Editing Saigon (section)

==<FONT COLOR="#FF6600">'''A PLACE TO STAY LONGER TERM'''</FONT>==

A simple strategy is to find a hotel with a rate you can afford for a month, stay there. Then ask your friends, look around, network with expats, look on the expat websites and you will likely find the place just for you.

- Rooms for rent in family homes, walk around District 1, 3, and keep your eyes open, ask around. You will probably find signs saying "rooms for rent" .

Guest houses around 171 Co Bac in District 1 teachers live there, so nice, non-transient neighborhood in a local area and only 5-10 min. walk to BuiVien. Rent ranges from $220-300/month for a room. (CS)

English site: Appartments of all sorts http://www.snap.com.vn/Listings/Property_Rentals/Prop_Rentals_Category.asp
There is also http://craigslist.vn . Most of the postings under "apts/housing" are by realtors.Listings under "rooms/shares" are more likely to be people renting out a room in their house or compound - http://vietnam.craigslist.org/roo/ (thanks for this tip TM :-) )

With the English speaking adds you are sure to find something for your needs, however prices are more expensive, 200-400$ for a furnished room.

Another way if you have a Vietnamese speaker willing to help you is to check those Vietnamese language sites:
Saigon Appartments site http://www.muaban.net or: http://muaban.net/ho-chi-minh-369/raovat/46/cho-thue-nha-dat/1.html
NB: Can Ho = Apartment Chung Cu = Aprt complex use Google Translate if you can't read Vietnamese. 
Vietnamese find an appartment site http://www.rongbay.com

You can also select an area where you want to live and just walk around in the small alleys looking for rent signs and ask the neighborhood, you will be impressed by the number of rooms you can find in just a block! Outside of district 1 you can find nice rooms for less than 150$.. But make sure the owner understands your needs (police ok, curfew, possibility to have guests..).

CSers posts adds here:
http://www.couchsurfing.org/group.html?gid=33885





===<FONT COLOR="#3366CC">'''Meetings'''</FONT>===


Films, Concerts, Music - What's on sites

    Word HCMC What's on around town, events and shows and articles http://www.wordhcmc.com/
    Whats  on around Saigon ? list of Saigon / HCMC events and places http://anyarena.com/en/events
    Concerts, films, entertainment in Saigon http://www.thanhniennews.com/Pages/Entertainment.aspx
        Couchsurfing Saigon  has a lively community. http://www.couchsurfing.org/group.html?gid=5558    

        Artistic, films, blogs The Hanoi Grapevine - for Saigon look under NOT Hanoi -The Hanoi Grapevine at http://www.hanoigrapevine.com
        The New Hanoian except it's in Saigon,  The Saigon version is at:  http://so-saigon.xemzi.com/  In Saigon it's not as big as the Hanoi version. 

More specialized events:

    Green drinks: focuses on 'green'  environmental issues, a social group of speakers and events once a month http://www.greendrinks.org/Ho%20Chi%20Minh%20City
    Under 39's Saigon Social group on meetup.com http://www.meetup.com/Under-39s-Saigon/
    Networking events:  Saigon HCMC Nework events http://www.citynetevents.com  - "There's always an 'angle' " :-)  which is fine, as long as that's understood up front :-P