General Information About Ho Chi Minh
Administrative divisions:
- Districts: District 1, District 2, District 3, District 4, District 5, District 6, District 7, District 8, District 9, District 10, District 11, District 12, Tan Binh, Binh Thanh, Phu Nhuan, Thu Duc, Go Vap, Binh Tan,Tan Phu.
- Rural districts: Nha Be, Can Gio Hoc Mon, Cu Chi Binh Chanh. Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Hoa, Khmer, Cham...
Geography
In the core of the Mekong Delta, Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is second the most important in Viet Nam after Ha Noi. It is not only a commercial center but also a scientific, technological, industrial and tourist center. The city is bathed by many rivers, arroyos and canals, the biggest river being the Saigon River. The Port of Saigon, established in 1862, is accessible to ships weighing up to 30,000 tons, a rare advantage for an inland river port.
Climate:The climate is generally hot and humid. There are two distinctive seasons: the rainy season, from May to November, and the dry season, from December to April. The annual average temperature is 270C. The hottest month is April and the lowest is December. It is warm all year.
History
Many centuries ago, Saigon was already a busy commercial center. Merchants from China, Japan and many European countries would sail upstream the Saigon River to reach the islet of Pho, a trading center. In the year of 1874, Cho Lon merged with Saigon, forming the largest city in the Indochina. It had been many times celebrated as the Pearl of the Far East. After the reunification of the country, the 6th National Assembly in its meeting of the 2nd of July, 1976, has officially rebaptized Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City. The history of city relates closely with the struggle for the independence and freedom of Vietnam.
Tourism
Today, Ho Chi Minh City is the big tourism center in Vietnam, attracting a large of visitors to Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City has various attractions as Ho Chi Minh Museum, formerly known as Dragon House Wharf, Cu Chi Tunnels, system of museums, theatres, cultural houses... Recently, many tourist areas are invested such as Thanh Da, Binh Quoi Village, Dam Sen Park, Saigon Water Park, Suoi Tien, Ky Hoa..., which draw numerous tourists.
Despite its quite recent past, Ho Chi Minh City nevertheless possesses various beautiful buildings, displaying a characteristic combination of Vietnamese, Chinese and European cultures. These include Nha Rong (Dragon House Wharf), Quoc To Temple (National Ancestors Temple), Xa Tay (Municipal Office), Ho Chi Minh Municipal Theatre as well as many pagodas and churches (Vinh Nghiem, Giac Vien, Giac Lam, Phung Son pagodas...). After more than 300 years of development, Ho Chi Minh City presents many ancient architectural constructions, famous vestiges and renowned sights. It is remarkable for its harmonious blending of traditional national values with northern and western cultural features.
Transportation
Ho Chi Minh City is the main junction for trains, roads, water, and air transportation systems for domestic trips and for foreign destination. - Roads: Ho Chi Minh City is 1,730km from Hanoi, 99km from Tay Ninh, 30km from Bien Hoa (Dong Nai), 70km from My Tho, 125km from Vung Tau, 168km from Can Tho, 308km from Dalat, and 375km from Buon Ma Thuot. The City has National Highway 13 which connects Vietnam with the rest of Indochina. - Train: Thong Nhat express train connects Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, vie many provinces in Vietnam. - Air: Tan Son Nhat International Airport, 7km from center of city, is the biggest airport with many domestic and international routes. There are flights from Hanoi and Danang to Ho Chi Minh City and between the City to many regions as well a lot of countries on over the world.
Ho Chi Minh city, also known as Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam with the population nearly 9 millions. The city is called 'Diamond of the Far-East', the same luxury level overriding Hong Kong or Bangkok. Ho Chi Minh city becomes very important city in Vietnam ,creates a metropolitan area with Thu Dau Mot, Di An, Bien Hoa and surrounding towns.
In the early history, the city was a small fishing village name Prey Nokor inhabited by Khmer people. Then it was given to the Vietnamese as a dowry for the marriage of a Vietnamese princess to a Khmer prince in order to stop constant invasions and pillaging of Khmer villages. Under the French colonial , the city had a lot of influence from the Western style , and there still a lot of beautiful buildings in the city which are remained with French style. After 30 April 1975, the city under the control of North Vietnamese government and the name was changed from Saigon to Ho Chi Minh city.
Recently, Ho Chi Minh city is such a large area with 24 districts, the lifestyle and the architecture is the combination between American and Chinese, but not losing the traits. Beside the dynamic economy and modern life, the city is really developing in tourism , like the central of tourism in the South of Vietnam, and attracts millions of foreign tourists every year. The most prominent sites in the city is Reunification Palace, City Hall, the Municipal theatre also known as the Opera House, City Post Office, State Bank Office , City People's Court and Notre Dame cathedral. All of them are the special structures, which are influent with French architecture.
There are also various museum and entertainment places in the city such as the Ho Chi Minh city museum, Museum of Vietnamese history, the Revolutionary Museum, the Museum of Southeastern Armed Forces, the Museum of Southern Women, the Museum of Fine Art, the Nha Rong Memorial House, and Cu Chi underground Tunnels… The Dam Sen Tourist and Cultural Park, Suoi Tien amusement and culture park, The Saigon zoo and Botanical gardens.
District one is the best experience for a modern city in Vietnam. All streets and boulevard in the district are lined with evergreen trees with local people selling street drinks, some notable sights as Ben Thanh market, city post office and Notre Dame cathedral. The district is a quite good ideal for shopping with several shopping streets.
The nice location at central of the South Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh city becomes very important center of transportation lead to surrounding provinces , bring opportunities to develop the economy and tourism of Eastern and Western area of the South.
View All Ho Chi Minh City Attractions
11th Armored Cav Regt Vietnam Tour 7days 03/28/2016 - 12/31/9999
per personHK$0.00
Itinerary: Saigon – Tay Ninh – Bien Hoa – Saigon
12 Days Highland And Southern Bird Watching Of Vietnam 12/04/2015 - 12/31/9999
per personHK$0.00
Yok Don National Park supports a diverse bird community, including a particularly rich dry dipterocarp forest avifauna. The large tracts of dry dipterocarp forest with seasonal pools are important for large waterbirds in particular. Yok Don is the only known site for the critically endangered Giant Ibis in Vietnam and supports the last known breeding Sarus Cranes in the country. Both species are very rare at the site, however, and the localities where they occur are off-limits to visitors. Yok Don supports a globally significant population of Green Peafowl, estimated to number at least 400 individuals
12-Day Vietnam Tour from Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi 08/19/2015 - 12/31/9999
per personHK$0.00
Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh – Hue – Danang – Hoi An – Hanoi – Halong Bay
14-Day Vietnam and Laos Highlights Tour 12/15/2015 - 12/31/9999
per personHK$0.00
Spend 14 days exploring the culture, history and beauty of the two countries with a knowledgeable guide
Explore the picturesque Halong Bay onboard a V’Spirit Classic Cruise
Revel in the ancient sights of Hoi An and the religious significance of My Son
Discover the ancient ruins of the Angkor area, including the temple of Angkor Wat, Phnom Penh, Killing Fields ChoeungEk
Includes 13 nights of accommodation: 11 nights in a hotel, one night on a sleeper train and one night aboard the cruise in Halong Bay
Get a taste of the local cuisine with breakfasts, lunches
All transport within the tour is included
15 Days Classic Vietnam and Laos Tour 12/15/2015 - 12/31/9999
per personHK$0.00
Deeply enjoy a trip in Vietnam from the colonial Saigon and beautiful Hoi An to exotic Danang and hustle and bustle Hanoi before discover the magical Laos, with experience the best of Luang Prabang and Vientiane in just a few days.
18-Day Vietnam with Angkor Wat & Luang Prabang 12/16/2015 - 12/31/9999
per personHK$0.00
Ever wonder what the past thirty years has brought to this part of the planet? Well, you need not wonder any longer! Travel from Thailand to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Discover the various and distinct cultures that each country has to offer. Travel through lush countryside, visit mysterious temples, experience the vibrant, new cities. The people of this region are known as some of the "friendliest people on earth" and await your visit with them....
2-Day Motorbike Tour To Rural Mekong Delta 12/14/2015 - 12/31/9999
per personHK$0.00
Join us in this motorbike tour to experience the lives of people in Mekong Delta. 2 days is enough for you to explore the fun of this area when visit rural market, cross the river by ferry, cruise a boat trip, do home-stay and so.
21-Day Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos Highlights Tour 12/17/2015 - 12/31/9999
per personHK$0.00
Enjoy an in-depth tour in Vietnam before discover the world famous Angkor Wat in Siem Reap. It will be a casual holiday for you to spend few days in Luang Prabang and relaxing on the beautiful beach in Pattaya.
A Glimpse Of The Mekong Vespa Tour 12/15/2015 - 12/31/9999
per personHK$0.00
Would you like to ride your own motorbike on this tour? No problem. We’ll give you a short driving test at the beginning of the tour to make sure you feel comfortable on the streets of Vietnam.
A Glimpse Of The Mekong With Cooking Class By Vespa Tour 12/15/2015 - 12/31/9999
per personHK$0.00
A Glimpse Of The Mekong With Cooking Class By Vespa Tour
Action Mekong Delta Cycling Tour 5Days 10/23/2015 - 12/31/9999
per personHK$0.00
If one wants to get to know an area, biking is a real delight. Our biking trip is an opportunity to participate in the everyday life of the Mekong Delta. We can pedal amid schoolchildren and ride behind women with squealing pigs tied on their bicycle.
the Mekong Delta bike ride is one of best places for cycling in Vietnam since the region offers flat and back roads. The biking trails are easy and appropriate for amateurs, family travel, holidays with kids. This 5-day bike tour starts from Ho Chi Minh city, Saigon taking you to such places as An Binh island, Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, Mo Cay, Tieu Can, Can Tho, Long Xuyen, Sa Dec…where you enjoy not only cycling but great local food, peaceful rural scenery, meeting up with local friendly villagers.
Active Trek To The Central Highland Vietnam 11/02/2015 - 12/31/9999
per personHK$0.00
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Ho Chi Minh city.
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh city tour. Fly to Pleiku.
Day 3: Pleiku – Pleibloum
Day 4: Pleibloum – Dekop
Day 5: Dekop – Konkotu
Day 6: Konkotu
Day 7: Fly back to Ho Chi Minh city. Departure.
Adventure Of Vietnam Birding Tour 14Days 12/07/2015 - 12/31/9999
per personHK$0.00
Itinerary: Ho Chi Minh – Nam Cat Tien – Da Lat – Ho Chi Minh – Hue – Bach Ma – Hanoi – Cuc Phuong – Hanoi
Along Vietnam By Train Tour 12days 03/26/2016 - 12/31/9999
per personHK$0.00
Itinerary: Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta – Nha Trang – Da Nang – Hoi An – Hue – Hanoi – Hai Phong – Ha Long Bay
Aqua Mekong Cruise 03/25/2016 - 12/31/9999
per personHK$0.00
Aqua Mekong Cruise is a floating five-star hotel with a guide to guest ratio of 1 to 10. The sustainably crafted ship’s 20 designer suites – the river’s largest guestrooms — overlook the Mekong through floor-to-ceiling windows. This is the only ship on this stretch of the river to offer a fully equipped gym, screening room, outdoor cinema, observation deck, and an upper-deck pool. Dine on world-class dishes created by top Southeast Asian cuisine chef, David Thompson and board the Mekong’s only private tenders for expert-guided shore excursions to serene Buddhist temples and stilted villages or explore the unique landscape by bicycle and kayak. A full-time paramedic ensures guest safety on every adventure.
Asia Exotic Photography Tour 24days 01/04/2016 - 12/31/9999
per personHK$0.00
Highlight: Sai Gon – Cu Chi – Mekong – Cai Be – Da Nang – Hoi An – Hanoi – Halong – Siem Reap – Angkor – Luang Prabang – Bangkok – Yangon – Bagan – Mandalay – Amarapura – Sagaing – Yangon
Bach Ma National Park Birds Watching Tour 3Days 12/07/2015 - 12/31/9999
per personHK$0.00
Bach Ma National Park is situated towards the southern end of the Annamite mountains. The national park lies on a high mountain ridge that runs west-east from the Laotian border to the East Sea at the Hai Van pass. This ridge interrupts the coastal plain of Vietnam, and, therefore, forms a biogeographic boundary between the faunas and floras of northern and southern Vietnam. This ridge also affects the local climate at the national park, which is probably the wettest place in Vietnam: the mean annual rainfall at the summit of Mount Bach Ma is 7,977 mm. The geology of the national park is dominated by granite
Beach Center Highland Tour 7days 02/01/2016 - 12/31/9999
per personHK$0.00
Itinerary: Ho Chi Minh City, Buon Ma Thuot, Nha Trang
Best Muslim of Hochiminh Tour 4Days 03/26/2016 - 12/31/9999
per personHK$0.00
Travel to Hochiminh city enjoy sightseeing, visit Cu Chi tunnels and floating market on Mekong river. Halal food included.
Best of Vietnam and Laos Tour 10Days 12/18/2015 - 12/31/9999
per personHK$0.00
Start your journey in energetic Ho Chi Minh before travelling north through some of Vietnam's most beautiful settings, including the mighty Mekong River and fascinating Halong Bay. Your visit to Laos will unveil thriving Buddhist communities and remote villages, complemented by gorgeous, unspoiled scenery.