Ho Chi Minh City - Saigon
Ho Chi Minh City (or Saigon) is the largest city in Vietnam. It is a bustling, dynamic and industrious centre and has been referred to as the 'Pearl of the Far East'. The name itself reflects a variety of sights and sounds. The streets are where much of the city's life takes place. A myriad of shops, stalls and vendors selling wares spread out over the sidewalks. Yet within the teeming metropolis are the timeless traditions and beauty of the ancient culture.
Ho Chi Minh City is an attractive place with Vietnam's best restaurants and cafés and an intense nightlife. Saigon has many restored and famous hotels like the Majestic, the Continental and the Rex.
Under the name, Prey Nokor it was the main port of Cambodia, before being annexed by the Vietnamese in the 17th century. Under the name of Saigon it was the capital of the French colony of Cochinchina, and later of the independent state of South Vietnam from 1954 to 1975. In 1975, Saigon was merged with the surrounding province of Gia Djnh and renamed Ho Chi Minh City The city center is situated on the banks of the Saigon River, 60 kilometers from the South China Sea and 1,760 kilometers south of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.
