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First Week in Saigon: Practical Guide for Newly Arrived Expats 2026

16 May, 2026

Apartment Hunting Tips in HCMC

First Week in Saigon: Practical Guide for Newly Arrived Expats 2026

Your first week in Ho Chi Minh City is one of the most important periods of your expat life. The decisions you make in these early days, from where to buy your SIM card to which bank to open an account with, will shape how smoothly the rest of your relocation unfolds. This guide gives you a realistic, day-by-day framework for tackling the most important tasks, so you can move through your first week with confidence rather than confusion.

Day 1: Arrival, SIM Card, and Getting Settled

Your first priority after landing at Tan Son Nhat International Airport is getting connected. Pick up a local SIM card at the airport immediately, either from one of the official Viettel, Mobifone, or Vietnamobile booths in the arrivals hall. A prepaid data-heavy SIM card costs between VND 100,000 and VND 200,000 (roughly USD 4 to 8) and gives you enough data to use Grab, Google Maps, and messaging apps for your first week. Do not leave the airport without a working local number and data connection, as navigating HCMC without mobile internet is genuinely difficult.

Download Grab before you land if you have not already. Grab handles motorbike taxis, cars, food delivery, and even package sending. It is the most important app for daily life in HCMC and will be your primary mode of transport for the first few months. Link your home country card initially, and switch to a local bank card once that is set up later in the week.

If you have arranged serviced apartment or hotel accommodation for your first two weeks (which is strongly recommended), check in, rest, and orientate yourself to the neighbourhood. Do not try to accomplish too much on day one, particularly if you have crossed multiple time zones.

Day 2: Neighbourhood Orientation and Essentials

On your second day, focus on getting physically orientated. Walk the area around your accommodation and identify the key services you will need: the nearest supermarket (Co.opmart, Big C, Aeon, and Tops are the main chains), a pharmacy (Pharmacity and Long Chau are the best networks), and a convenience store for daily essentials. Central HCMC and Thao Dien have extremely dense coverage of these services, so most things will be within walking distance or a short Grab ride.

Locate the nearest money exchange or ATM. While you should have brought enough USD or your home currency to cover the first few days, you will want to start using Vietnamese Dong immediately. The best exchange rates in HCMC are typically found at licensed money exchange shops in the city centre, or through ATMs from your international account if your bank charges low foreign transaction fees. Avoid exchanging large amounts at hotels or the airport, as rates are significantly worse.

Day 3: Bank Account Setup

Opening a local Vietnamese bank account early in your first week gives you access to local payment infrastructure and makes life dramatically easier. Bring your passport, visa or entry stamp, and your rental contract or hotel address confirmation to the bank. HSBC Vietnam (for English-language service), Vietcombank, and Techcombank are the most widely recommended options for expats in HCMC.

Be aware that some banks require a Temporary Residence Card (TRC) for certain account types, while others will accept a valid visa. If you are on an employment-sponsored relocation, check with your HR team whether they have a preferred bank or can assist with the account setup process. Many international employers have arrangements with HSBC or Vietcombank that can speed up the process significantly.

Day 4: Register Your Residence

If you have moved into your longer-term accommodation by day four, ensure that your landlord has or will shortly complete temporary residence registration with the local ward police (UBND Phuong). This is a legal requirement in Vietnam and must be done within 24 to 48 hours of you moving in. Most professional landlords and serviced apartment operators handle this routinely, but if you are renting from a private individual, raise it explicitly. Ask for a copy of the completed registration form (To Khai Tam Tru) for your own records.

If you are working towards obtaining a Temporary Residence Card (TRC), the registered address at your accommodation is a prerequisite. A TRC, once issued, replaces the need for repeated visa renewals and is the most practical long-term legal status for expats planning to stay more than three months.

Day 5: Healthcare and Insurance Setup

Locate the nearest international-standard clinic or hospital to your home and register as a patient. Family Medical Practice is the most widely used clinic network by HCMC expats, with locations in Thao Dien, District 1, and other central areas. FV Hospital in District 7 is the most highly regarded international hospital in the city for more serious care. Vinmec International Hospital at Landmark 81 is a newer option that has grown quickly in reputation.

Confirm that your international health insurance policy is active and that it covers Vietnam. Locate the insurer's emergency hotline number and add it to your phone contacts. If you have any ongoing prescription medications, visit a reputable pharmacy to check availability. Carry the generic names of all medications, not just brand names, as many international brands are not available in Vietnam but their generic equivalents may be.

Day 6: Property Viewings and Housing Research

If you arrived with temporary accommodation to give yourself time to find a permanent home, your first week is the ideal time to begin in-person property viewings. Contact an expat-focused real estate agency and book three to five viewings across two or three neighbourhoods so you can start developing a realistic sense of what your budget will get you. Seeing properties in person is essential in HCMC because the condition and layout of apartments varies enormously between buildings and floors, and photographs rarely capture the full picture.

Pay attention to noise levels (traffic, construction, nightlife venues), natural light, mobile signal strength inside the apartment, proximity to a supermarket, and the condition of the lobby and common areas when assessing buildings. These factors affect your daily comfort far more than many expats initially realise.

Day 7: Community and Social Connection

By day seven, you have covered the essential logistics. Your final first-week priority is social: begin building your network. Join the Expats in Ho Chi Minh City Facebook group if you have not already, as it is an active, helpful community where you can ask practical questions and connect with other recently arrived expats. Check the InterNations HCMC events calendar for upcoming networking events. If you enjoy sport, look for running clubs, cycling groups, football leagues, or swimming clubs that operate near your neighbourhood.

HCMC rewards people who engage actively with its community. The city has a genuinely warm, curious, and sociable culture, and most expats find that building a solid social network happens faster here than in almost any other city in the world. Be open, be curious, and say yes to invitations in those early weeks.

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