The former southern capital, renamed Ho Chi Minh City but still widely known by its pre-war name, contributes almost a quarter of the country's gross domestic product and the market capitalization of its stock index is seven times Hanoi's.
Ho Chi Minh City, the largest financial hub in Vietnam, has been named among the top 10 wealthiest cities in the world for this year, announced Henley & Partners, the global leader in residence and citizenship by investment, in partnership with wealth intelligence firm New World Wealth.
Some people say Hanoi provides a more authentic view of Vietnamese life and culture. On the other hand, Ho Chi Minh is a modern city with the tallest skyscraper in Vietnam, newer and broader roads, trendy shopping malls, rooftop bars, and a variety of international restaurants.
The choice between Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City really comes down to what it is you're looking for. Hanoi will offer a much more authentic insight into the Vietnamese way of life, providing a plethora of fantastic things to see and do in the city and surrounding area.
Hanoi remained the most expensive place to live in Vietnam for the fourth year in a row, followed by Quang Ninh and Ho Chi Minh City, a national study has found.
There is a lot of money to be made in Hanoi's gated communities, private townships and luxury property developments, and catering to the urban elite has made some of Vietnam's wealthy even wealthier.
Hanoi ranked 5th, HCMC 14th safest tourist city in Southeast Asia - VnExpress International.
In conclusion, both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi offer unique and exciting nightlife experiences. While Ho Chi Minh City is known for its energetic and busy vibe with high-end rooftop bars, Hanoi offers a more relaxed and traditional atmosphere, with its historic Old Quarter and legendary Train Street.
Nha Trang is one of the best places to visit in Vietnam, drawing in visitors with its stunning scenery, rich cultural sites, and pleasant year-round weather. This region offers many breathtaking landscapes, such as Doc Let Beach, Hon Tre Island, Hon Mun Island, Yang Bay Waterfall, Van Phong Bay, Diep Son Island, etc.
Well-known food dishes in Hanoi
While Saigon offers the best choice for food, we would argue Hanoi has better quality. Many of the Vietnamese dishes we all know and love; phở, bún chả and bánh cuốn, originated in the north. Many long-standing local restaurants have been serving the same dish for over 50+ years.
Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and a major northern city, whereas Ho Chi Minh City is a major southern city and the former capital of Vietnam.
People in Vietnam usually call Ho Chi Minh City “Saigon” as a habit because it is a shorter way to address the city.
Da Nang – The Economic Hub of Central Vietnam
This city has a well-developed infrastructure, with modern transportation, communication, and utility systems, making it a convenient and comfortable place to live both for locals and expats.
Where do most expats live in Vietnam? As a first time expat in Vietnam, you will probably want to stay close to the two major metropolitan areas – Hanoi (population 5 million) in the North, and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon; population 9 million) in the South.
Da Nang's Well-Planned City Center
The city center sits to the West of the Han River. It's the business district, a jovial conglomeration of cafes, restaurants, marketplaces, apartment buildings and family houses, all just within ten minutes from the international airport. It's lively without being overbearing.
If you're wondering if Vietnam is safer than Thailand, in a manner of speaking, yes. Vietnam has a lower crime rate than Thailand, and is generally considered to be a safe destination for travelers. Thailand, on the other hand, has a slightly higher crime rate, but is still considered to be a relatively safe country.
From a tourist perspective, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are both cheap cities. However, of the two, Hanoi is slightly cheaper than Ho Chi Minh. As a tourist, you likely won't feel much of a cost difference when traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi.
Hanoi generally has cooler weather than Ho Chi Minh. The average mean temperature in Hanoi is 25.99°C (78.78°F) while Ho Chi Minh's temperature is 29.43°C (84.97°F) and the difference is 3.44°C (38.19°F).
Among the 20th century revolutionaries, Ho Chi Minh waged the longest — and in terms of human lives sacrificed, the costliest — battle against colonial power. The forces he led fought and defeated the Japanese, the French and finally the Americans in his fight for Vietnamese independence.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading killer in Vietnam with its two major components: stroke and IHD, representing by themselves the leading causes of death. At a variance with what is seen in industrialised countries stroke claims more victims than IHD every year.
Hanoi – a city of calm people
Hanoi is portrayed as a more peaceful land, compared to Saigon, and Hanoians are calmer.
Many of his policies during the war were cruel and atrocious. The land reform programs resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent Vietnamese civilians in the north. His murderous policies in treating southern civilians was also disturbing and destructive. One such example was the Hue Massacre in 1968.