Over three decades have passed since the Vietnam War ended with the fall of Saigon. Today, the name of this bustling metropolis on the Mekong River is Ho Chi Minh City. Yet, the essence of the city, a major trading center since the 18th century, remains unchanged.
The air is filled with the cries of street hawkers and honking horns.
Bicycles, motorbikes, and automobiles fly down the boulevards at dizzying speeds. And everywhere, friendly faces and warm greetings meet you.
The port of Phu My (pronounced “Foo Me”) is your gateway to Ho Chi Minh City and the seaside resort of Vung Tau.
Ho Chi Minh City, better known by its previous name, Saigon, is the largest and most populous city in Vietnam.
It’s an economic and financial center and plays an important role in the cultural and scientific development of the country.
Before Vietnamese settlement in the 17th century, the city was a sparsely populated area that was successively part of the historic kingdoms of Funan, Champa, and Khmer. With the arrival of the Vietnamese, the area became more prosperous and officials began to establish a town from 1623 to 1698.
The city was the capital of South Vietnam until the end of the Vietnam War with the victory of North Vietnam in 1975. In 1976, the government of unified Vietnam renamed Saigon to its current official name in honor of the communist leader Ho Chi Minh.
The average altitude is 19 meters above sea level.
About 1.5 million motorbikes enter Ho Chi Minh every day. The city has about 25 engines for every car.
The city covers an area of 2,095 km2, stretching to Co Chi District and all the way to Can Gio on the East Sea.
Vietnam was a French colony for over a century, so it’s no surprise that there’s a strong French influence even today. Ho Chi Minh City is home to Vietnam’s own Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral which was built in the 19th century. Today, it is one of the most popular spots in the city for wedding photos. Saigon Central Post Office was designed by the famous Gustave Eiffel in 1886. Across District 1’s pretty boulevards, you’ll get to see other French colonial buildings like the Reunification Palace, Municipal Theatre (also called Opera House), Hotel Majestic, and City Hall.
The highest recorded temperature was 40.0 °C in April, while the lowest recorded temperature was 13.8 °C in January.
On average, the city experiences between 2,400 and 2,700 hours of sunshine per year.
The area became more prosperous and officials began establishing the city from 1623 to 1698.
It has a rapidly expanding education sector, especially in the field of higher education. Ho Chi Minh City boasts over 80 universities and colleges.
The estimated population of Ho Chi Minh City is 8,993 million and over 21 million in its metropolitan area.
More than 3 million tourists visit Ho Chi Minh every year.
The city’s largest stadium is the 25,000-seat Thong Nhat Stadium, located on Giao Dui Tu Street, Ward 6, District 10.
Ho Chi Minh City is the 50th most expensive city in Asia to live in and the 201st in the world.
A yellow traffic light in Saigon means to drive “faster”.
The city is home to Tan Son Nhat International Airport, the busiest airport in Vietnam.
The Saigon River joins the Dong Nai River 18 miles northeast of Ho Chi Minh City and flows south and southeast for about 140 miles.
The three most widespread religions in Ho Chi Minh City are Mahayana Buddhism with Taoism and Confucianism, often celebrated together in the same temple.
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