In short: Thao Dien is the riverside neighbourhood of the former District 2 and home to Ho Chi Minh City’s largest expat community. Across the 690 Thao Dien listings Visreal has published, a 2-bedroom typically asks $885 – $1,380 a month (median $1,100), and a 3-bedroom $1,458 – $2,600 (median $1,990). It suits families who want international schools nearby, and commuters who want Metro Line 1 at the door of buildings such as Masteri Thao Dien.

Where Thao Dien is, and what it is called now

Thao Dien sits on a bend of the Saigon River, across the water from Binh Thanh. On one side are low-rise lanes of villas and cafes; along Vo Nguyen Giap Boulevard (the old Hanoi Highway) are the big apartment towers.

The name on paper has changed twice. Thao Dien was a ward of District 2, then of Thu Duc City from 2021. On 1 July 2025, when Vietnam abolished district-level government, Thao Dien ward was merged with Thu Thiem, An Loi Dong, the old An Khanh ward and part of An Phu into a new An Khanh ward of Ho Chi Minh City.

Nobody says “An Khanh” in conversation yet. Landlords, schools and Grab drivers still say Thao Dien or “District 2”, so we do too, but new official paperwork, such as temporary residence registration, uses An Khanh ward.

Aerial view of the Masteri Thao Dien towers, Vincom Mega Mall and the raised Metro Line 1 track on Vo Nguyen Giap Boulevard, with the Saigon River behind

Why expats choose Thao Dien

The reasons that still decide moves in 2026:

  • Schools. Several international schools have campuses inside the neighbourhood, so a school run can be a walk instead of a drive across the river.
  • Daily life in English. Imported grocers, bakeries, brunch cafes and pet shops are within a few streets.
  • Space and greenery. The villa lanes between Xuan Thuy Street and the river are lower and leafier than District 1 or Binh Thanh.
  • The Metro. Since December 2024, two Line 1 stations serve the area.
  • Choice of buildings. Most apartment buildings here have a pool, gym and staffed lobby, from older riverside blocks to towers handed over in 2023.

Thao Dien rent prices in 2026

Across the 690 Thao Dien listings Visreal has published (data to 15 October 2026), asking rents look like this. Prices are USD per month, mostly furnished.

SizeListingsTypical rent (25th–75th pct)MedianTypical size
1 bedroom86$866 – $1,000$92053 m²
2 bedrooms398$885 – $1,380$1,10074 m²
3 bedrooms172$1,458 – $2,600$1,990103 m²
4+ bedrooms34$3,325 – $5,000$3,750164 m²

Two-bedrooms are the bulk of the market. The wide 3-bedroom range reflects the gap between a standard tower unit and a large river-view apartment.

On top of rent, budget a deposit of two months, plus the first month paid at move-in. Management fees in premium buildings run about $60 – $100 a month for a 2-bedroom, and are sometimes included in the rent. Landlords will often move 5–10% for a 12-month lease or rent paid in advance. Our article on the hidden costs of renting in Ho Chi Minh City covers electricity, water, parking and pet deposits.

Living room of a duplex apartment in Masteri Thao Dien, with a sliding glass door onto a small private garden beside the children's playground

Apartment buildings in Thao Dien

Thao Dien’s apartment stock falls into two groups: towers on Vo Nguyen Giap Boulevard near the Metro, and lower riverside buildings on Nguyen Van Huong, Quoc Huong and the streets around Xuan Thuy. Visreal rents apartments in these buildings, not villas or serviced apartments.

BuildingDeveloper, handoverWhere it isWhy tenants ask about it
Masteri Thao DienThao Dien Investment (Masteri brand), from 2016159 Vo Nguyen Giap, beside An Phu stationLargest choice of units, Vincom Mega Mall below
Masteri An PhuMasterise Homes, early 2019179 Vo Nguyen GiapTwo 42-storey towers, same location at a slightly lower budget
Lumiere RiversideMasterise Homes, December 2023Vo Nguyen Giap, about 700 m from An Phu stationNewest of the group, near ISHCMC Primary
Gateway Thao DienSonKim Land2 Le Thuoc StreetA short walk to ISHCMC Primary
The NassimSonKim Land and Hongkong Land30 Street 11Four towers, only 238 units, quiet
Q2 Thao DienFrasers Property, 202121 Vo Truong ToanAnnam Gourmet in the building, village location
D’Edge Thao DienCapitaLand, 2020Nguyen Van HuongTwo 25-storey towers on the river, near BIS
Thao Dien GreenSIC, 2023192 Nguyen Van HuongNewer riverside building, Annam Gourmet downstairs
Thao Dien Pearl–Quoc Huong, about 140 m from Thao Dien stationLarge 3-bedrooms close to the Metro

Older riverside compounds such as Xi Riverview, The Ascent and Tropic Garden come up less often but offer large layouts. Just east, The Estella and Estella Heights sit in An Phu, across the boulevard from the Masteri towers.

Living room of a 3-bedroom apartment in Gateway Thao Dien, with sheer curtains over a wide balcony facing the Saigon River

Getting around: Metro Line 1 and the roads

Metro Line 1 opened on 22 December 2024 and runs 19.7 km from Ben Thanh in District 1 to Suoi Tien. Two stations serve the area, both on the raised track along Vo Nguyen Giap Boulevard:

  • Thao Dien station is the first stop after the river, near Saigon Bridge, and five stops from Ben Thanh. Thao Dien Pearl is the closest apartment building.
  • An Phu station stands beside Vincom Mega Mall, six stops from Ben Thanh. Masteri Thao Dien, Masteri An Phu and Lumiere Riverside are on the same side of the boulevard, and a footbridge crosses to MM Mega Market.

Single fares are 7,000 – 20,000 VND in cash by distance, a little less with a contactless card. Our guide to apartments near Metro Line 1 lists walking distances building by building.

Masteri An Phu pool and gardens beside the raised Metro Line 1 track on Vo Nguyen Giap Boulevard

By car or Grab, every route into the centre crosses the river, and the bridge approaches back up at rush hour. If you work in District 1, a building within a short walk of a station is worth paying a little more for. If your office is in Thu Thiem, compare our guide to Thao Dien vs Thu Thiem.

International schools in Thao Dien

These are the main international school campuses inside the neighbourhood. Check fees and admissions with each school directly.

SchoolCampus in Thao DienNotes
British International School (BIS)Early Years at 101 Thao Dien Street; Junior at 225 and Secondary at 246 Nguyen Van HuongSame street as D’Edge Thao Dien and Thao Dien Green
ISHCMC (IB)Primary at 28 Vo Truong Toan; Secondary at 01 Xuan ThuyGateway, The Nassim, Lumiere Riverside and Masteri An Phu are a 5–10 minute walk from Primary
Australian International School (AIS)APSC Compound, 36 Thao Dien StreetOther AIS campuses are elsewhere in the former District 2
European International School (EIS, IB)730 Le Van MienIn the village side of Thao Dien

One correction to older guides: The American School left its original Thao Dien campus in 2020, so it is no longer a walk from Thao Dien. For ISHCMC families, our guide to apartments near ISHCMC has walk times, and our overview of international schools in Ho Chi Minh City covers the rest of the city.

Food, groceries and weekends

The Deck Saigon on Nguyen U Di is the classic riverside spot for sunset drinks, and the lanes around Xuan Thuy and Thao Dien Street are full of brunch cafes and restaurants. Our Thao Dien restaurants guide has addresses, hours and price ranges.

Riverside terrace tables at The Deck Saigon on Nguyen U Di, Thao Dien, looking across the Saigon River

For groceries, Annam Gourmet has several branches in Thao Dien, including inside Masteri Thao Dien, Thao Dien Green and the Q2 building, and MM Mega Market An Phu handles the bulk shop. See our list of Annam Gourmet and expat supermarkets. Parents should also read our kid cafes in District 2, and dog owners our list of pet-friendly apartment buildings, because not every Thao Dien building accepts pets.

The downsides: flooding and traffic

Thao Dien is low-lying. In heavy rain, especially when it coincides with a high tide, parts of Quoc Huong, Nguyen Van Huong, Thao Dien and Xuan Thuy streets flood, sometimes 30–50 cm deep, and the water can take one to two hours to drain.

The city started a drainage upgrade for the area on 25 October 2025, with completion planned for 2027. Until then, the rainy season (roughly May to October) is when this matters.

Our advice: if a building’s entrance is on one of these streets, ask the management how the gate, lobby and basement coped in the last big storm, and keep a Grab or the Metro as a back-up on heavy-rain afternoons.

From Visreal’s experience

Visreal has rented apartments to foreigners in Ho Chi Minh City since 2017, and we have published 690 listings in Thao Dien. Our process has four steps: your brief, a shortlist and viewings, negotiating and signing, then support after you move in.

The brief matters more here than anywhere. “Two bedrooms near ISHCMC Primary” and “two bedrooms near BIS” lead to different buildings a few kilometres apart, so tell us the school campus and grade, or your office, before we build the shortlist. Because the buildings are close together, you can usually view several in one afternoon.

At signing, we draft a three-party contract (you, Visreal and the landlord) and explain every clause in English. For staff on company housing, we check first that the landlord can issue a VAT invoice, and ask for a diplomatic clause that lets you leave early with 30–60 days’ notice. After you move in, we help with temporary residence registration and stay your contact for repairs and renewals.

Windy D. Dagsa wrote on Google: “Henry and Ms Annie have been a great help, from finding the best apartment to taking care of the little things. They were always available when i needed help with anything about the apartment.” Visreal is rated 4.9/5 from 34 Google reviews, and our service is free for tenants.

Is Thao Dien right for you?

Thao Dien is cheaper than many people expect. Median 2-bedroom asking rents on Visreal’s listings in October 2026 were $1,100 in Thao Dien, $1,255 in An Phu, $1,300 in District 1, $1,380 in Binh Thanh and $1,595 in Thu Thiem (typical unit sizes differ by area).

Choose Thao Dien if…Look elsewhere if…
Your children will attend BIS, ISHCMC, AIS or EISYou want to walk to District 1 offices and nightlife: try District 1
You want an English-friendly neighbourhood from day oneYou want a newer high-rise district with wide roads: try Thu Thiem
You value river views, pools and leafy lanesYou want a central location just over the bridge: try Binh Thanh

FAQ

How much does it cost to rent an apartment in Thao Dien?

On Visreal’s 690 Thao Dien listings, a 1-bedroom has a median asking rent of $920 a month, a 2-bedroom $1,100 and a 3-bedroom $1,990. Most are furnished, and utilities and management fees are usually extra.

Is Thao Dien still in District 2?

Not officially. Since 1 July 2025, Thao Dien has been part of An Khanh ward, Ho Chi Minh City, but most people, listings and schools still call it Thao Dien or District 2.

Which Metro stations serve Thao Dien?

Thao Dien station and An Phu station on Metro Line 1. Thao Dien is five stops from Ben Thanh and An Phu is six.

Does Thao Dien flood?

Some streets do, mainly Quoc Huong, Nguyen Van Huong, Thao Dien and Xuan Thuy, during heavy rain at high tide. A drainage project began in October 2025 and is due to finish in 2027.

Do I pay an agency fee to rent through Visreal?

No. The landlord pays our commission, so the service is free for tenants.

Find your apartment in Thao Dien

Send your budget, move-in date and school or office on Zalo or WhatsApp at +84 903 004 226, and we will build a Thao Dien shortlist for you at no cost. You can also browse current apartments for rent in Thao Dien.