The city was officially renamed Ho Chi Minh City when the war ended, but the name Saigon is still widely used. Once known as “the Pearl of the Far East”, Ho Chi Minh City is the economic heart and the most populous city of Vietnam. The city bustles with forward-looking energy in glittering skyscapes, street vendors, boutique shops and open-air cafés.
Located in the south-eastern region of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City lies on the banks of Saigon River and the shore of the East Sea. The city owes much of its form and character to the French colonists, with regimental grid of tamarind-shaded boulevards and European architectures. A sightseeing tour in this dynamic city takes in vestiges of its past, including Reunification Palace (formerly South Vietnam’s presidential palace), the ornate French colonial architecture of the Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral, and more.
