Ho
Chi Minh Travel Information
Saigon as the city is still frequently referred to is Vietnam's
largest city with a population in excess of 6 million divided into
16 urban districts. It is a fast-paced city full of contrasts as
street vendors selling fruit and vegetables can be seen next to
glitzy western-style bars and boutiques.
In 1859 the city was captured by the French and became the capital
of Cochinchina; one of the 3 colonies that Vietnam was split into.
From 1956 until its dramatic demise in April 1975, Saigon was the
capital of the US-backed Republic of Vietnam.
Today Ho Chi Minh City is very much the heart of Vietnamese business
and entrepreneurs. Incomes here are typically twice that of Hanoi
and the city's skyline is rapidly changing, reflecting the sharp
influx of foreign trade within the last decade. And yet for all
this modernity, the city still retains its connections to the past,
particularly so in Cholon, Saigon's Chinatown. Here dozens of elegant
temples and pagodas can be seen. The French too left their mark
here - the city has many street cafes and patisseries where fresh
croissants can be purchased.
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