Tourist Guide Ho Chi Minh City
With a population of about seven million, Ho chi Minh city is the largest city
in Vietnam. It is situated on the western bank of the Saigon River. While Hanoi
is the centre of government, Ho Chi Minh City is the nation’s economic
and commercial heart.
The city was known by its original Khmer inhabitants as Prey Nokor,
which means "forest city", or "forest land" in Khmer. In
this first period it was Canbodian’s main port.
In the 17th century, Prey Nokor was settled by Vietnamese refugees from the
north and in time it became known as Saigon. During the French
occupation, Saigon was the capital of the French colony of Cochinchina and from
1954 to 1976 the capital of the independent state of South Vietnam.
On May 1st, 1975, after the fall of South Vietnam, the now
ruling communist government named the city after the pseudonym of their beloved
leader Ho Chi Minh.
Today Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by almost everyone who lives there,
is a modern and busy city. The city's character remains essentially French (with
wide boulevards, colonial villas, and a lively café society) but also
resolutely Asian and this particular mixture gives to Saigon a great charm.
Max: 93° F
Min: 75° FRelated Contents
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