Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh

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About Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh

Located in the South of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city of the country. The economic center of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is also a major touristic destination. Indeed, the city provides visitors with a wide range of attractions: the Reunification Palace, Notre-Dame Cathedral, some historic hotels from the French colonial period, the wide elegant boulevards and colonial buildings of the same era, many museums, gardens, and even a few amusement parks (Suoi Tien Amusement and Culture Park) and beach resort.

Tribe's guides to Vietnam

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Asia: the rewarding journey

by Sylvain Heber-suffrin

10758 views
World Tour Guide
300 days

The long way round asia

by Jantine De jong

9743 views
World Tour Guide
202 days

Following a komodo dragon in south-east asia

by Guillaume Barreau

3088 views
World Tour Guide
87 days

Discovering south east asia

by Audrey Charrier

1925 views
Guide to South East Asia
31 days

The Tribe's opinion

Even though most people still call it Saigon, the city was renamed Ho Chi Minh City in 1975 after the victory of the north over the south. It is the biggest city in Vietnam and it is the Economical capital. Officially there are 9 million people but in reality the number is close to 12 million people! While most tourists stick to the backpacker district (Bui Vien) to enjoy the cheap beers, remember that this city has a lot to offer (even if it does not look like it!). I suggest that you rent a motorbike to experience the crazy Saigon traffic and to reach the many area that are worth seeing and which are far apart.

By Sylvain Heber-Suffrin, in Asia: the rewarding journey

Ho Chi Minh city is a very big industrial city... In my opinion, it is really not a must see. I heard that some museums can be interesting but unfortunately, we did not get the time!

By Audrey Charrier, in Discovering south east asia

Great city, not very metropolitan which I like. Soooo many motorcycle heheh.. Reminds me so much of Jakarta, my hometown. Almost hit by bus once and motorcycle once because I still not used to look to the left first then right when crossing the street. But I love it here, so much to see, wish I could stay longer.

By Sasri Wildandini, in One small step

Reminds me a little of my hometown Jakarta, but with a little less crowd.

By Sasri Wildandini, in One small step

We've lived in this amazing city for the past 12 months. Love it for it's smiling face and gritty soul.

By Pp Travel, in Our world: vietnam

Like all cities with a double name, Saigon/Hô-Chi-Minh City has this schizophrenic touch. Mumbai/Bombay is a mix of wealth and extreme misery, tycoon villas and dirty slums; Saigon is the mark of History and a step into the future. With its colonial traits, commercial features and brand new districts of modern skyscrapers. People from the city apparently prefer the name Saigon, when the official name has been given after the Great Uncle of the People, who led the country to independence and victory against the French and then the US army. If you think you know what road congestion means, you should probably check your definition against the reality in HCMC, on a Friday at 6pm. As imported cars are taxed 100%, the 10-million city is crammed with scooters and motorbikes, and their assaults on the long and large streets is quite impressive.

By Guillaume Barreau, in Following a komodo dragon in south-east asia

Ho Chi Minh City (formerly named Saigon) is the largest city in Vietnam, with more than 7 milion inhabitants. The city has a tropical climate, specifically a tropical wet and dry climate, with an average humidity of 75%. The rainy season usually begins in May and ends in late November. The dry season lasts from December to April.

By Margareta Cerk, in Chopsticks, rice and motorbikes

Ho Chi Minh City, a.k.a. Saigon, is the capitol of Vietnam. If you've come from quiet cities like Mui Ne and Hoi An, this will be a shocker again. It's fast and huge and crossing the busy streets might even be a bigger challenge than in Hanoi. I didn't stay long and I must admit I only stayed in one area of HCMC and most of the time even just in 1 street; Ba Bui Vien. When taking the bus from Mui Ne it will drop you off in one of the side streets of Ba Bui Vien and since this is one of those busy 'tourist-streets' you won't need to go further to find a hotel, restaurants and bars. From HCMC I took a tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels. On the way back I asked the driver of the tour bus to drop me off at the War Remnants Museum, which was very impressive! From there I walked back to my hotel. I did also go to one of the roofed in markets nearby, but as soon as I entered people were grabbing me, hoping I will buy something from them.

By Jantine de Jong, in The long way round asia

Ho Chi Minh City, also known as HCMV or Saigon (it is still named like this by a lot of Vietnamese people), is the economic capital of Vietnam. This 7 millions inhabitants city is a strange mix between old french colonialism and vietnamese communism. In fact, Saigon was the departing point of french colonialism of Indochina. This is why there are a lot of French colonialism style building as the Opera (up), the Ho Chi Minh Museum or the People's Committee Building (Hotel de Ville), but also some really massive building (USSR style) as the Reunification Palace. All of the main building and museum are located in the center, however, mains Pagodas are in Cho Lon in the north east of HCMV. To go there, take a moto-taxi or a cab. They all have different origin even if the style look similar.

By Jc Naquet-Radiguet, in Discovering south east asia