Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnamese: Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh) is a city in
southeastern Vietnam. It is also often called Saigon, although
Saigon nowadays actually refers to District 1, the city center of Ho
Chi Minh City. Apart from Saigon, only Cholon, the Chinese quarter
of Ho Chi Minh City, is significant for tourism.
Ho Chi Minh
City was the capital of the Republic of Vietnam (“South Vietnam”)
under its then name Saigon until the end of the Vietnam War in 1975.
The city played a pivotal role in the Vietnam War, as its capture by
North Vietnamese troops marked the end of the war and ultimately the
loss of the Republic of Vietnam. In 1976, the city was renamed in
honor of Ho Chi Minh, President of the Democratic Republic of
Vietnam (“North Vietnam”) at the time of his death.
Ho Chi Minh City got its name in 1976 after North and South Vietnam
were reunited. The old name Saigon (Vietnamese: Sài Gòn) is colloquially
used in Vietnam, especially for the urban core (1st district) of the
administrative unit now officially known as Thành Phố Hồ Chí Minh. The
old name Saigon is also still in use abroad.
Originally it was
called Prei Nokor (Khmer language: village in the forest). The term Sài
Gòn is a translation of this name into Vietnamese.
TP is often
used as an abbreviation. HCM or HCMC or HCM City (Vietnamese or English)
is used.
The city was named after Ho Chi Minh, who proclaimed the
Democratic Republic of Vietnam in September 1945 and later took over the
leadership of the country as President and Prime Minister. After the
division of Vietnam as a result of the Indochina War in 1954, he became
President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in the north.
By plane
Various international airlines (e.g. Malaysia Airlines,
Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Cathay Pacific) fly to Ho Chi Minh
City daily via Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN). Vietnam
Airlines offers direct flights from Germany ( from Frankfurt am Main).
By train
Ho Chi Minh City train station was eventually relocated
to District 3, from where the city center is easily accessible by taxi.
The only train line goes north to Hanoi, the nearest major station is
Nha Trang and about 7 hours from Ho Chi Minh City. Six trains a day run
in both directions between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, taking between 29
and 42 hours to cover the 1,700 km route.
By bus
Open-tour
buses run daily to and from Phan Thiết/Mũi Né and on to Nha Trang and
Dalat. Other buses go to virtually all cities in southern Vietnam. There
is also a permanent bus service with Phnom Penh in Cambodia. Changing
buses at the border is no longer necessary. The following companies
serve the route:
Phnom Penh Sorya Transport InfoEdit - Fare: 12$US
(Departure: 08:00, 11:00 and 13:00)
Edit Capitol Toursinfo - Fare:
$US10
Mekong Express Limousine Bus, 21A Mac Thiên Tích P.11.Q5. Tel:
(0)900-6300074, (0)90-6300076 (both Khmer/English), (0)90-6314206.
-
including drinks and snack, bus with toilet; Fare: US$12
In the
street
Traffic conditions in Vietnam are chaotic, and most Vietnamese
get around on two wheels (and not exactly carefully and considerately).
If you are in possession of a valid international driver's license
issued in Germany, you may also drive the vehicle class permitted by the
driver's license in Vietnam. In this case, it is not necessary to
convert the foreign driver's license into a Vietnamese driver's license.
This is not recommended, in the event of an accident - whether you are
at fault or not - there are high risks. You can hire a car and driver
(drivers usually charge around $120 for a trip to Nha Trang).
By
boat
There is a speedboat connection between Ho Chi Minh City and
Vung Tau. The hydrofoils operate at the Dang Quai creek on the Duong Ton
Duc Thang. Prices: 80,000VND (for locals)/ 150,000VND (for foreigners).
Cruise ships also dock at Phu My Port.
taxi
There are countless taxis from different providers in Ho Chi
Minh City, all of which are equipped with sealed taximeters. The prices
are all in the same range: A basic fee of 5,000 to 15,000 (but mostly
12,000) VND including 2 km and from there a price of 1200 VND per 200 m.
The prices are always visible on a sticker in the passenger compartment.
Be sure to have small notes with you, mostly the drivers cannot give out
large notes.
Especially when arriving at the airport, many
drivers try to negotiate a fixed price that is too high. You shouldn't
have to pay more than 180,000VND for the trip to the center. It is best
to insist on the taximeter. There are a number of companies in the
airport that offer a ride for a fixed price of $8-10. The transport is
then carried out with the provider's own vehicle - slightly more
expensive, but stress-free.
We recommend using taxi apps, e.g.
e.g. "grave". After setup (credit card payment method, verification via
Facebook is required for cash payment first), the app can be operated
with an internet connection and you get unbeatably cheap and effective
mobility. You can also book a driver for several hours as long as the
start and finish is in the city area. Another advantage: Drivers do not
expect tips!
Xe ôm (motorcycle taxi)
Motorbike taxis are a
quick and convenient, but sometimes a bit adventurous, method of
covering short distances in the city. The price has to be negotiated and
should normally be a little less than the taxi price. Drivers can also
be hired for a full day for longer trips.
Cyclo (bicycle
rickshaw)
Increasingly being replaced by the Hondas, the cyclo is one
of the most comfortable means of transport in the city and is
particularly suitable for an extensive city tour. Many cyclo drivers are
ex-South Vietnamese Army fighters and know historical facts about the
city and often speak very good English, so a tour can be an interesting
history lesson.
The drivers, who specialize in tourists, often
have a small booklet with them in which the satisfied customers write
down their impressions. It's worth checking out before you drive. You
should also have the planned route described to you and, if necessary,
state your own wishes beforehand.
The price of each trip should
be negotiated beforehand and possibly even in writing.
By bus
Tourists can hardly find out when, where and where the local buses go.
But it is definitely the cheapest means of transport in the city.
With the subway
Line 1 of the Ho Chi Minh City Metro (Dự án đường
sắt đô thị Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh) is currently under construction and is
expected to connect Bến Thành and Suối Tiên Park when it is completed in
2024.
Pagodas and churches
Nghia An Hoi Quan Pagoda (Hội quán Nghĩa An),
678 Duong Nguyen Trai. The Nghia An Hoi Quan Pagoda is located in the
Chinese district of Cholon. A carved wooden boat hangs above the
entrance. The interior is richly decorated with partly gilded carvings
and large incense spirals hang from the ceiling with the names of those
for whom the spirals were hung written on red paper.
Vinh Nghiem
Pagoda (Chùa Vĩnh Nghiêm (thành phố Hồ Chi Minh)), Duong Nguyen Van
Troi, Dist. 3. With its seven roofs, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda is one of the
larger pagodas in the city. It was opened in 1971. There is a Buddha
statue on each of the eight floors.
Viet Nam Quoc Tu Pagoda (Việt Nam
Quoc To), 16B Duong 3 Thang 2, Dist 10. This pagoda, built in 1963, also
has seven roofs.
Notre Dame (Nhà thờ Đức Bà Sài Gòn), Duong Dong
Khoi. Notre Dame Cathedral, completed in 1883, stands about two blocks
behind Independence Palace Park in downtown Saigon. With its two 40
meter high brick towers, it is a landmark of the city that can be seen
from afar.
Palaces
Reunification Palace (Dinh Độc Lập), 135
Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh 700000. The
Reunification Palace (Entrance: 106 Duong Nguyen Du, Dist. 1) is the
former government building of the South Vietnamese government. There are
guided tours through the whole building including the underground
bunkers.
Buildings
City hall. The City Hall (at the top end of
Nguyen Hue), built in the most lavish French colonial style, is probably
one of the most popular photo subjects in the whole city. Since the new
lighting was installed, it looks even more impressive at night. Today
the house is the seat of the city's People's Committee
City Theatre.
The City Theater (Dai Lo Le Loi) is also a fine example of the many
well-preserved French colonial buildings.
Main Post Office (Bưu điện
trung tâm Sài Gòn) . The main post office has also been carefully
renovated and impresses with its huge counter hall with the oversized
portrait of Ho Chi Minh.
Museums
Historical Museum, 2 Nguyen
Binh Khiem, District 1. The Historical Museum is located on the grounds
of the zoo. It deals primarily with the older history of Vietnam and the
various cultural groups from prehistoric times (including Cham and
Khmer). Unfortunately, the English descriptions are rather poor, which
is why it is advisable to do some research beforehand. In the same
building you can see performances of traditional water puppet theater.
Foreigner price per person VND 32,000. A sparkling pleasure for young
and old. Must see! Open: Tue – Sun 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. + 1.30 p.m. – 4.30
p.m., closed on Mondays. Price: Entrance fee: VND 15,000 for foreigners.
Ho Chi Minh Museum, Duong Nguyen Tat Thanh, Dist. 4. The Ho Chi Minh
Museum is dedicated to Uncle Ho and features some famous items from his
possession.
War Remnants Museum (Bảo tàng Chứng tích chiến tranh),
corner of Duong Vo Van Tan and Duong Le Qui Don. Tel: +84 (0)8 2203 06
82, +84 (0)28 3930 66 64. The War Remnants Museum was formerly known as
the War Crimes Museum and as such documents the atrocities of the
various wars. The faint-hearted should brace themselves for very
authentic portrayals and shocking images. Nothing is sugarcoated in this
exhibition. The museum consists of several houses, each of which deals
with a part of the history of the Vietnam War. Among other things, a
faithful replica of a prison can be seen as well as heavy war equipment.
Saigon offers some magnificent streets and avenues, spacious squares
and interesting intersections. The view of the Duong Bui Thi Xuan from
the balcony of the Reunification Palace is somewhat reminiscent of the
Champs d'Elysée. The Dai Lo Le Loi and the Nguyen Hue impress with their
width and the countless magnificent buildings that line them.
parks
There are a number of parks in Saigon, the largest being Cong
Vien Van Hoa Park in the vicinity of the Independence Palace. Also quite
large is the botanical garden, which is on the same area as the zoo in
the north of the Dist. 1 lies. While the animals at the zoo don't look
too happy, the park is a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of
the city for a few hours.
Many parks often host music or other
events of some kind.
Amusement parks
There are a number of amusement, theme and water
parks on the outskirts and in the immediate vicinity of the city, which
offer a welcome change, especially for families with children.
Dam Sen Cultural Park (Công viên Văn hoá Đầm Sen), 03 Hoa Binh St.,
Dist. 11 . Modern amusement park with monorail, associated sports center
and water park.
Binh Quoi Village 1 (Làng du lịch Bình Quới), 1147 Xo
Viet Nghe Tinh St., Ward 28, Binh Thanh Dist . Tourist village in a park
area not too far from Saigon Waterpark. The main attraction is an
all-you-can-eat buffet with traditional South Vietnamese dishes. The
buffet is available every Saturday and Sunday from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00
p.m. and on Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Price: VND 75,000
(adults)/ VND 45,000 (children).
On the Dong Khoi there are many boutiques and shops with souvenirs,
mostly from the upper price range.
In Saigon Square on Hai Ba Trung
directly behind the main post office you can find affordable branded
clothing. Among other things, down jackets, gore-tex jackets with fiber
fur and other winter clothing are also available at unbeatable prices.
Benh Thanh Market is a typical Vietnamese market, but it's a little bit
more tourist oriented. The saleswomen are often a bit too pushy.
Zen
Plaza (Duong Ton That Tung) is a western-style department store. There
is a restaurant on an upper floor with a view of the city.
There is a
street market around Huynh Thuc Khang.
Cheap
In food stalls on the sidewalks and in small restaurants
frequented by locals with the charm of an indoor swimming pool, you can
often eat very well for very little money. If a restaurant has a lot of
customers (indicated by the floor covered with bones, fish bones and
napkins), this can be an additional indication of good food.
Many
of these establishments specialize in a particular type of dish and are
easily identified by the signage. Phở is the typical Vietnamese noodle
soup and is often eaten by locals for breakfast. Phở bò is the variant
with beef. Cơm stands for rice, these places serve rice dishes. The rice
is usually eaten with a meat or fish dish. Hủ tiếu nam vang is another
highly nutritious soup made with curled noodles, vegetables, and meat or
shrimp.
Tiệm Cơm Minh Đức, 100 Ton That Tung, Dist. 1. The place
is so popular that the owner has already rented two other places on the
same street.
Pho nho, 170 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, P6, Q3. Simple noodle
bar with tasty soups. A soup costs 30,000 Dong.
Middle
There
are also countless restaurants in the middle price segment. Most do not
have their own name, but are identified by the house number. Since this
logically leads to overlaps, you should also remember the street to the
number.
With three or four people or more, it is worth ordering a
few dishes from the menu and eating them together. Apart from the fact
that the food is naturally more varied, it is the case that all dishes
are rarely served at the same time, but often at intervals of 10 minutes
or more.
Also in the middle segment you will find some good
restaurants with western cuisine.
Bo Tung Xeo Restaurant, 31 Ly
Tu Trong, Dist. 1. The specialty of the house is a kind of table grill,
on which you can roast small pieces of marinated beef yourself. Very
good fish dishes are also available here.
Garden City, 34 Duong Dong
Khoi, Dist. 1. The oldest German restaurant in town. Wheat beer and
sausages in a cozy environment.
Bavaria, 4B Duong Ngo Van Nam, Dist.
1. Also a real German restaurant.
Pomodoro, 79 Hai Ba Trung, Dist. 1.
Original Italian pizza and pasta. Friendly and cozy.
nah hang ngon,
160 Pasteur, P.Ben Nghe, Quan 1. Email: quannanngon@hcm.vnn.vn. Housed
in an old French villa, you will find selected Vietnamese dishes between
30,000 and 90,000 Dong. You should reserve a table here in advance as it
can get crowded in the evenings.
upscale
It is probably hard
to find such cheap and good first-class restaurants anywhere in the
world as in Saigon. In addition to Vietnamese, there are also Japanese,
French, Italian, Chinese, Indian and many other cuisines to choose from.
La Camargue, 16 Cao Ba Quat, Dist. 1. Restaurant with French cuisine
and a first-class wine list housed in an old colonial villa. It doesn't
primarily score with the food, but with the unique atmosphere.
The bar in the Rex Hotel is probably the trendiest bar for tourists. The bar is located on the 5th floor of the hotel. From there you have a nice overview of the city. A cocktail is available for 140,000 Dong. The hottest disco, especially for foreigners, is Apocalypse Bar in District 1.
Cheap
MY Art House, 219/8 Pham Ngu Lao, Dist. 1. Tel: +84
(8)8367937, Mobile: +84 958602638. New hotel with friendly service, roof
terrace and quiet location. Price: Room with AC $10.
Middle
Southern Hotel, 216 De Tham, Dist. 1. Right in the heart of the
backpacker area. Clean rooms, breakfast restaurant on the 10th floor
with great views over the city. Price: Double room around $20.
Upscale
Legend Hotel, 2A-4A Ton Duc Thang, Dist. 1: This 5-star hotel
is one of the best hotels in Ho Chi Minh City! The service is excellent,
the rooms are clean and of course with AC, hair dryer, TV. The
restaurant located in the hotel can only be recommended, especially dim
sum.
There are now several 5-star hotels in the city. Including
offshoots of well-known western chains such as:
Eastin Grand Hotel
Saigon, 253 Nguyen Van Troi, Phu Nhuan. Phone: +84-8-3844-9222.
InterContinental Asiana Saigon, Corner Hai Ba Trung. Phone:
+84-8-3520-9999.
Park Hyatt Saigon, 2 Lam Son Square, District 1.
Tel: +84-8-3824-1234.
Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon, 8-15 Ton
Duc Thang, District 1. Tel: +84-8-3822-0033.
Sheraton Saigon Hotel &
Towers, 88 Dong Khoi, District 1. Tel: +84-8-3827-2828.
Sofitel
Saigon Plaza, 17 Le Duan District 1. Tel: +84-8-3824-1555, Email:
H2077@sofitel.com.
Violent crime against foreigners is low in Ho Chi Minh City. Those
who use common sense will hardly have any problems. The biggest problem
are pickpockets, who mainly go about their "business" in the tourist
areas. It can happen that you are distracted by a group of begging
children while a small hand is doing your trouser pockets from behind.
Snatch thefts are also relatively common. Especially when crossing
the street, you should hold your camera and backpack securely, because
the perpetrators often rush by on their motorcycles and grab loosely
dangling things as they drive past. Valuable things should therefore not
be carried around in a shoulder bag or backpack.
After
withdrawing/exchanging money, it is better to store your money in a safe
place before leaving the bank, as thieves sometimes lurk in front of the
bank.
If you are traveling alone at night, you should prefer the
taxi to the motorbike or even the cyclo. But even a night walk is no
problem for two or three people.
FV French Vietnamese Hospital, 6 Nguyễn Lương Bằng, Tan Phu, Quận 7, Ho Chi Minh. Tel: +84 28 5411 3333. Accredited International Hospital with western standard professional service. In addition to Vietnamese, the staff also speaks English and/or French. After treatment, you will receive a report, which can easily be submitted to the foreign health insurance company. 24/7 emergency room (on the back of the building, follow "Emergency 24/24". You don't have to pay a deposit. Payment by credit card takes place after treatment and consultation. Medicines are available in the in-house pharmacy.
The city is just north of the Mekong Delta on the west bank of the
Saigon River, averaging 19 meters above sea level. The distance to the
South China Sea (Vietnamese East Sea) is around 40 kilometers. The
administrative city area has an extension of 2095 square kilometers.
The distance from the northernmost part (Phu My Hung Village, Cu Chi
District) to the southernmost part of the urban area (Long Hoa Village,
Can Gio District) is 120 km, from the easternmost part (Long Binh
District, District 9) to the westernmost part (Binh Village Chanh, Binh
Chanh district) 46 km.
South of the city, the twin rivers of the
Mekong, also known as the Tiền Giang or Sông Tiền (“Upper Mekong”) and
Hậu Giang or sông Hậu (“Lower Mekong”), flow into the Mekong Delta,
which extends over 70,000 km² and widens into the South China Sea (in
Vietnam: East Sea).
overview
Ho Chi Minh City is divided into 19 districts (Quận) and
5 counties (Huyện). Of the 19 districts, only the 7 districts outside
the city center have their own names (Quận Bình Tân, Quận Bình Thạnh,
Quận Gò Vấp, Quận Phú Nhuận, Quận Tân Bình, Quận Tân Phú and Quận Thủ
Đức), the districts in the center are simple numbered (Quận 1, Quận 2,
Quận 3, Quận 4, Quận 5, Quận 6, Quận 7, Quận 8, Quận 9, Quận 10, Quận 11
and Quận 12).
The 5 counties are located outside of the core city
(high density and compact settlement) in the suburbs and rural areas,
but within the administrative city limits (Huyện Bình Chánh, Huyện Cần
Giờ, Huyện Củ Chi, Huyện Hóc Môn and Huyện Nhà Bè). The 19 districts are
divided into 259 districts (phường), the 5 districts in 58 large
communities (xã) and 5 communities (thị trấn).
Chợ Lớn
Chợ
Lớn, the 5th District (Quận 5), is the Chinatown of Ho Chi Minh City.
Originally, Chợ Lớn - in English big market - was a city in itself, but
has merged with the former Saigon, mainly due to the high influx of
refugees. It is inhabited by half a million ethnic Chinese who dominate
the neighborhood with their Chinese pharmacies, restaurants and shops.
True to the name, Chợ Lớn is also the district with the most commercial
activity. The ancestors of the residents immigrated to Vietnam from
various regions of southern China and have retained their dialects and
customs. There are separate temples for people of Chaozhou origin and
separate temples for those from Guangzhou.
Around 1900, Chợ Lớn
was also a seedy entertainment district, where the use of opium was just
one of the pleasures on offer. British writer Graham Greene was among
the visitors. Since the 1950s, the congested streets of Chợ Lớn have
been an ideal hiding place for the Việt Minh and later the NLF, while
after reunification with North Vietnam and especially during the 1979
war with the People's Republic of China, the Chinese made up a large
proportion of the boat people. Chợ Lớn is also home to the notable Quan
Âm Pagoda and Thien Hau Pagoda.
When Chợ Lớn's community of
Fujian Chinese built the Quan Âm Pagoda at Chau van Liem in the late
19th century, they dedicated the temple to the goddess of mercy. In the
center of the main hall, however, stands the holy mother and heavenly
empress A Pho behind an altar that is vaguely reminiscent of a
tombstone. The courtyard beyond is populated by a whole pantheon of
deities and attracts a steady stream of devotees. Most notable are the
two statues of Quan Âm - one with its back to A Pho, the other in
dignified dark gold.
Cu Chi
Củ Chi (Huyện Củ Chi) is a
district in the administrative region of Ho Chi Minh City. The Củ Chi
tunnels, in which Vietnamese partisans hid during the Vietnam War from
1965 to 1975, are well known. The tunnel system is named after the
village of the same name in the district. The first tunnels were built
in 1948. In the 1960s, North Vietnamese partisans dug deeper and deeper
until the tunnel system had grown to a remarkable length of 200 km on
three levels.
Real cities with schools, military hospitals,
offices and sleeping quarters were built underground. All underground
buildings were connected with tunnels no more than 80 cm high and 70 cm
wide. Access to the outside world was through flap doors hidden by
leaves and grass. All entrances were secured by simple but highly
effective traps.
The site has been preserved and can be visited
today.
The city is located in the tropical climate zone. The average annual
temperature is 27.2 degrees Celsius, the average annual rainfall is 1931
mm. The main rainy season is between May and October, and flooding must
then be expected in some urban areas. Most precipitation falls in
September with an average of 327 mm, the least in February with an
average of four millimeters.
Average temperatures throughout the
year range from 25.6 to 28.9 degrees Celsius. The average daily
temperature is a maximum of 32 °C, a minimum of 24 °C with high
humidity. The hottest months are April with an average of 28.9 °C
(maximum 35 °C and minimum 25 °C average daily temperature) and May with
an average of 28.7 °C. The lowest temperatures are measured in the area
around Ho Chi Minh City in January with a maximum of 30 °C and a minimum
of 20 °C daily mean temperature. The dry season runs from December to
April.
Historians and archaeologists fix the founding of the place between
the 1st and 6th centuries: the Khmer people had built a fishing village
here. At that time, no Vietnamese lived in the region. The realm of
Funan, further to the west, was nominally in control of the area. Later,
Funan was conquered by the Kambuja people, who belonged to the kingdom
of Chenla, which in turn was later absorbed into Angkor. However, these
power-political shifts had little impact on the small fishing village.
The country was surrounded by such inaccessible forests and swamps
that the Khmer fishermen who lived there called their settlement Prei
Nokor (village in the forest). However, due to its location on solid
ground, just north of the swampy delta and surrounded on three sides by
navigable waterways, the town's rise began.
When Chenla was
conquered by the Khmer Empire of Angkor, which ruled the region until
the 15th century, Prei Nokor flourished as a transshipment port for
Cambodian ships plying the great Mekong River. By the 17th century, a
garrison and trading community developed there, which also included
Malay, Chinese and Indian traders.
The development of such a dynamic settlement was bound to draw the
attention of the North. By the late 17th century, the Vietnamese, on
their southward march, had conquered Champa, which bordered the Khmer
Empire, and over the next century the entire region was conquered by the
Nguyễn Dynasty, who ruled Huế. The Vietnamese nobleman Nguyen Phuc Chu
is credited with turning the place back into a significant settlement.
He was sent to the region in 1698 to set up administrative structures.
With the new rulers came a new name, Saigon, which is believed to be
derived from the Vietnamese word for the kapok tree.
When the Tây
Sơn rebellion broke out in 1771, Nguyễn Phúc Ánh, the ousted ruler of
the Nguyễn dynasty, fled south from Huế to Saigon. After declaring the
city his provisional capital, he completely surrounded it with walls and
built it into a fortress. The octagonal citadel of Gia Dinh was modeled
after a blooming lotus flower on the advice of its geomancers. When
Nguyễn Phúc Ánh returned to Huế after the suppression of the uprising in
1802 as Emperor Gia Long, Saigon remained his regional administrative
center in the south.
The army that defeated the Tây Sơn brothers
also included a military unit from the French, who subsequently vied
with the Vietnamese for control of the region for seven decades in order
to establish a permanent trading post in Asia.
Finally, on February 17, 1859, the French army occupied Saigon under
the pretext that the French missionaries under Emperor Tự Đức were being
persecuted. The city was declared the capital of the French colony of
Cochinchina by the Treaty of Saigon on June 5, 1862.
Today's Ho
Chi Minh City owes its appearance and character mainly to the French
colonists. As part of a wide-ranging program of public works projects,
canals were filled in and swamp areas drained. Steam tram lines were
established, operating on the strict grid of tamarind-lined streets,
which in the 1930s bore such 'un-Vietnamese' names as Boulevard de la
Somme or Rue Rousseau.
Striking examples of European architecture
emerged, while numerous cafes and boutiques opened to cater to the needs
of Europeans. The city was so permeated with a French atmosphere that
the English writer Somerset Maugham, who visited Saigon in the 1920s,
compared it to a small provincial town in southern France and described
it as a carefree and cheerful little town. Peter Scholl-Latour, in his
book Death in the Paddy Field: Thirty Years' War in Indochina, described
Saigon as the most elegant and cultured city in Asia of that era.
The large profits that the colons (settlers) siphoned off from the
export of rubber and rice through Saigon's rapidly expanding overseas
port were partially reinvested in the city's development. However, the
living conditions of the Vietnamese were very difficult during French
colonial rule. Their resistance was expressed primarily in the form of
numerous strikes in the 1920s and 1930s. However, the national movement
only gained strength after the Second World War had reached Southeast
Asia. On July 28, 1941, Japanese troops took Saigon.
After the armistice was declared between Japan and the Allies on
August 19, 1945, the Việt Minh guerrillas began to take power in
Vietnam. This process, which went down in Vietnamese history as the
August Revolution, ended with the liberation of Saigon on August 28,
1945. Ho Chi Minh used the freedom he had now gained to announce
Vietnam's independence on September 2, 1945 in Hanoi.
When World
War II ended, the British Army was tasked with disarming Japanese troops
in southern Vietnam. When the British arrived in Saigon on September 13,
1945, they immediately restored power to the French, laying the
foundation for a 30-year war. After initial concessions to the Việt
Minh, the French administration decided in December 1946 to militarily
eliminate the organization and restore the old status of the colony.
Riots broke out in Saigon on July 14, 1949, during celebrations of
the French National Day, killing 22 and injuring 118.
Saigon was
largely spared from the Indochina war against the French because the
fighting was mainly fought in rural areas. The war ended with the
surrender of the French on May 7, 1954 after the Battle of Điện Biên Pủ
in the far north of the country when they were defeated by the Việt
Minh. Before that, however, they had been installed by Emperor Bảo Đại,
who made Saigon the capital of his empire. After Vietnam was divided
into North and South Vietnam, Saigon remained the capital of the
southern part under the government of President Ngô Đình Diệm.
During the Vietnam War, tens of thousands of US soldiers were
stationed in Saigon from 1965, which benefited the local economy, but
also led to the development of rampant prostitution. The years of war
took a heavy toll: the US carpet bombing in rural areas brought several
million refugees to the relatively safe city.
The bloody
crackdown on a demonstration by Buddhist monks in the summer of 1963, in
which some monks burned themselves, led to the outbreak of the Buddhist
crisis. On November 1, 1963, generals of the South Vietnamese army
overthrew the Ngô Đình Diệm government in Saigon. The first President of
the Republic of South Vietnam and several members of the government were
executed.
On January 31, 1968, during the Tet Offensive, the Viet
Cong launched a highly symbolic attack on the US Embassy in Saigon.
However, the 19 militants attempting to storm the embassy building were
killed before they could enter the building. Far stronger attacks took
place in and near Saigon on the airfield and headquarters of General
William Westmoreland and the South Vietnamese military. But it took the
Americans only a short time to rally and fight back. The very next
morning they attacked the North Vietnamese, and within five days these
small units were completely defeated.
Although the Tet offensive
did not bring the desired military breakthrough for the Viet Cong, it
was decisive, especially with regard to public opinion in the USA. The
impression of a war that could not be won and had become pointless
prevailed. With the departure of US soldiers in 1973, economic activity
declined noticeably.
In 1975, the US Embassy was the scene of the
helicopter evacuation, codenamed Operation Frequent Wind, that marked
the final US withdrawal from Vietnam. The site was one of 13 designated
landing zones where all foreigners were to gather upon hearing the words
"It is 112 degrees and rising" on the radio, followed by the Bing Crosby
song White Christmas.
At noon on April 29, 1975, the signal was
sent, and for the next eighteen hours helicopter after helicopter flew
passengers to the US Navy's 7th Fleet, which was waiting off the coast
of Vũng Tàu. Around two thousand refugees were evacuated from the roof
of the embassy alone before US Ambassador Graham Martin was the last to
leave the following morning with the rolled-up Stars and Stripes under
his arm. Numerous Vietnamese civilians stayed behind in front of the
embassy gates and had to surrender to the communists.
When on April 30, 1975, tanks from North Vietnamese forces and their
ally, the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam, broke
through the perimeter fence of the Presidential Palace in Saigon - one
of the tanks was later placed on the spot as a memorial - and the North
Vietnamese flag hung on the hoisted buildings, the Vietnam War was
officially over. A short time before, the last US helicopter had left
the site; the equipment of the Americans and the South Vietnamese
government, who were left behind in a hurry at the time, can be seen in
the palace.
While the communists call this event the liberation
of Saigon, the South Vietnamese and Americans call it the fall of
Saigon. On July 2, 1976, North and South Vietnam were reunited under the
name of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and Saigon was renamed Ho Chi
Minh City after the former President of North Vietnam. This was
accompanied by the renaming of Hanoi.
Unwise political decisions
following reunification resulted in social and economic stagnation, the
effects of which can still be seen. To make matters worse, several
thousand South Vietnamese, who had previously cooperated with the
Americans, were sent to re-education camps, while millions of people
left the country by sea as boat people.
Only since 1986, when the
Đổi mới renewal policy initiated the liberalization of the economy and
the market economy was given a new chance, has Ho Chi Minh City
developed rapidly into the financial and economic center of Vietnam, as
evidenced by a number of gleaming skyscrapers and posh hotels in the
city center . As a result of the Đổi mới, tourism in Vietnam experienced
an upswing, so that there was a need for new, comparatively luxurious
accommodation. To remedy this situation quickly, a floating hotel
originally built for Australian waters was brought to Ho Chi Minh City
in 1989 and moored on the banks of the Saigon River, directly in front
of the Trần Hưng Đạo Statue (♁Mooring Place). The official Saigon
Floating Hotel, but mostly just called The Floater by the locals,
quickly became popular with foreigners in particular. When enough
conventional hotels became available in the city, operations ceased in
1996 and the hotel was relocated to North Korea after a refurbishment.
The other side is the rising crime rate. Corruption, prostitution,
drug trafficking and organized crime regularly make headlines in the
Vietnamese press. After a spectacular trial, Năm Cam, a notorious mafia
boss, was executed in Ho Chi Minh City in 2004. The number of HIV
infections in the city has also multiplied dramatically in recent years:
in 2004, 12,000 HIV cases were officially reported. Those most affected
are prostitutes (many worked in neighboring Cambodia) and drug addicts
(because of the shared use of hypodermic needles). Nationwide, Ho Chi
Minh City is at the top of HIV infection statistics.
Since the beginning of French colonization, the former Saigon has
experienced rapid population growth. From 7,000 inhabitants in 1862,
this number increased tenfold to 68,000 in 1911. Already in 1914 the
limit of 100,000 was reached and in 1939 half a million people lived in
the city. During the Second World War, the population doubled to around
one million, and again to two million by 1974.
According to the
April 1, 2019 census, 8,993,082 people (2009 = 7,123,340) lived in the
entire administrative area of the city, of which 7,125,493 in the 19
urban districts (2009 = 5,929,479) and 1,867,589 in the five rural
districts (2009 = 1,193,861). This makes it the most populous city in
Vietnam as well as the most populous administrative unit in the country.
By the year 2050, the metropolitan area is expected to have a population
of 11.9 million.
A significant part of the population growth
since the beginning of colonial development is based on immigration from
the hinterland. In addition to ethnic Vietnamese (87%), 11% of the
residents are overseas Chinese (Hoa). People from Vietnam's other ethnic
minorities (Khmer, Cham, Nung, Rhade) also live in the city. Together
they make up 2% of the total population. According to the 2004 census,
the religions are distributed as follows: Buddhists 50%, Catholics 12%,
Protestants 2%, others (Caodists, Hoa Hao, Muslims, Hindus) 2%, 34% of
the inhabitants of Ho Chi Minh do not belong to any religion -City.
The population figures in the following table refer to the core
city, excluding the population of the rural districts. Up to 1975 these
are mostly estimates, after that they are census results.
On the east side of Lam Son Square stands the Municipal Theater,
opened in 1899, whose colossal, domed entrance faces southwest onto Le
Loi. In 1955 it temporarily housed the National Assembly, but today the
restored building hosts fashion shows, plays and dances again.
The Hoa Binh Theater at 3 Thang 2 regularly hosts performances of modern
and classical Vietnamese music, traditional plays and dances, fashion
shows, concerts (sometimes featuring Western artists) and dubbed films.
The Binh Quoi Cultural Village on Xo Viet Nghe Tinh presents a
program of folk music, traditional dances and water puppet theater
organized by the company Saigontourist, which can also be combined with
an evening cruise on the Saigon River.
A pagoda-style roof tops the city's Historical Museum. It houses a
series of galleries that trace the history of Vietnam from the early
stages of development to the end of French colonial rule through a
display of artifacts and paintings. Other rooms feature objects as
diverse as Buddha images from across Asia, 7th- and 8th-century Cham
art, and handicrafts from the country's ethnic minorities. One room is
filled with exquisite ceramics from Japan, Thailand and Vietnam. There
is also a water puppet theater with daily performances in the museum.
The War Remnants Museum has a collection of tanks, planes, and other
weapons captured by the US Army. A photo gallery shows acts of war, the
use of napalm and the defoliants Agent Orange and Agent Blue sprayed
over Vietnam. The consequences have been an increase in cancer, birth
defects, deformities and environmental degradation. The presentation of
history in this museum is limited to the view of the victors.
The
Revolution Museum is housed in the former palace of the governor of
Cochinchina, which was also used as President Diem's residence during
the Vietnam War. It shows many photos and items from the war. Clothing
worn by Vietnamese soldiers is also on display.
The Ho Chi Minh
Museum is housed in the former Customs Headquarters, built in 1863.
Using photographs, documents and artefacts, it traces the struggle of
the Vietnamese people against the French and American occupiers. On the
ground floor is a collection of ancient artifacts and historical items,
along with a natural history section and another section dedicated to
ethnic minority clothing and tools. Upstairs, where the focus is on the
Vietnam War, the museum presents exhibits that explore Vietnamese
ingenuity. These include mortars made out of bicycle parts, a Suzuki
motorcycle in whose hollow frame parts documents were smuggled to
Saigon, and a boat with a false bottom used as a weapons cache.
The art museum is set up in a stately colonial villa. The basement and
ground floor are dedicated to commercial artworks that are available for
purchase through various galleries. The first floor is dominated by
revolutionary political art, mostly depicting motifs of soldiers,
theaters of war and Ho Chi Minh. The second floor features a collection
of Oc Eo and Cham minority statues, gilded Buddhas and other antique
objects.
The Dong Khoi, known as Rue Catinat, was already Saigon's promenade
during French colonial rule. During the Vietnam War, it was the site of
numerous bars and brothels that catered to the needs of US soldiers.
Since the Doi Moi, Uprising Street has regained its old reputation and
is filled with bars, restaurants and expensive designer shops.
Nguyen Hue is the parallel street to Dong Khoi. It was built as
Boulevard Charner and has been dubbed the Champs Elysées of the East.
Today, after a long construction period for the subway, Nguyen Hue was
reopened as a large promenade on April 30, 2015 with only two narrow
lanes for taxis on the edge.
Le Duan Boulevard, built in the
French style like Nguyen Hue, connects the city center with the
botanical gardens. In terms of traffic, however, the Nguyen Thi Minh
Khai, which runs north parallel to Le-Duan, is more important. Both are
now again the seat of several diplomatic missions, including the German
Consulate General. The US Embassy was also once located here; during the
Vietnam War it was the scene of a spectacular raid at the beginning of
the Tet offensive. In the final days of the war, helicopters flew the
last remaining Americans onto a warship off the coast. The US Consulate
General has now been rebuilt and only commemorative plaques commemorate
those dramatic events.
The main post office, built between 1886 and 1891, is located on the
Dong Khoi. Apart from a renovation and modernization of the counters,
almost no changes have been made since it was created. The French
engineer Gustave Eiffel designed the steel structure of the building. Ho
Chi Minh watches over the work of the postal workers from a huge
painting in the hall.
At the northern end of Nguyen Hue is the
former town hall, a colonial building from 1906. Today, the People's
Committee is housed behind Corinthian columns, classical figures and
window shutters. A statue of Ho Chi Minh with a small child on his lap
watches over the small park in front of the building.
About 200
meters south of the cathedral, where the Dong Khoi briefly widens, is
Lam Son Square with the Hotel Continental. Once a bastion of French
society, the famous building with its white facade, rotating globe and
ocher roof is still one of the most prestigious addresses in the city.
In the first half of the 20th century, the hotel's front terrace was the
place to see and be seen.
It is therefore not surprising that
Somerset Maugham also came here in the mid-1920s: 'It is very pleasant
to sit under the awning on the terrace of the Hotel Continental with an
innocuous drink [and] in the local paper of the heated controversy about
the to read colony affairs,” he writes. In the immediate vicinity,
opposite the much smaller Hotel Continental, is the Hotel Caravelle,
built in 1958 and now renovated. In earlier times, the building was the
preferred address of Western journalists and war correspondents.
Northwest of the cathedral, the national flag flies atop the
Reunification Palace, a whitewashed concrete structure. The building
stands on the site of the former Norodom Palace, an 1871 colonial
mansion that was once the residence of the Governor-General of
Indochina. With the departure of the French in 1954, Ngo Dinh made the
extravagant building his presidential palace, but after suffering severe
damage in an attempted assassination by two renegade South Vietnamese
pilots in February 1962, the building was eventually demolished. The
current building was initially called the Independence Palace when it
was completed in 1966, only to be renamed the Reunification Hall after
the conquest of the South in 1975. The interior is from the 1960s and
1970s. The third floor is interesting, among other things, where, in
addition to the presidential library, there is also a projection room
darkened by a curtain and a lounge with a circular sofa and a
barrel-shaped bar.
The second tallest building in the city is the
Bitexco Financial Tower, the tallest of the Landmark 81 skyscrapers.
With a height of 461 m, it is also the tallest building in Vietnam.
The German House Ho Chi Minh City was completed in 2018 and opened
in 2019. The 25-storey building complex consisting of two towers was
initiated as part of a bilateral government agreement between Germany
and Vietnam. It sets standards for energy efficiency "made in Germany"
and is the location of the German Consulate General as well as other
institutions and companies (including Adidas, Siemens, Apple, Visacard,
Regus).
Between September 9, 2005 and September 2, 2009 the construction of
the Phu My Bridge (Cầu Phú Mỹ) took place. It is a six-lane cable-stayed
bridge over the Saigon River. It connects the Thu Thiem New Urban Area
on the north side with the center of Ho Chi Minh City. At the same time,
the connection to Central and North Vietnam and the Mekong Delta was
established via the National Highway 1A.
sacred buildings
Built between 1877 and 1883, the brick neo-Romanesque Notre-Dame
Cathedral is one of the city's most important colonial buildings and the
center of the Catholic Church in southern Vietnam. Notre-Dame is at the
north end of Dong Khoi. Masses are held in English every Sunday. On the
Paris Commune square in front of it stands a statue of the Virgin Mary.
This church is also called Notre-Dame of the East.
The Jade
Pagoda is the most colorful pagoda in the city. Built in 1909 by the
city's Cantonese community, it worships several Taoist and Buddhist
deities. It is full of statues and carvings of Asian deities and heroic
figures. In the flower-lined courtyard in front of the building is a
pond, the inhabitants of which gave the temple its nickname "Turtle
Pagoda".
Thien Hau Temple on the Nguyen Trai is frequented
primarily by local women making offerings to Me Sanh, the goddess of
fertility, and Long Mau, the goddess of mothers and newborns. When
Cantonese immigrants built the temple in the mid-19th century, they
named it after Thien Hau, the protector of seafarers. Those who had just
arrived from China immediately went there to thank the goddess for safe
conduct in the South China Sea. Three statues of the goddess stand in a
row on the altar, while a striking painting on the front inner wall
depicts a scene of Thien Hau guiding some violently rocking ships safely
through the storm-tossed sea. A notable detail of the temple is its
roof, on which numerous figures are located.
On the Dong Du
stands the Central Mosque, built in the 1930s, with white and blue walls
and four minarets. South of the Hotel Rex is the temple of Sri
Thendayyuthapani, whose gopuram (ornamental gate tower) towers in the
Ton That Thiep. The intricate murals normally found in a Hindu temple
have been replaced with paintings of Jawaharlal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi
and various deities from the Hindu pantheon, while the colorful ceiling
is studded with lamps.
In the Truong Dinh stands the Hindu temple
Sri Mariamman. The building's imposing yellow walls are sometimes
besieged by vendors selling oil, incense sticks and jasmine flowers. The
roof is adorned with a colorful gopuram with stone-carved figures of
gods. Inside, sculptures of the deities Mariamman, Maduraiveeran and
Pechiamman are housed in stone sanctuaries. There are other
representations of seated gods in the courtyard.
The Ba Huyen
Thanh Quan is home to the Xá Lợi Pagoda, which was at the center of
Buddhist resistance to President Diem's government in 1963. Built in
1956, the sober complex features a tall tower clad in beige bricks and a
six-tiered eastern-style roof as its most striking features.
Behind an oversized urn with incense sticks, imaginatively decorated
with marbles and shards of porcelain, opens a high hall with a large,
gilded Buddha and 14 wall paintings with stories from his life. Behind
the Buddha's back is a shrine commemorating Thich Quang Duc and the
other monks who self-immolated in Saigon in 1963.
The An Quang
Pagoda on Su Van Hanh Street in the 10th Ward is a meeting place for
representatives of Buddhism and the seat of the Institute for Dharma
Propagation. The buildings of the pagoda, erected in 1948, were
constantly increased and expanded and, in addition to a large auditorium
and a library, some farm buildings such as a printing shop, publishing
house and incense cone production were also built. But the great
importance of the pagoda lies in the large number of Dharma teachers
who, along with thousands of monks and nuns, have received their
in-depth training here.
Established in 1864 by two Frenchmen (a veterinarian and a botanist),
the Botanical Garden near the Thi Nghe Canal houses a collection of
tropical plants. Inside is the zoo, which features camels, elephants,
crocodiles, big cats and even Komodo dragons. The aquarium and the
amusement park are also attractive.
West of the Independence
Palace is the Cong Vien Van Hoa City Public Park. During the colonial
period, the northern section of the park was a popular meeting place for
the French living in Vietnam, as it housed the elite Cercle Sportif, a
sports club reserved for westerners only, where the colons met to swim
and play tennis. Over time, the French names on the membership list were
replaced by US names, and today the Workers' Sports Club is located
there.
Notable theme parks include Binh Quoi Park on Xo Viet Nghe
Street in Binh Thanh District. In the Binh Quoi Cultural Village, the
visitor is shown the traditional South Vietnamese way of life.
Activities include fishing, canoeing, boat trips and cycling tours.
Not far from the village, on Kha Van Can Street in Thu Duc District,
is Saigon Waterpark with water slides, a wave pool, children's pool and
restaurants.
The Dam Sen Cultural Park on Hoa Binh Street in the
11th district is a modern amusement park with monorail, sports
facilities and water park.
Large or international sporting events rarely take place in the city,
because sport is more of a mass phenomenon in Vietnam, while competitive
and top-class sport is little developed due to a lack of infrastructure
and financial resources. The most popular sport is soccer. There are
several football clubs in the city, including Hồ Chí Minh City FC,
Navibank Sài Gòn F.C. Both play in the country's highest league, the
V.League 1, which plays their games in the Thong-Nhat Stadium. Asian
sports such as Thai Cuc Quyen, Kung Fu, Vovinam, Taekwondo, Judo, Karate
and Badminton (see Vietnam Open) are also very popular. In recent years,
European sports such as tennis or golf have become increasingly
fashionable, especially among the wealthier sections of the population.
A three-cushion world cup has been held in the city annually since 2015.
Billiards is a very popular sport in Vietnam. In three-cushion billiards
there are several world-class players who have won medals at
international championships.
North of Cholon in the Le Dai Hanh
is the Phu Tho racecourse. After the "liberation" of the South in 1975,
gambling and betting were declared the epitome of decadence and
criminalized. It was not until 1989 that the political climate in the
country was liberalized enough for the racetrack to reopen. The race
days (Saturday and Sunday) regularly attract thousands of betting
enthusiasts. Hundreds of racehorses are kept in Ho Chi Minh City today,
and the number is constantly being augmented by horses imported from
Europe and Hong Kong for breeding purposes.
Ho Chi Minh City is considered the culinary metropolis of the
country. In addition to numerous Vietnamese restaurants, there are also
many restaurants with international cuisine. The number of foreigners
living in Vietnam has increased so much that new restaurants with a
focus on foreign cuisine are opening up. You can get Tex-Mex, Tanduri
Masala, Shish Kebap or Sushi, although French restaurants still
dominate.
The French heritage is also evident in the large number
of cafes. But there are also numerous restaurants that offer Vietnamese
cuisine in the city. Most places are open all year round, only a few
close during the Tet festival. The needs of tourists are increasingly
making opening times more flexible.
The simple eateries serve
meals like com and pho in large portions. The tourist cafes around De
Tham and Pham Ngu Lao offer inexpensive steak and fries or a batch of
fried noodles. The food in the restaurants with local cuisine is of good
quality and the prices are affordable for the population.
The
specialty restaurants, on the other hand, are very expensive by
Vietnamese standards – you can spend as much on a meal as a Vietnamese
family has in a month, but they are still cheap by Western standards and
the quality of the cuisine is very high. Fresh ingredients are always
used, such as vegetables from Da Lat and meat, which is often flown in
from Australia.
Built in 1914 and renovated in 1986, Ben Thanh Market (Bến Thành
Market) is one of the landmarks of old Saigon. Today it is a large
market hall for clothing, food, electronics and souvenirs. All sorts of
fresh merchandise such as vegetables, fruit, fish and flowers are also
on offer. Another attraction of the market: Here all sorts of local
cuisine are offered that are not available in Europe, or at least not
fresh.
Ben Thanh Market is a square covering more than 13,000
square meters with around 1500 stalls and shops. One of its main gates
with a turret resembles a church tower. Before that, seven streets meet
as a roundabout. The equestrian statue of Tran Nguyen Han stood in the
middle of the busy roundabout until 2015. He introduced the use of
carrier pigeons to Vietnam in the 13th century. The monument was removed
because the construction of the subway is approaching and underground
shopping arcades are planned here afterwards.
On Nguyen Thai Hoc
is Cau Ong Market, a hypermarket that trades almost 24 hours a day.
Early in the morning you can see traders buying large quantities of
fruit, vegetables and other goods to sell later in the city's smaller
markets.
Binh Tay Market is located on Thap Muoi in Cholon.
Beneath its multi-tiered yellow roofs dotted with squirming dragons,
structured aisles lined with countless stalls offer all manner of
produce, including dried fish, pickles, chili paste, and pottery. The
market is framed by two department store blocks, each crowned by four
Moorish domes.
In Le Cong Kieu, which branches off opposite the
art museum, there are numerous antique shops with Far Eastern and
colonial goods. Memorabilia on Vietnam's recent history can be found at
the stalls behind Dan Sinh Market, where surplus army supplies are sold.
The market is located on Nguyen Cong Tru. Among the items on sale are
khaki uniforms, Viet Cong pith helmets, vintage compasses and US Zippo
lighters.
Overview
The city is the commercial and economic center of
Vietnam. It has a modern seaport and is home to the country's largest
stock exchange, the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HSX). In 2007, gross
domestic product (GDP) was $14.3 billion, up 12.6 percent from 2006.
Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) was $71.5 billion. Around 20 percent of
Vietnam's gross domestic product (GDP), 30 percent of industrial
production and 40 percent of Vietnam's total exports are generated in Ho
Chi Minh City.
The city's share of the state budget is around 33
percent. 60 percent of all foreign investments flow into the region.
Economic growth has been over ten percent in recent years (nationwide
six to eight percent). Industrial production recorded the largest
increase in 2003 with 15.3 percent, followed by the service sector with
9.6 percent and agricultural production with 9.1 percent. The average
per capita income in Ho Chi Minh City was US$2,180 per capita in 2007,
the national average in 2006 was US$730.
Pursue
Industry in Ho
Chi Minh City mainly produces food, glass, textiles, paper goods,
plastics, chemicals, building materials and machines. Since the
communists took power in 1975, many companies have been nationalized to
make the city independent of foreign imports. Numerous new industries
and companies emerged, such as furniture and carpet factories that used
raw materials from their own country. Under Nguyễn Văn Linh, Đổi mới
(renewal) was introduced in 1986, which meant that central planning was
abandoned and pro-market reforms were introduced. Foreign companies were
allowed to invest in Ho Chi Minh City. Numerous foreign corporations
opened branches. The city developed into Vietnam's economic growth
engine.
The state-owned companies continue to pose a problem for
the economy: they are mostly unprofitable, not internationally
competitive and have a large amount of loans that they probably cannot
repay, threatening the entire banking system. A number of state-owned
companies have already been merged with other state-owned companies,
while others have closed. However, the process is running very slowly
because of the social impact (unemployment).
Air pollution in Ho
Chi Minh City has increased significantly in recent years. The high
level of fine dust is the biggest problem. The causes lie in factories,
small industry, power plants and traffic as well as in private
households. Carbon dioxide emissions are increasing rapidly as a result
of progressive industrialization and a constantly growing volume of
traffic and energy requirements. Groundwater pollution, unregulated
dumping, pollution of the Saigon River and traffic noise are also
problems.
Ho Chi Minh City is the seat of the automobile
manufacturers Mekong Auto Corporation (since June 1991), Mercedes-Benz
(since 1995) and Thaco.
The media in the city are all controlled by the state and thus by the
Vietnamese Communist Party. There are English-language print media.
These are often magazines aimed at tourists or promoting travel or
entertainment opportunities.
However, most English-language
publications are aimed at business people and announce the latest
achievements in economic policy. Foreign publications are not censored
because they are usually not affordable for the average Vietnamese. You
can find them where the foreigners are concentrated. Old copies of
foreign newspapers are often offered by street vendors.
Major
daily newspapers published in Ho Chi Minh City include Sai Gon Giai
Phong (Liberated Saigon), Tuoi Tre, Nguoi Lao Dong (Labour), The Thao
(Sports) and Saigon Times Daily. The radio and television broadcast
several programs. The Voice of HCMC People is the region's largest radio
station. Later in the evening, Vietnam TV broadcasts short English news,
the rest of the program consists of Vietnamese shows and a few foreign
films.
air traffic
Ho Chi Minh City Airport (abbreviation SGN from the
former city name Saigon; also Tân Sơn Nhất Airport) is the largest of
Vietnam's three international airports and is located just north of the
city center. Some airlines fly directly from Europe, otherwise there are
connections to all major cities in Asia. There are also domestic flights
to and from all major cities in Vietnam.
New major airport
Since 2014, a new major airport is to be built 40 kilometers north-east
of Ho Chi Minh City, the Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh Airport in the Long
Thanh District in the Đồng Nai Province. It will be the busiest airport
in Vietnam and one of the busiest airports in Asia. According to the
master plan from 2010, the airport will have four 4,000 meter long
runways, five terminals and several cargo terminals in the final stage
of development. The project covers an area of 50 km². Simultaneously
with the airport, expressways and railway lines are being built for
development. With its opening, Tan Son Nhat Airport will only be used
for domestic flights.
The new airport is in direct competition
with other major airports in the region, including Hong Kong, Singapore
and Bangkok, and is expected to have a capacity of 100 million
passengers in the final phase.
The then Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn
Dũng granted the building permit on October 1, 2014. The National
Assembly in Hanoi approved the construction of the airport in June 2015.
The construction costs have now been estimated at US$ 15.8 billion, the
construction period is to extend in three phases from 2018 to 2050. The
first phase will cost $5.2 billion. The groundbreaking ceremony was on
January 6, 2021. According to preliminary calculations, the second
construction phase should take place between 2030 and 2035 and cost four
billion dollars. The third construction phase will follow between 2040
and 2050 at a cost of 6.6 billion dollars.
rail traffic
Ho Chi
Minh City can be reached by train from all northern cities. Several
trains run south from Hà Nội daily, terminating at Sai Gon, as the
station is officially called. The whole trip takes 30 to 40 hours, but
travel times are attractive from some cities in central Vietnam.
long-distance bus transport
Ho Chi Minh City has several
long-distance bus stations spread throughout the city. The buses heading
north, e.g. Buses to Vũng Tàu, the Central Highlands and Nha Trang, for
example, depart from the sprawling Mien Dong bus station, located five
kilometers north-east of the center on Xo Viet Nghe. Those wanting to
travel around the Mekong Delta can take a bus to Cholon Bus Station,
from where buses run throughout the day to My Tho, My Thuận and other
small towns in the Mekong Delta.
Most northwestbound buses to and
from Tay Ninh and Cu Chi stop at An Suong (or Tay Ninh) bus station on
National Road 22, west of the center in Tan Binh district Cu Chi
provides, and with the other bus stations. Direct buses to Cambodia and
the capital Phnom Penh depart daily from 145 Nguyen Du, southwest of
Notre Dame Cathedral.
ships and ferries
There is also a
hydrofoil connection to Vũng Tàu several times a day.
Local
public transport
tram
On December 27, 1881, the first steam tram
ran in Saigon. Electric trams ran in the city from August 4, 1923. The
network was 45 miles long with overland routes to Hoc-Mon and Thudaumot.
In 1953 operations were discontinued.
Omnibus
Since then, the
city has had no rail-bound mass transport (underground, suburban
railway, tram). Even the bus network was considered completely
inadequate until very recently. In recent years, the up to 30-year-old
vehicle fleet has been renewed, so that at least in terms of quality and
price, bus travel in a modern air-conditioned bus for 2,000-4,000 Dong
can be considered an attractive alternative, especially for tourists and
people without their own vehicle. The line density in the city center is
high, but getting through at peak times is problematic.
The south
side of Ben Thanh Market Roundabout is the central bus station in
downtown. You can also take the city bus in the direction of Cholon.
Saigon Star Co's air-conditioned buses operate a daily route between the
south side of Mei Linh Square and Huyunh Thoai Yen below Binh Tay
Market.
Taxi
In addition to the bus lines, moped taxis (Xe Ôm)
or bicycle taxis (Xíc Lô / Cyclo) are also available. But the average
traffic speed of mopeds in the city center was only 16.5 km/h in 2008 –
a good thirty percent less than six years earlier. Since around 2003, a
fleet of small cars has been offering its services.
The number of
taxis has increased enormously in the 2010s. Several companies use
air-conditioned vehicles, which are usually affordable. The so-called
Mai Linh and Vinasun can be flagged down on the street or ordered by
phone.
Subway
Two subway lines are currently under
construction with the help of an $800 million loan and are expected to
be operational in 2018, according to initial planning. The date has been
postponed several times, most recently on September 8, 2021 to early
2024. The 19.7 km long Line 1 connects Bến Thành Market (the central
interchange point of the system) with Suối Tiên and will be underground
for 2.6 km , erected on the rest of the route in an elevated position.
By 2040, the capacity can be expanded to 800,000 passengers per day. The
11.3 km long line 2 connects Bến Thành with Tham Lương and runs 9.6 km
underground. The system is designed for a cruising speed of 40 km/h.
Four more lines are planned.
Private transport
Bicycles, which
were still the most common means of transport up to the end of the 20th
century, are now almost exclusively ridden by children and people who
cannot afford a moped, but they still have their place in the traffic
scene. Overall, the still high percentage of highly flexible two-wheeler
traffic, especially the transport of goods on mopeds, ensures that
traffic in the metropolis flows mostly.
Individual transport in
Ho Chi Minh City is characterized by a constantly growing number of
mopeds (Xe Máy), the city dwellers' main means of transport.
The
proportion of private cars (passenger cars) is also increasing, but due
to the low per capita income and a high import tax for foreign cars with
tariffs of between 77 and 80 percent, only privileged residents can
afford a car, while new mopeds are already falling priced at around
US$500. It is therefore not uncommon for heavy loads or entire families
to be transported on the moped. In addition, many dealers also use their
mopeds as a display for their goods.
Despite the still rather low
distribution of individual cars, there were around 700,000 cars in Ho
Chi Minh City in 2017. This means that the volume of traffic in the city
is considerable and sometimes reaches the limits of the existing
infrastructure, which is mainly due to the lack of alternatives in local
public transport. During rush hours, there are always longer traffic
jams, especially on main roads and major traffic junctions in the city.
There are numerous universities, colleges and technical colleges,
research institutes and libraries in the city. There are state and
private institutions. Compulsory education is divided into two phases,
namely the five-year basic cycle and the four-year lower secondary
cycle. Completion of upper secondary education does not automatically
entitle you to study at university or any other higher education. A
separate entrance exam is compulsory for university studies after upper
secondary school.
Important universities are: HCMC National
University, University of Natural Sciences (formerly Saigon College of
Sciences), University of Social Sciences and Humanities (formerly Saigon
College of Letters), University of Polytechnic (formerly Phu Tho
National Institute of Technology), International University, Faculty of
Economics, University of Information Technology and Hong Bang University
(HBU).