‘Buzz’ 24/7, commercial pursuits of all sizes, traffic and local people going about their everyday life, epitomise Ho Chi Minh City. While art and culture capture your attention in Hanoi, it’s commerce, motorbikes, coffee, street food and nine million friendly people that capture your attention in Ho Chi Minh City.

The climate in Ho Chi Minh City is either hot or very hot. Unlike the north of Vietnam which has the classic four seasons, Ho Chi Minh City has only two seasons – the dry season and the wet season. During the dry season, there’s a high chance you won’t see a drop of rain, but you will feel the oppressive heat. The wet season comes with a daily downpour lasting for an hour or two and high humidity. The downpour often results in flooding and consequently, those folks who are pursuing English teaching jobs in Ho Chi Minh City need to be attuned to how they’ll get to class on time. Arriving at school before the daily downpour is one option.

There are upsides to the ‘extreme’ weather in Ho Chi Minh City. It allows you to do things outside well into the evening – socialise, pursue a hobby and suchlike – that are not possible in cities that are cold and dark by late afternoon. My favourite upside is the one hour ‘siesta’ under a fan, an air conditioner or both, to ‘avoid the midday heat’. The daily ‘siesta’ is observed with religious fervor. It’s a sight to behold.