Do you really know Ho Chi Minh City? The difference can be kilometres

And pronunciation can be tricky. When I first came to Vietnam, I used to say Quan Binh Thanh (Kwan Bin Than) and Quan Tan Binh (Kwan Tan Bin).

People use to look at me like I was an alien.

Although there are 24 districts in HCM city. However, like some vietnamese, you should group them relatively  such as districts 1, 3, and a part of Phu Nhuan as "SAIGON"; districts 5, a  part of district 4, and 11 as "CHO LON";  Go vap, Binh thanh, a part of Phu Nhuan as "GIA DINH"; Tan Binh district, district 10 and Tan Phu district and a part of district 12 as a group; Binh Tan district and district 6 as a group; district 2 &7 as a new area. There are about six areas.
As i mentioned somewhere, in order to learn vietnamese you should, firstly, focus on learning to pronunce about 50-100 vietnamese words exactly and critically. The rest will be easier.

Very informative Jaitch. Thanks! Great quick info for new expats and visitors alike.

Didn't even realize there will be a new PMH area.

Thanks J!
I really struggle to remember the names of any Quan that isn't  a number.. Kho lam!

Sharen wrote:

Thanks J!
I really struggle to remember the names of any Quan that isn't  a number.. Kho lam!

We have just 5 districts which their names are not number. Those are Binh Thanh, Go Vap, Tan Binh, Tan Phu and Thu Duc. It's not so difficult to remember rite? hehe

Oh Really? I assumed there were more.. Cam on em Bella nhieu! I will study them, i promise.

Sharen wrote:

Oh Really? I assumed there were more.. Cam on em Bella nhieu! I will study them, i promise.

No problem, Sharen!

labella193 wrote:

We have just 5 districts which their names are not number. Those are Binh Thanh, Go Vap, Tan Binh, Tan Phu and Thu Duc. It's not so difficult to remember rite? hehe

The moral of the post is, if in doubt, get it in writing.

Then look at www.Diadiem.com or call Vina Taxi.

Another fun fact is there are multiple duplicate addresses on the same streets - just in different districts. For example, Dinh Tien Hoang street runs from District 1 into Binh Thanh District, and many of the addresses are duplicated between the two districts. So, make sure when you're locating an address that you're in the correct district also. (Don't anyone ask me how I know this. )

saigonmonkey wrote:

Another fun fact is there are multiple duplicate addresses on the same streets

Take Dien Bien Phu. Not only does it span three districts BUT it also has repetitive numbering systems along the way!

The only thing that can guide you are Ward Numbers/Names and Telephone Numbers (first one or two digits).

Added to this mix are remnants of the French numbering systems, adapted with suffixes such as A, B, C, etc. When the French were running the place, large houses and gardens were the rule. The Vietnamese reduced the sixes and subsequently even renumbered some streets issuing white numbers on blue background plates.

Just to ensure we can still be confused we have Tran Hung Dao, with Bis Tran Hung Dao tacked on in Quan 10 with a repetitive numbing scheme.