Ho Chi Minh
INTRO
Ho Chi Minh, or sometimes still called Saigon, is a bustling industrious city where the vibe of the Vietnamese modern life is concentrated. Apart from being the economical heart of the country, the city is also its cultural and historical site. Among the hectic metropolitan atmosphere, the spirit of an ancient culture and stunning past can still be felt and traced back in time.
City Profile
City: Ho Chi Minh City
Country: Vietnam
Area: 2,095 km2
Population: 6,239,938
Districts: 24
Language: Vietnamese
Rating: #1 / 126 at Asian-Cities
LOCATION
As the largest city in the country, situated on the north of the Mekong River Delta and along the Saigon River, Ho Chi Minh is an important commercial centre in Vietnam. At only 60 km from the South China Sea, the city has its own International Airport that makes it accessible from both air and land.
TIME TO VISIT
Ho Chi Minh has a tropical climate that has two distinguished seasons. The rainy season covers the months from May till late November and is characterised by hot days with temperatures reaching 39 degrees Celsius in April. The dry season is from December till April. The lowest temperatures throughout the year occur in late December and usually don't fall under 15 degrees C. Generally, the air is humid and typhoons might occur between July and November. The best time to visit the city is in February, March when there is no rainfall and the weather is mild and pleasant.
POPULATION
The number of inhabitants in Ho Chi Minh, including those living in the inner and outer districts of the city, exceeds six million. This makes it the most populated city in the country that houses around 7 % of the total population. Moreover, the number of immigrants from other Vietnamese provinces is increasing. The majority of residents are Vietnamese but there are other minority groups as well such as Chinese. The locals speak a specific dialect of Vietnamese but English is widely used too, especially at the tourist and business areas.
DISTRICTS
Ho Chi Minh City has been recently divided into twenty-four administrative districts, of which five are suburban districts and the remaining nineteen are inner districts. Only seven of those urban districts have names while the rest carry the numbers from one to twelve. Apart from the main division, the city districts are also divided into wards, communes or townships. Ho Chi Minh's attractions are spread among districts 1, 3 and 5.
- District 1 is the official central district of the city and is still referred to by the locals as Saigon, the previous name of Ho Chi Minh. The new name is used to refer to the rest of the districts except for the central one. District 1 is the main tourist destination for all the visitors because here are most of the city's places of interests, as well as hotels, shops, bars and restaurants. Here are also the backpacker area of Pham Ngu Lao and the central Ben Thanh Market.
- Cholon is the largest Chinese district in the country that consists of District 5 and District 6 west of the Saigon River bank. Its name in Vietnamese means "big market", probably because of the huge Chinese Binh Tay Market situated in the area. Apart from that, many old Chinese temples are also located here.
- District 3 is famous for the many French architectural-style buildings found in the area. One can also visit the War Remnants Museum and some beautiful pagodas.
SIGHTS & ATTRACTIONS
As a city with a long history, Ho Chi Minh has many places of interest to intrigue its visitors with. Among all of them, there are several landmarks that should not be excluded from your itinerary.
- Reunification Palace, sometimes called the Independence Palace, used to be the South Vietnam's Presidential Palace. It is famous because this is the place where the Vietnam War ended in 1975 when a tank crashed through its gate. Today, the tank can still be seen on the front lawn. Inside the palace that is turned into a museum can be seen the downstairs control room, underground tunnels and other office equipment. There is a nice coffee shop on the outside garden where tourists enjoy a short rest.
- The War Remnants Museum is one of the must-visit places in Ho Chi Minh where the cruellest deeds of the Vietnam War done both by Americans and Vietnamese are displayed. Those atrocities were not revealed in the media but are shown on photographs; there are also a simulated "tiger cage" prison, captured American weapons and many other remnants that depict the real story, the one that you cannot read in textbooks or encyclopedias.
- Cu Chi Tunnels are a network of around 200km underground tunnels that were used by the Vietnamese soldiers to hide from Americans. Situated in close proximity to the city, the tunnels can be seen by signing for one of the many day tours offered in the city. Inside the tunnels can still be seen shelters, underground hideouts and entrances to other tunnels. Bomb caters and traps used against the Americans remain outside the tunnels.
- Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the city's landmarks that were built by the French in the 19th century, from which comes the name of its location - Paris Square. The 40-meter high neo-Romanesque twin towers emerge above the large statue of Virgin Mary, situated on the Square. Some of the cathedral's stained glass windows were destroyed during the World War II and were never replaced. Today, the priest gives a service in English and can be attended by those who are interested.
- The City Hall is still a working government building. Built in French colonial style, the hall is a definitely worth seeing even though inside tours are not allowed. Lit at night this so called today People's Committee Hall is a beautiful sight even for the native tourists. In the front garden stands a statue of Ho Chi Minh reading a book to a child in his lap.
- Thien Hau Pagoda was built by the Chinese in 19th century and is today the largest and most popular place in Ho Chi Minh. It was dedicated to the goddess of fisherman and the sea and is still an active place of worship for the local Chinese community.
AIRPORT
Ho Chi Minh is served by the largest airport in Vietnam that makes it an easy-to-reach city from both within and outside the country.
- Tan Son Nhat International Airport is situated 7 kilometres from the city centre. The cheapest way to reach Ho Chi Minh is by taking the air-conditioned bus number 152 for 3000 dong. Another option is to take a taxi. You can either insist on the driver using the meter, the price should be around 3-5 dollars, or you can buy a taxi coupon for 5 dollars. More info at: www.saigonairport.com
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
The public transportation in Ho Chi Minh provides several ways of getting around. Beware though that the traffic here is a little hasty and driving is only for experienced drivers.
- Public buses are brand new and cheap with route maps at the tourist information bureaus. It is probably the most convenient means of transport.
- Taxis are metred but be aware for the corrupted metres that increase price really fast. Besides that, taxis are comfortable and easy to find. The minimum charge for the first 2 km is 12 000 dong, and 6000 dong for each km thereafter.
- Motorbikes are another way of going around the city. They are plenty and cheap, around 10 000 dong. You can also rent one for yourself for about 3-7 dollars per day. Be careful for thieves.
- Cyclos used to be a convenient way of transport but not anymore. They are appropriate for tours around the city and cost 2 dollars per hour. Make sure to bargain the price beforehand since most drivers would try to overcharge.
- Walking in Hi Chi Minh might be a little scary for Westerners who are used to intelligent and safe driving. Here, pedestrians do not have any rights on the street, which means that you need to be careful not to get involved into an accident. Just follow the locals, they are used to the intense traffic.
HISTORY
The history of Ho Chi Minh begins as the city being a small fishing village under the jurisdiction of Cambodia. It was known as Prey Nokor during that time and was inhabited by the Khmer people and served as the main Cambodian port. In the 17th century many Vietnamese refugees were allowed to settle in the area of Prey Nokor and with time turned it into a Vietnamese city, called Saigon. The new city was conquered by the French in 1859 and became a part of the French colonization and a capital of the Cochinchina colony for a little less than a century. The French influence can still be seen in the architectural style of some buildings in the city. In 1954 the French were defeated and the city later became the capital of South Vietnam. When several years later, in 1975, the country became a unified republic, Saigon was renamed into Ho Chi Minh after the communist leader with the same name.
CITY LINKS
- Saigon Info, A Daily Newspaper in English: http://www.saigoninfonewspaper.com/
- Interesting Places in Ho Chi Minh: http://www.yourrooms.com/vietnam_hotels/saigon/attractions.htmv
- Useful Tips: http://wikitravel.org/en/Ho_Chi_Minh_City
UNIVERSITY LINKS
- Ho Chi Minh National University: http://www.vnuhcm.edu.vn/en/index.htm
- University of Medicine and Pharmacy: http://www.yds.edu.vn/
- University of Law: http://www.hcmulaw.edu.vn/news/Index.asp