants can deliver atleast to within the district of their location, usually at no charge.
There are an abundance of international cuisine and family friendly establishments, as well as chicand elegant eateries along the river in District 2 – a large expat residential area in Ho Chi MinhCity. There are also some companies beginning to introduce international freezer friendly homecooked meals for families that prefer to stock up their refrigerator and eat at home without the has-sle of cooking and clean up.
All of the 5 star hotels in District 1 offer sumptuous brunch and dinner buffets with free flowing wineand on occasion, award winning chefs. Some Western fast food franchises such as KFC, Domino’sPizza, and Carl’s Jr. are also available at many areas in Ho Chi Minh City.
Business EntertainmentThe epicenter of Ho Chi Minh City nightlife is District 1. Here you will find an ever growing selectionof nightlife entertainment options. From casual pub style bars, to ultra chic nightclubs and discos,there is a venue for every taste and mood.
Central District 1 is the most well known area in Ho Chi Minh City that has bars and restaurantsthat cater primarily to expats. Within about a 5km radius, there is an extensive selection of bars,nightclubs, and restaurants ranging from 5 star hotel lounges with live music and the world famousHard Rock Café, down to casual pub style hangouts that offer attractive drink and happy hour spe-cials.
For live music, an increasing number of international live music acts and DJ’s have been frequent-ing such venues as Vasco’s, Hard Rock Café, and Pacharan. Places such as ZanzBar, Martini
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Asian Tigers Mobility VietnamAddress: Suite 903, REE Tower, 9 Doan Van Bo, District 4, Ho Chi Minh CityTelephone: + 84 83 825 4008 Fax: + 84 83 825 4089Email: [email protected] Website: www.asiantigers-mobility.com
Lounge, Roof Top Garden, Shri, Xu, and Cepage offer upscale lounge atmospheres right in theheart of Ho Chi Minh.
Expat residential areas in District 2 and District 7 play host to quieter, more relaxed bars and res-taurants, many of which offer live music, drink specials, sports on TV, catering to expats.Families can enjoy the nearby entertainment center for children as well as numerous swimmingpools and other activities aimed at youth that are available within Ho Chi Minh City. Additionally,there are modern cinemas and a golf courses and driving ranges all within 30 minutes to one hourdriving from the center of the city.
Restaurant and bar listing: www.wordhcmc.com/listings/eatdrinkNightlife listing: www.wordhcmc.com/listings/nightlife
Medical Care
Private and International Clinics and Hospitals
American Chiropractic Clinic8 Truong Dinh Street, Ward 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: +84 8 3930 6667www.vietnamchiropractic.com
Columbia Asia Saigon Clinic8 Alexandre de Rhodes, District 1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: + 84 8 3823 8888Fax: +84 8 3823 8454www.columbiaasia.com/vietnam.html
Columbia Gia Dinh International Hospital1 No Trang Long, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: + 84 8 3803 0678Fax: + 84 8 3803 0677www.columbiaasia.com/vietnam.html
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Asian Tigers Mobility VietnamAddress: Suite 903, REE Tower, 9 Doan Van Bo, District 4, Ho Chi Minh CityTelephone: + 84 83 825 4008 Fax: + 84 83 825 4089Email: [email protected] Website: www.asiantigers-mobility.com
FV Hospital6 Nguyen Luong Bang Street, Saigon South (Phu My Hung), District 7, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: +84 8 5411 3333www.fvhospital.com
Family Medical Practice HCMCDiamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: +84 8 3822 7848Fax: +84 8 38227859www.vietnammedicalpractice.com
International Medical Centre (CMI)1 Han Thuyen, District 1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: +84 8 3827 2366Fax: +64 8 3827 2365www.cmi-vietnam.com
International SOS65 Nguyen Du, District 1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: +84 8 3823 6520Fax: +84 8 3829 8551www.internationalsos.com
Saigon International OIB-GYN Hospital63 Bui Thi Xuan, District 1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: +84 8 3925 3619www.sihospital.com.vn
Victoria Healthcare International Clinic79 Dien Bien Phu Street, Da Kao Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: +84 8 3910 4545Fax: +84 8 3910 33 34
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Asian Tigers Mobility VietnamAddress: Suite 903, REE Tower, 9 Doan Van Bo, District 4, Ho Chi Minh CityTelephone: + 84 83 825 4008 Fax: + 84 83 825 4089Email: [email protected] Website: www.asiantigers-mobility.com
www.victoriavn.com
Vu Anh International Hotel Hospital15-17 Phan Van Tri, Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: +84 8 3989 4989Fax: +84 8 3989 7209www.vuanhhospital.vn
Government HospitalsThe largest Government Hospitals are listed as below:
Hospital of Traditional Medicine187 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, District 1, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: + 84 8 3932 6579
Tu Du OIB-GYN Hospital284 Cong Quynh, District 1Tel: + 84 8 3839 5117
Orthopedic Hospital929 Tran Hung Dao, District 5Tel: +84 8 3923 5791
Hematology Hospital201 Pham Viet Chanh, District 1Tel: + 84 8 3839 7535 Email: [email protected]
Mental Hospital192 Ben Ham Tu, District 5Tel: + 84 8 3923 4675
Tropical Diseases Hospital190 Ben Ham Tu, District 5
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Asian Tigers Mobility VietnamAddress: Suite 903, REE Tower, 9 Doan Van Bo, District 4, Ho Chi Minh CityTelephone: + 84 83 825 4008 Fax: + 84 83 825 4089Email: [email protected] Website: www.asiantigers-mobility.com
Tel: + 84 8 3923 8704
Dermatology Hospital2 Nguyen Thong, District 3Tel: + 84 8 3930 5995
Ophthalmology Hospital280 Dien Bien Phu, District 3Tel: + 84 8 3932 6732
Otorhinolaryngology Hospital155B Tran Quoc Thao, District 3Tel: + 84 8 3931 7381 Email: [email protected]
Cho Ray General Practice Hospital201B Nguyen Chi Thanh, District 5Tel: + 84 8 3855 4137
Pediatric Hospital 1 & 2341 Su Van Hanh, District 10
Tel: + 84 8 3927 111914 Ly Tu Trong, District 1Tel: + 84 8 3829 8385
Medic Diagnosis Center254 Hoa Hao, District 10Tel: + 84 8 3927 0284Website: www.medic.com.vn Email: [email protected]
Saigon General Practice Hospital125 Le Loi, District 1Tel: + 84 8 3829 1711
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Asian Tigers Mobility VietnamAddress: Suite 903, REE Tower, 9 Doan Van Bo, District 4, Ho Chi Minh CityTelephone: + 84 83 825 4008 Fax: + 84 83 825 4089Email: [email protected] Website: www.asiantigers-mobility.com
Expat Housing in Ho Chi Minh City
From condominiums to homes in gated communities, Ho Chi Minh City has plenty to offer when itcomes to expat housing.Condominiums available locally come either non furnished, part furnished with large appliances orfully equipped with all furniture. If you are keen to live a Western-like suburban life, Ho Chi MinhCity has two large residential areas in District 2 and District 7. These areas feature detached andsemi detached houses in or out of a gated compound. Specialty stores/supermarkets selling inter-national goods, fitness centers, entertainment centers etc are easily accessible in these two areas.
Temporary AccommodationHo Chi Minh City offers a wide variety of serviced apartments, especially in District 1. They rangein size from 25 to 325 sq.m, from studio apartments with a small sitting area to four bedroom unitswith living and dining rooms. All come with linens, at least a small refrigerator, microwave and mi-nimal pantry ware. Larger units feature fully equipped kitchens with washers and dryers.Most serviced apartments have great facilities such as: swimming pool, gym, sauna, convenientstore. Some might have a billiards, table tennis, tennis court and children playground.
Permanent HousingApartments yield the widest selection of housing with most offering security and some with aswimming pool, children's play area and fitness facilities.The majority of apartments are rented furnished. They include living room, dining room, bed roomfurniture, soft furnishings such as curtains or blinds, as well as telephones and air conditioners.Kitchens normally include an electric range, washer and refrigerator. Some special units might in-clude a built in oven and dryer. Apartments are owned by individual owners, therefore interiordécor and quality of furnishings can differ greatly.Apartments are typically one level, several units to a floor, in a building anywhere from 4 to 30floors high. They are usually 1 to 4 bedrooms and range from 35 sq.m. to 200 sq.m. A few unitsare exceptionally spacious with ranges from 220 sq.m – 450 sq.m, spread out over two to threestoriesA larger selection of more modern villas is available on the outskirts of the city, in District 2 andDistrict 7. Some are located in planned communities or secured housing estates called com-
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Asian Tigers Mobility VietnamAddress: Suite 903, REE Tower, 9 Doan Van Bo, District 4, Ho Chi Minh CityTelephone: + 84 83 825 4008 Fax: + 84 83 825 4089Email: [email protected] Website: www.asiantigers-mobility.com
pounds. They range from 200 sq.m. to 1,500 sq.m., offering from 3 to 5 bedrooms. Most detachedproperties are fenced or walled, offering both security and privacy. Most have a garden or at leasta yard, and sometimes a swimming pool. Some compounds also feature communal swimmingpools and fitness facilities.Most villas come equipped with a refrigerator, washing machine, stove, air conditioners telephoneslines, cable TV, and internet. Sometimes a villa may also be outfitted with a built-in oven, dryer,dishwasher, curtains, and generator; otherwise these amenities can be negotiated.
AT Mobility will gladly assist you through your Home Finding. Please contact your consul-tant for further guidance.
International Schools
The education system in Vietnam is through the Vietnamese language medium, but Ho Chi MinhCity has an increasing number of international schools offer excellent academic. There are alsoKorean, Japanese, Taiwanese, French schools for parents who prefer their children to be schooledin their native language. English medium pre-schools and kindergartens can be found in practicallyevery expatriate residential neighborhood.Below is a brief overview of Ho Chi Minh City's most popular international schools.
ABC International School28 Truong Dinh, District 3Tel: +84 8 3930 3533www.theabcis.comABC International School offers UK standard curriculum for pre-school to high school students. Itscampus is located in Binh Chanh District, within five minutes driving from Phu My Hung, District 7.
ACG International SchoolEast-West Highway (road 25B), District 2Tel: +84 8 3747 1234http://vietnam.acgedu.comACG International School offers international curriculum (IB PYP and Cambridge International Ex-aminations) to kindergarten to high school students. Its campus is situated in An Phu, District 2.
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Asian Tigers Mobility VietnamAddress: Suite 903, REE Tower, 9 Doan Van Bo, District 4, Ho Chi Minh CityTelephone: + 84 83 825 4008 Fax: + 84 83 825 4089Email: [email protected] Website: www.asiantigers-mobility.com
Australian International School (AIS)21 Pham Ngoc Thach, District 3Tel: +84 8 3822 4992www.aisvietnam.comAustralian International School offers an international academic program as a PYP CandidateSchool and the Cambridge A Levels. AIS has its Pre-school and Primary campus in Thao Dien,District 2 and Secondary campus in District 3.
British International School (BIS)43-45 Tu Xuong Street, District 3 and 225 Nguyen Van Huong, District 2Tel: +84 8 3932 0210www.bisvietnam.comBritish International School serves students from preschool through to year 12. It follows the Na-tional Curriculum for England, EYFS, IGCSE, as well as the IB diploma. The school has a Primarycampus in District 3 and Thao Dien District 2. Its Secondary campus is also located in Thao Dien,District 2.
International School Ho Chi Minh City (ISHCMC)649A Vo Truong Toan, District 2Tel: +84 8 3898-9100www.ishcmc.comThe International School of Ho Chi Minh City is an IB World school, offers IB programs of interna-tional education from preschool to high school. ISHCMC campus is situated in An Phu, District 2
Montessori International School42/1 Ngo Quang Huy, District 2Tel: +84 8 3744 2639www.montessori.edu.vnMontessori International School follows the Montessori methodology for young children from two tosix years old and extra-curricular activities for children from three to twelve. Its campus is locatedin Thao Dien, District 2.
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Asian Tigers Mobility VietnamAddress: Suite 903, REE Tower, 9 Doan Van Bo, District 4, Ho Chi Minh CityTelephone: + 84 83 825 4008 Fax: + 84 83 825 4089Email: [email protected] Website: www.asiantigers-mobility.com
Renaissance International School Saigon (RISS)74 Nguyen Thi Thap, District 7Tel: +84 8 3773 3171www.rissaigon.edu.vn
Renaissance International School provides British/international education curricula to pre-school tohigh school students. RISS is an IB World School, a member of CIS and IPC, an an approved cen-tre for IGCSE. Its campus is located in District 7.
Saigon South International School (SSIS)Nguyen Van Linh Parkway, Tan Phong Ward, District 7, Ho Chi Minh CityTel: +84 8 5413 0901www.ssischool.orgSaigon South International School follows the American education system, accepts students frompreschool year to high school. Its high school offers High School Diploma programme, AdvancePlacements and IB courses. SSIS is located in Phu My Hung, District 7
As in every search, it is very useful to narrow your preferences. Think for example on what makesa school appealing to you and your children and what is acceptable and what is not when comingto your children’s education. Curriculum details, medium of instruction, extracurricular activities,school’s facilities, percentage of English native speakers in the classroom, whether the school isnew or has some tradition, and school’s fees are all very important points you want to consider.Additionally, it is also important to consider the prospective school’s location in conjunction withyour new home’s location.
As part of the welcoming pack that Asian Tigers Mobility has prepared for you, you will find a de-tailed list of International Schools.
AT Mobility will gladly assist you through School Finding. Please contact your consultantfor further guidance.
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Asian Tigers Mobility VietnamAddress: Suite 903, REE Tower, 9 Doan Van Bo, District 4, Ho Chi Minh CityTelephone: + 84 83 825 4008 Fax: + 84 83 825 4089Email: [email protected] Website: www.asiantigers-mobility.com
Daily Needs
BankingInternational banks for personal banking services are available in Ho Chi Minh City, such as: ANZ,HSBC, Deutsch Bank, Citi Bank, Standard Chartered, Commonwealth Bank etc.Expatriates will need to have their passport, a visa/work permit to open a bank account. Local debitcard can also be the ATM card.It is difficult to deposit any cash into the account without proof of income and the bank’s approval.The banks allow expatriates to withdraw or transfer the amount out of the country when they leavethe country (as regulated at the time this guide is conducted).
ANZ Bank: www.anz.com/vietnamDeutsch Bank: www.db.com/vietnamCiti Bank: www.citibank.com.vnHSBC Bank: www.hsbc.com.vnStandard Chartered Bank: www.standardchartered.com/vnHong Leong Bank: www.hlb.com.my/vnCommonwealth Bank: www.commbank.com.vn/index.html
UtilitiesHigh speed cable fiber option for internet has recently been introduced in Ho Chi Minh city, thoughthe standard ADSL can accommodate most households’ needs.Cable TV provides standard international channels. Yet exclusive channels such as: BBC, CNNand other sports channels are not available without High Definition, parabol or satellite services.Most accommodations have water and electricity ready. Some residential areas might experienceperiodically electricity outages during dry season. It is recommended that landlords can accommo-date a generator with enough capacity for emergency usage.
Ho Chi Minh City Electricity provider: http://english.hcmpc.com.vn/customer/tintuc.aspxViettel Internet & Cable TV, landline telephone service provider: www.vietteltelecom.vnFPT Internet service provider: www.fpt.com.vnVNPT Internet, Cable TV, landline telephone service provider: www.vnpthochiminh.com/SCTV Cable TV, Internet service provider www.sctv.com.vn
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Asian Tigers Mobility VietnamAddress: Suite 903, REE Tower, 9 Doan Van Bo, District 4, Ho Chi Minh CityTelephone: + 84 83 825 4008 Fax: + 84 83 825 4089Email: [email protected] Website: www.asiantigers-mobility.com
Telephone and MobileLandline telephone connections are usually provided in any temporary or permanent residence.The contract is usually under the landlord’s name. Landlines charge is cheaper than of mobile.Mobile phones shops are widely accessible in Ho Chi Minh City. There are currently 5 mobile ser-vice providers to choose from. Mobile phone and Vinaphone are probably the oldest and most es-tablished providers. One can opt for prepaid option or sign a contract with the provider.Foreigners will need a passport, valid visa/work permit and proof of residence to sign the contractand a security deposit to register for roaming services.Security deposit is not needed in case the contract is under a company’s name.
Mobile phone shop listing: www.wordhcmc.com/listings/home/mobile-phonesVina Mobile Phone service provider: www.vinaphone.com.vnMobifone service provider: www.mobifone.com.vnViettel Mobile Phone service provider: www.vietteltelecom.vn
GroceriesFresh groceries can be found at local wet markets or any of the following local supermarkets in HoChi Minh City: Coop Mart, Fivi Mart, Citi Mart or Maxi Mart.More imported groceries and others can be found at Lotte Mart and Metro supermarket system.Imported food products are also available in Ho Chi Minh City at specialty shops located in thebusiness district or residential districts. Some carry a wide range of imported groceries items aswell as organic and gluten free products: An Nam Gourmet, Veggy’s and Phuong Ha.
Groceries shops listing: www.wordhcmc.com/listings/groceries/groceriesSupermarkets listing: www.wordhcmc.com/listings/groceries/supermarkets
Home RepairsHandy man in Ho Chi Minh City are available on call and very affordable. Their services include:carpentry, electricity and water repair, painting, hanging blinds & paintings, installation, appliancesrepairs and maintenance among others. The only drawbacks are that they speak little English andusually do not have a company to represent them.
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Asian Tigers Mobility VietnamAddress: Suite 903, REE Tower, 9 Doan Van Bo, District 4, Ho Chi Minh CityTelephone: + 84 83 825 4008 Fax: + 84 83 825 4089Email: [email protected] Website: www.asiantigers-mobility.com
Your AT Mobility consultant will be happy with assisting and managing home repairs foryou with our Tenancy Management service.
Domestic HelpHousehold helpers are readily available and can do anything from cleaning the house, washingand ironing clothes, grocery shopping, cooking, paying the bills to looking after the children andpets. Depending on the preference, one can either live in or come on a set schedule. If employinga live-in household helper, employers are required to provide either food or a separate food allow-ance.It is recommended to only hire a household helper with good references and always take precau-tionary measures. Employers can ask politely to take a photograph of the new helper and make aphotocopy of her National Identification card and keep both on file.
Vietnamese have the tradition of giving one month salary bonus to their employees before LunarNew Year for those that have been working for them from at least one year. House helpers usuallydemand this condition when signing a labor contract.
Cultural NormsBelow are some of the important social and business norms that the Vietnamese practice everyday. Even though Vietnamese are generally are tolerant of foreign cultures and norms faux pascommitted by foreigners but understanding and practicing the similar will help a foreigner gain re-spects among the locals and has far better social and business experiences in Vietnam.
Social Norms:Young people have to show respect to the elderly, through attitude and behavior. They slightly
bow their heads when meeting do not oppose to their opinions.Teachers and doctors including young ones, enjoy great respect and prestige from the children,
children’ parents and patients.The Vietnamese are averse to any kind of physical contact in public, especially among the oppo-
site sex. However, people of the same sex may hold hands in public or share the same bedwithout public derision
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Asian Tigers Mobility VietnamAddress: Suite 903, REE Tower, 9 Doan Van Bo, District 4, Ho Chi Minh CityTelephone: + 84 83 825 4008 Fax: + 84 83 825 4089Email: [email protected] Website: www.asiantigers-mobility.com
Drinking and smoking in public are quite common among the men. However, these activities arenot considered appropriate to women, even at home.
Toothpicks should be used with the mouth covered.Incest is punished by law and is strongly resented by society.Discussion of sexual matters is taboo.Police officers, bureaucrats and public officials have to be approached with appropriate humility
and should be given an appropriate gratuity for services rendered (usually in advance).The bill for social outing is supposed to be paid by the hostIt is polite to bring a small gift for the host when paying a visit to someone else’s home. The most
appropriate gifts can be a fruit basket, nice packaged cookies, crackers or candies, chocolate ora bottle of liquors. However, the gifts are usually not opened and shared with the guests.
Business SettingsThe Vietnamese take punctuality at workplace seriously. They arrive at work and business meet-
ings on time and look for the same from others.The Vietnamese appreciate formal dressing at work.The Vietnamese shake hands at the beginning and end of meetings, but it is not usually done
among the opposite sex.The Vietnamese exchange business cards on the very first encounter.The entire dealing should be done very politely, without any sort of hostility because losing tem-
per is considered rude and disrespectful among the Vietnamese.Traditional Vietnamese organizations operate strict hierarchies. Individuals have defined roles
and report to an immediate superior who will direct his or her work. Deference to superiors is es-sential at all times. Disagreeing with a superior’s view would be a serious breach of etiquette.
The Vietnamese take personal relationships even to the workplace. One can simply choose theirpartner because he is a relative.
The Vietnamese usually spend a large part of their meeting for circuitous discussions and get toknow their partners personally.
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Asian Tigers Mobility VietnamAddress: Suite 903, REE Tower, 9 Doan Van Bo, District 4, Ho Chi Minh CityTelephone: + 84 83 825 4008 Fax: + 84 83 825 4089Email: [email protected] Website: www.asiantigers-mobility.com
Cultural training & Vietnamese language lessons
Compared to the rest of Vietnam, people in Ho Chi Minh City are generally more tolerant of foreigncultures and culture faux pas committed by foreigners. However, Vietnamese culture differs greatlyfrom Western culture on many fundamental levels. One day cultural training course is a good wayto learn some Dos and Donts and certainly some cultural differences.Even though more and more Vietnamese (especially in Ho Chi Minh City) learn to speak English,expatriates are recommended to learn at least some basic Vietnamese. This effort can truly endearyou to the Vietnamese and can make life in Ho Chi Minh City easier and more enjoyableLanguage courses are available for groups or individual, at learning center or at home. Private tu-tors can accommodate flexible hours at any location.
Networking
Ho Chi Minh City has a variety of associations and clubs catered to expatriates. There are clubs forbusiness, sports, reading, new mothers, young children, international ladies, card playing, etc.Online Google groups for different residential areas run by expatriates themselves are good infor-mation sources, especially to newly arrived expatriates.
Useful Links and Contacts:Networking events listing: www.citynetevents.comBusiness groups listing: www.wordhcmc.com/listings/business/business-groups
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Asian Tigers Mobility VietnamAddress: Suite 903, REE Tower, 9 Doan Van Bo, District 4, Ho Chi Minh CityTelephone: + 84 83 825 4008 Fax: + 84 83 825 4089Email: [email protected] Website: www.asiantigers-mobility.com
Emergency Contacts
EmergencyCity Ambulance: 115City Fire Brigade: 114City Police: 113
International SOS, District 1: (08) 3 823 6520Family Medical Practice, District 1: (08) 3 822 7848FV Hospital’s emergency number, District 7: (08) 5 411 3333Columbia Saigon, District 1: (08) 3 823 8888Cho Ray Hospital, District 5: (08) 3 855 4137 – Press 0
DirectoryInternational Operator: 110Directory Assistance: 116Time Information: 117Telephone Information: (08) 1080/1088
