Ho Chi Minh

1. What is it?

Ho Chi Minh City (still common with the old name Saigon now) is Vietnam’s largest city is also the head of economy and is one of the cultural centers, education of Vietnam. Currently, the city of Ho Chi Minh City is centrally along with the capital Hanoi is a special grade of Vietnam.

This area was originally known as Prey Nokor, the city then formed through the exploration of the South of the Nguyen Dynasty. In 1698, Nguyen Huu Canh established Gia Dinh government, marking the birth of the city. When the French in Indochina, to serve the colonial mining, Saigon was established and quickly grew, becoming one of the most important urban Vietnam. Along with Phnom Penh, Saigon by the French dubbed the “Pearl of the Orient” of their colonies (the largest city in the north of Hanoi, it was France called Paris of the Orient). Saigon was the capital of the Union of Indochina period 1887-1901. In 1949, Saigon became the capital of the National Vietnam – a federal polity of Indochina and later the capital of the Republic of Vietnam. Since then, the city became one of the important cities of South Vietnam. After the collapse of South Vietnam in the event April 30, 1975, the territory of Vietnam was completely unified. July 2, 1976, the National Assembly of reunified Vietnam decided to rename Saigon to “Ho Chi Minh City”, under the name of the first President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

2. Location

Ho Chi Minh City border to province of Binh Duong, Tay Ninh province northwest, east and northeast provinces Dong Nai, Ba Ria southeast – Vung Tau province, west and southwest of Long An and Tien Giang provinces. Located in the south of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is from Hanoi 1,730 km by road, city center 50 km is away from the coast to the east as the crow flies. The location of the center of Southeast Asia, Ho Chi Minh City is an important traffic hub in the road, waterways and air, connecting the provinces in the region and also an international gateway.

Located in the transition zone between the south eastern and the Mekong Delta, the city terrain  descends from north to south and from west to east. Highland lies north – northeast and northwest part, an average of 10 to 25 meters. Interspersed with some hill, up to 32 meters high as the hill Long Binh in District 9. However, the valley is located south – southwest and southeast of the city, with an average altitude of around 1 meter, the lowest 0.5 meters. The downtown area, part of the Thu Duc district, District 2, Hoc Mon district and the entire county has an average altitude of 12, about 5 to 10 meters.

Ho Chi Minh City has four poles:

North Pole is the Phu My Hung Commune, Cu Chi District.

Thai My commune West Pole, district of Cu Chi.

Long Hoa commune south pole, Gio.

Thanh An commune easternmost, Gio.

3. Why to come?

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is the center of economic, political and cultural which is the largest South Vietnam. Saigon – Ho Chi Minh City is also a major tourist center, with historical sites and museums are marking the war against the French and Vietnam war. Typically, system 11 museums including the most famous is the War Remnants Museum. Besides, the colonial architecture, Headquarters City People’s Committee, Opera House, Central Post Office, Ben Nha Rong, Ben Thanh Market and the Independence Palace are places which tourists must visit. Recently, new projects such as Diamond Plaza, Bitexco Financial Tower, Saigon Trade Center as well as landscape is more beautiful downtown. In the city, the outskirts are also prominent attractions such as the Cu Chi Tunnels, Gio mangrove forest and Thu Duc bird Garden.

4. How to go?

To visit Sai Gon, traveler could take a flight to Tan Son Nhat international airport from Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea, China,…..or from Hanoi city by domestic airport.

5. Activities:

To rent bycicles, scooters, cars in Sai Gon is very easy. When travelers go to  Sai Gon, they must visit Ben Thanh market, The Reunification Palace , Cu Chi tunneland try some local foods and drinks.