Ho Chi Minh City - Ecomonic capital of Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City is a sprawling metropolis of approximately 10 million people. Formerly known as “Saigon” prior to 1975, today the city is Vietnam’s commercial center. The city’s dynamic energy is apparent in the bustling street scenes with thousands of people on motorbikes constantly on the move. Although Saigon has rapidly developed into a modern city with skyscrapers and shopping centers, there are still remnants of its past visible in the historic landmarks and beautiful French colonial buildings dotted throughout the city. In Saigon, you will still see women dressed in Vietnam’s traditional ao dai tunic stroll past modern trendy boutiques and crowded cafes. You’ll find great nightlife and some of the best shopping in Southeast Asia in this vibrant, fast-changing city. The city is home to people from all aspect of Vietnamese society. You’ll see newly wealthy entrepreneurs in their luxury cars driving past beggars on the street side. As in any large city, petty theft exists and you must exercise caution. From Saigon you can make a day trip to the Cu Chi tunnels and Cao Dai Holy See temple.

For over a hundred years, Saigon was the capital – first under the French colonizers, and later the regime of South Vietnam. Following the end of the Vietnam War, Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City, though locals still refer to it by its old name. Today, Saigon is the industrial and commercial heart of the country, attracting green youth and seasoned businessmen alike with its rapid expansion and numerous opportunities. While development is rampant, the city still retains infrastructure from its days as the colonial capital - with quaint, European-style architecture alongside newly-constructed commercial buildings.

In 1859, the French army came there and transformed it in to a Western city that exists until now. Between 1859 and 1954, Sai gon was the capital of Cochin China, the part of the current South of Vietnam today. During the Cold War, Sai gon was the capital of the government of South Vietnam against the North located in Ha noi. Since the reunification of the country in 1975 and especially since opening in the early 80s, Sai gon called Ho Chi Minh city in 1976 becomes the economic capital of Vietnam.

At present, trade develops fully, new skyscrapers growth like mushrooms from the ground each moment. The weather in Ho Chi Minh city is distinguished by two different seasons: the rainy season from May to November, the dry season from December to April. Upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh city, you have atmosphere like an inside bees nest:  youth population, motorcycles, scooters, bike, bus, car, truck … grazing in a ceaseless sound ballet. Regarding tourism, travelers don’t miss in Ho Chi Minh City : District I built in French colonial architecture, museums, Chinatown with its giant Binh tay market, Chinese temples, Vietnamese pagodas…

Welcome to Vietnam’s high-octane southern metropolis. From tantalizing street food, striking historical landmarks, bountiful shopping options and a dazzling nightlife, Ho Chi Minh City is a city that has it all. Saigon, as its inhabitants call it, has an innate energy that is contagious to visitors. Being the commercial hub of Vietnam, the city has experienced a terrific boom of investment and infrastructure over the last ten years that has caused the skyline to rise higher and business to grow. For visitors, it means a chance to witness a city in transition. It’s where old French architecture stands bravely next the towering lotus flower inspired skyscraper, the Bitexco Tower.

Ho Chi Minh City has set a precedent as to how luxury tourism, accommodation and service should be done. A wide array of 5 start hotels and chic villas means you’re never short of options when wanting to relax in style. The beautifully preserved downtown boasts dozens of boutique shops and designer malls. While, a burgeoning gastronomy scene makes it one of S-E Asia’s top cities for dining out. Of course, it doesn’t have to be all glitz and glamour all the time. It would be a shame to visit Saigon without experiencing the buzzing street life atmosphere. The grand bazaar of Vietnam, Ben Than market, is a fun and lively shopping arena to explore. For the foodies, the city is a continuous odyssey into one of Asia’s most loved cuisines. For history buffs, The War Remnants Museum – while being a sobering experience –is a must see for anyone interested in learning about Vietnam’s difficult past. A short walk away is the Reunification Palace, a grand edifice, which holds historical significance as the place where the country reclaimed its independence. The possibilities seem endless in Saigon and with so much to see and do, the expert consultants at Ethnic Travel will help you create a unique and enjoyable experience.

Renamed Ho Chi Minh City in 1975 in honour of the nationalist leader, most people still call Vietnam's largest city Saigon. Saigon buzzes with energy; everyone is up to something, buying, selling, building, moving, this is a city that doesn't have time to sleep. The estimated 3 million motorbikes clog streets passing beautiful French colonial buildings standing beside newly-built skyscrapers, whilst women dressed in Vietnam's traditional ao dai tunics cycle past Gucci and Louis Vuitton boutiques and crowded western cafes. If you feel like escaping the fast pace of the city, we would recommend a leisurely stroll in the centrally located Tao Dan Park. The best times to watch the locals practice Tai Chi are early in the morning are at dusk.

Colonial Saigon
Explore the streets of Saigon and see some of the gorgeous old colonial architecture, such as the stunning Opera House, the former Hôtel de Ville town hall (now the People’s Committee Building), Notre Dame Cathedral and the lovely Continental Hotel, made famous by Graham Greene’s novel, "The Quiet American."

Ben Thanh Market
Go shopping in the lively Ben Thanh Market, where you can buy some lovely handmade silk goods and other Vietnamese handicrafts.

Cholon
Visit the huge Chinese neighborhood called Cholon. Here, you can have lunch at any one of a number of delicious Chinese eateries; we recommend My Huong, a bustling restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating that serves superb, authentic fare, including a noodle soup with duck. Explore the district’s many religious sites, which include places to worship Chinese, Christian, Islamic and Buddhist deities.

Cha Tam Cathedral
Cha Tam is Cholon’s small Catholic cathedral, with high vaulted ceilings surrounded by the stations of the cross. This little cathedral houses an enormous white statue of Jesus, a standing statue of St. Francis of Assisi and a large relief of the Last Supper.

Chua Quan Am Temple
Chua Quan Am Temple is a classic Chinese temple wafting with incense. Nearly 20 resident monks and a cherubic abbot are on hand to welcome foreign visitors. In fact, they’ll even take the time to show you around and allow you to take photos, but the expectation is a small donation in the alms box at the altar. Just outside the entrance, observe the busy cabinet makers at work in a large street-side workshop.

Thien Hau Temple
Originally built in A.D. 940, Thien Hau Temple has been rebuilt many times over the intervening centuries – most recently in 1900. The temple pays homage to Thien Hau, the goddess of the sea, a deity worshipped across Asia – particularly by sailors, who looked to her for good weather and protection from the elements.

Cholon Mosque
The clean lines and lack of ornamentation of the Cholon Mosque provide a stark counterpoint to its gilded Buddhist neighbors. In the courtyard is a pool for ritual ablutions; note the tiled niche in the wall (mihrab) indicating the direction of Mecca. Built by Tamil Muslims in 1932, the mosque has served the Malaysian and Indonesian Muslim communities of Saigon since 1975.

Cu Chi Tunnels
Discover the famed Cu Chi tunnels, an interconnecting network of subterranean passageways under Saigon used during the Vietnam War to evade the American military and stage campaigns such as the infamous Tet Offensive. Crawl through the enlarged tunnels; during the war, Viet Cong guerillas would live in the tunnels for days, emerging only to re-supply or to launch attacks. As a result, the tunnels became a miniature city, complete with barracks, supply larders, weapons stockpiles, medical wards, and the like.

History Museum
Constructed under the auspices of the French colonial government in 1929, the History Museum features a unique fusion of Asian and French architectural styles. The grounds of the museum are home to a series of pleasant gardens that provide a nice respite from the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life in Saigon. Within the museum are all the manner of architectural relics, from Khmer stone carvings dating to the 10th-13th centuries, remnants of the ancient Oc Eo culture of the 1st-6th centuries, and displays on Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups.

War Remnants Museum
A sobering collection with graphic, often brutal displays of the American War (as it is known in Vietnam), the War Remnants Museum was first opened in 1975, soon after the fall of South Vietnam. While the exhibits are admittedly one-sided, they do provide the Vietnamese perspective on this decade-long conflict, as well as a close, uncomfortable look at the effects of war on soldiers and civilians alike.

Reunification Palace
Originally commissioned in 1962 by South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem, this 100-room residence was designed by a French-trained architect. While Diem himself never lived in the palace, the exorbitant project, which took four years to complete, became a symbol of corruption and waste. Today, the Palace is a museum – and its costly furnishings and finishes have been left intact.

Giac Lam Pagoda
The oldest pagoda in Saigon, Giac Lam was originally built in 1744, and sits in the heart of the Cholon neighborhood. The Pagoda houses tombs of long-deceased monks, stewards of the temple, and a rare Bodhi tree – descended from the very same tree under which Buddha was enlightened. To the right of the entrance is a large out-building filled with aisles of shelves with colorful urns of ashes, Chinese pots with red lights, and candles and offerings.