5 Budget-Friendly Apartments to Rent in the Heart of Saigon

In this video I'm sharing 5 budget-friendly apartments to rent that I viewed in the heart of Saigon aka Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
I was on a tight budget of 10 million VND ($420), so I was looking for apartments that were affordable but still had good amenities and a central location. I was mostly happy with the apartments that I saw and I think they would be a great option for anyone who is looking for a budget-friendly place to live in Saigon.
In the video, I'll take you through each of the apartments and show you around. I'll also share some tips on how to find budget-friendly apartments in Saigon. So if you're thinking about moving to Saigon (HCMC), or if you're just looking for a new place to live, I hope you'll find this video helpful.
The apartments I viewed were located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, in District 1, District 5, and Binh Thanh District. District 1 is the city center, and Districts 5 and Binh Thanh border District 1. These districts are all known for their vibrant atmosphere, bustling streets, and diverse range of restaurants and shops.
Thanks for watching! I hope you enjoyed the video.
If you did, please leave a like and subscribe to my channel for more content.
If you found this video helpful, or if you just want to support my channel, you can send me a tip via PayPal:
www.paypal.me/bigtimebentley
Thank you! 😊
#apartmenthunting #movingtovietnam #saigon #hochiminhcity

[@Med_Sel]

didn't know you negotiate and bargain like that with replacemnts and stuff . Super nice to know

[@keithhogg1963]

I liked your interviews for the apartments . Not bad for that budget 😊

[@Sa7biUK]

Great video. I love Vietnam and it's friendly people. I've been twice in the last year, and I intend to move there in a year. When I visited, both times I stay in Thao Dhien in a luxurious apartment block with a relative who used to work there and who got the place from her work. Could you do a video showing some of the more upscale places which charge $700 to $1000 p/m?

[@user-ci1yq3bt4v]

Wow, this guy's Vietnamese is awesome! Almost native pronunciation

[@yamuiemata]

From all 5 of them I'd choose the 2nd one , ditch the old TV and add some silicone sealant at the shower for the mold issue

[@Kristoferwitha_k]

Bro, you need to start a new career reading audiobooks. You have the most calming relaxed voice lol I wish I could have your kind of calm and peace

[@MrLarryQ]

Just for comparison, would anyone know offhand what similar apartments would go for in a similar neighborhood in Shanghai?

[@JeepLove]

I realized it is mandatory that I have a window with natural light shining.

[@BigTimeBentley]

yeah it's nice...though i prefer having some good curtains at least in the bedroom in case I want to sleep in a bit

[@bis1254]

I'm enjoying your videos. I'm going to make a second trip to Vietnam next year to explore more about living there. Seeing the apartment with the cats got me wondering about having a cat there as the only cats I saw were street cats. So I'm curious about cat food and litter. What's available and costs, veterinarian services and anything else you think would be helpful to having a cat. Thanks.

[@BigTimeBentley]

I’ll make a special video about this as I have a cat and I think others would be interested about these things too. Thanks for the idea!

[@hoodhunter3262]

there are several pet stores through out Saigon. I think I saw several call Petmart. Instead of PetSmart that we have here in the US

[@BigTimeBentley]

@@hoodhunter3262 haha I’ve also seen those PetMart places that look almost trademark infringe-ingly close to PetSmart in the US

[@ingang8817]

Whiskas is about 20usd 48 bags of 85gr (2 boxes), Royal canin kitten 2 years old is 100 usd 10 kg. Litter is 3 usd of 8l (around 5kg). Ibana (Ciao) 18 usd 2 boxes (100 small bags of 18gr), temptation 2 usd a bag of 75gr. My cat cost 50 usd per month for food and litter but other cats can be raised cheaper. Vet is affordable but for heavy sickness that require surgery people always need to find a trustful vet. Petshops are everywhere.

[@lymacsau5200]

Có vẻ bạn rất rành VIỆT NAM .. 🌹

[@BigTimeBentley]

Cam on nha

[@TheNamDude]

I definitely liked the second place the best. A little bleach and some fresh paint will fix the little mold no problem. I live in Seattle where mold is just a constant battle, not something to get scared about. You must be from a dryer climate in the US? My wife and I will need some help locating an apartment in the future, do you recommend those ladies to help with locating a place?

[@BigTimeBentley]

I also liked the second place the best of the 5...good tips on the mold battle. I was born and raised in LA. I do recommend these agents they were quite professional and helpful. I've worked with several other agents in the past and these two were definitely on top of their game. Their English skills are not great though so hopefully you or your wife speak Vietnamese or you have a Vietnamese friend to help you translate. I will ask the agents if they are ok with me sharing their contact details (I'm sure they would be) and I'll put them on here for you.

[@TheNamDude]

@@BigTimeBentley Thank you 🙏🏻

[@BigTimeBentley]

@@TheNamDude no problem

[@TheNamDude]

@@BigTimeBentley my wife does speak Vietnamese and I am trying to learn so we would not have any problem with communication 😃

[@BigTimeBentley]

@@TheNamDude nice

[@doodahgurlie]

First one was very basic, the 2nd one was the best, but had a few issues. The remaining ones were so meh bordering on ew. I'd say keep looking.

[@BigTimeBentley]

I also liked the second one the best out of those 5

[@sontruong2301]

😎👍

[@BigTimeBentley]

cheers bro

[@hoodhunter3262]

is it always typically dark rooms in Vietnam? I understand you don't want to have the windows open to keep the room cool, but perhaps have a standard windows in which you can open the blinds to let the light in? This room is so dark that it looks eerie. I would feel depressed if I stay in dark places all day. Nowaday with LED are abundance, cheap, and provide nice lighting, I'm not sure why people haven't adopt to it. Looking at the bathroom lighting in this video, it was dimmed. The overall unit is running on white lighting giving that feeling of a hospital vibe.

[@BigTimeBentley]

Yeah I hear you. There's a balancing act between enough natural light and too much where it just becomes oppressively hot. I definitely prefer yellow lighting (not sure if that's LED or not) but yeah the white light give off clinic/hospital vibes.

[@BigTimeBentley]

ah I forgot to answer your question at the beginning: I wouldn't say it's always dark in Vietnamese rooms. You can check out the first video I published on my channel where there was tons of natural light in that unit kzbin.info/www/bejne/bIfVqnmrq698rNk but there does seem to be a lean towards less windows and less natural light overall. This may be due to wanting to keep the rooms cooler, and it could be due to the overall construction on Vietnamese houses which tend to be tall and narrow and connected to one another. Detached homes in america would have four sides for window placement whereas most Vietnamese houses, at least in the larger cities, would only have two exposed sides.

[@ccxfrank109]

​@@BigTimeBentleyi use yellow light cuz white is too bright esp right after waking up

[@beegaming8919]

sup bud...the 11 mil one. food is better in dist. 5. fyi, i down 50 g's usd to buy a 2.75 billion vnd building w/4 levels and had to pay 20 mil dong a month. it's now worth more. this was 4 yrs. ago. you cannot own, but you can "lease" the property from the gov. for 50 yrs. by, then you can sell it. you can hang on to it 3 to 5 years. something to think about. good luck.

[@BigTimeBentley]

I really liked the district 5 one too and love the district 5 neighborhood...interesting idea about buying, definitely something to think about

[@economyclassfarook1526]

Hey Big Time. How tall are you LOL? And how do you deal with the Visa situation I am assuming you are American too

[@dimitar297]

I saw him at the Ben Thanh market I'd say he's at least 6'4 and looks pretty ripped.

[@minhtran3063]

Are these usually a month by month contract or yearly contract?

[@BigTimeBentley]

Usually 6 months or 1 year. If you want something monthly your best bet is probably air bnb

[@minhtran3063]

@@BigTimeBentley Much appreciated!

[@BigTimeBentley]

@@minhtran3063 no problem!

[@roseberry9874]

Hey thanks for the video, I really need to know about some infos about the place if you don’t mind please let me know your address I’ve some questions

[@darkbrother8516]

The border between district 1 and district 4 is what district 1 really used to be like. Chaotic, fun, and a little risky. It would where I would like to explore for an apartment if I looks for an apartment in Saigon. BTW, I like the second place the best with the woods, washing machine, and balcony to dry clothes. I stayed at a similar place in the same area for only $400/month rent back in 2019. Binh Thanh is such a pain in the ass to have to take a motorbike taxi back home late at night or a take a taxi anytime during rush hours to D1. You will ends up spending much more than 6,000 dong/month when including motor taxi rides. Also, you are forgetting to asks if you have access to a roof garden, and if they do have a roof garden, you should asks to check it out too.

[@BigTimeBentley]

good point about the roof tops! and yes the traffic in binh thanh, and other districts too (especially tan binh, go vap) can be really tough

[@jonathanluong4855]

@@BigTimeBentleyjust for the sake of curiosity, what do you do for living in HCM City, Bentley? How can you afford to live in VN? I admire expats like you. I am a Vietnamese American living in OC near Disneyland and want to retire in the VN someday, too.

[@BigTimeBentley]

@@jonathanluong4855 Most expats living in VN (and maybe Asia in general) are English teachers, you could look into doing that if you’re looking for a way to make money abroad.

[@eli1570]

@@BigTimeBentley You are much more than an English Teacher. You are a Content Creator for Social Media. The Channel is growing everyday. Keep up with the good work in Vietnam.

[@VK-tq4il]

How do I find real estate agents in Saigon ?

[@tylertran93nsx]

Not digging any of those places…. Yes, always check the AC to make sure it’s cold and blowing strong and makes no noise. I rather go a little further like Dist 7 and find a real apartment. But yes you get what you pay for…. And one other thing, always always bargain with the price of rent, it doesn’t hurt to ask.

[@BigTimeBentley]

yep those are good tips...I prefer staying in the city center but it would be nice to have the money to afford a really decent apartment in the city center

[@ocmanga5685]

Thành thật mà nói, nên chọn một căn phòng có lối thoát hiểm khi chẳng may xảy ra cháy nổ. Ở VN hầu hết mỗi tai nạn cháy nổ trong nhà đều có người thiệt mạng, lý do là các khung cửa sổ đều bị hàn chặt với bức tường, nạn nhân không có đường thoát thân.

[@BigTimeBentley]

this is really good and pragmatic advice

[@jonathanluong4855]

Neu co loi thoat hiem co nhieu tien hon không cho 1 thang, thue?

[@ocmanga5685]

@@jonathanluong4855 Bạn có thể yêu cầu chủ nhà làm lối thoát hiểm qua cửa sổ. Và tất nhiên, không thể tăng giá thuê. Chính phủ hiện đang nghiên cứu một bộ luật, trong đó yêu cầu mọi căn phòng đều phải có lối thoát hiểm. Tôi hi vọng bộ luật này sớm được thông qua.

[@yyyhj7895]

Where I'm from for those prices you be lucky to find a closet.

[@BigTimeBentley]

"$420 Cozy Harry Potter Under the Stairs Closet For Rent"...where are you from?

[@yyyhj7895]

@@BigTimeBentley San Francisco. Lol

[@BigTimeBentley]

@@yyyhj7895 ah yeah definitely an expensive city to live in

[@MikesLifee]

Shared closet with that price here in Vancouver bc

[@ChrissieSM]

Why not move further out to get a better place. Don't forget to negotiate, if you don't ask, you don't get.

[@BigTimeBentley]

I looked into it...we visited several apartment complexes in district 8 and looked into district 6 as well but ultimately I decided I still wanted to be more central

[@ducnguyen5356]

For 10mil Dong. U can rent a studio in a nice condo complexes. Why rent a room

[@BigTimeBentley]

I don’t like studios i prefer having a separated bedroom

[@tuinatube]

get a decent camera is a must if you want more subs

[@Ave-kx7fu]

9 million for the first apartment hell no, plus 1.8 for electricity.

[@Pasfornow]

Very cramped up places

[@BigTimeBentley]

life on a budget

[@laverdad2022]

No offense but I felt those women are going to rip you off big time 🤣🤣🙉🙉 obviously not your gf😁😁😂😂

[@okayyyy8028]

What a non video