 | Ho Chi Minh City Today Formerly known as Saigon, the largest city in Vietnam is now a bustling city of commerce and culture and has helped drive the country forward economically. Vibrant Ho Chi Minh City boasts of festivities and events throughout the year, which are set among its ancient pagodas and the markets teeming with life. Religion and spirituality are also accentuated in this city with its beautiful temples and churches scattered all around. This fascinating city has evolved through the ages and with its rapid growth and development, it is now one of the most populated and most visited cities in all |
 | Ho Chi Minh City History What we now call Ho Chi Minh City first began as a small fishing village called Prey Nokor or “Forest Kingdom.” The area was originally nothing but swampland and was taken up by the Khmer people for centuries before the Vietnamese arrived. Colonization by Vietnamese settlers began in the 17th century and this presence isolated the Khmer, who became a minority in the region. The control of Prey Nokor by the Vietnamese restricted Cambodian access to this important port and entry to the South China Sea. By the 19th century, Saigon was conquered by France and its heavy French influence |
 | Caravelle Hotel This acclaimed 5-star hotel, which has hosted numerous celebrities and dignitaries since its incepti |  | InterContinental Asiana Saigon InterContinental Asiana Saigon is set in the commercial center of Vietnam, just 3 kilometers from th |
 | Legend Hotel Saigon Right beside the scenic Saigon River, the Legend Hotel is within walking distance of many of the maj |  | Majestic Hotel Roughly 7 kilometers from the airport, the Majestic Hotel is situated very close to the Saigon River |
 | New World Hotel Strategically located in the city of Ho Chi Minh, New World Hotel is within walking distance of the |  | Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers The Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers is situated in the bustling business and entertainment district c |
 | Annam Gourmet Shop Annam Gourmet Shop is a small but very classy shop offering an assortment of imported cheeses, wines |  | Blue Space Gallery For you art buffs out there, Ho Chi Minh City is brimming with art galleries, some much fancier than |
 | Chi Chi Chi Chi is a designer shop in Ho Chi Minh City with exquisite fabrics and designs and custom-made ta |  | Gaya Designer Showroom Gaya is famous for its new and defined style of furniture, Quasar Khanh lamps and the elegant tailor |
 | Parkson Saigon Tourist Plaza The Parkson Saigon Tourist Plaza is a Malaysian outlet mall. From designer apparel, jewelry and cosm |  | Saigon Center The Saigon Center, also known as Sedona Suites is an office building but has 3 floors of shops in it |
 | Ho Chi Minh’s Birthday Festival Credited as being the founder of the Viet Minh independence movement in 1941 and establishing commun |  | Wandering Souls Day The Wandering Souls Day is the second most important festival celebrated in Vietnam. On this sacred |
 | National Day The National Day on the 2nd of September celebrates Ho Chi Minh’s proclamation of freedom for Viet |  | Buddha’s Birthday Festival An event of great importance in Ho Chi Minh City is Buddha’s Birthday Festival, which is celebrate |
 | Nghia An Hoi Pagoda This festival is celebrated in the Nghia An Hoi Pagoda that is dedicated to Quan Cong an eminent Chi |  | The Le Van Duyet Temple Festival The Le Van Duyet Temple Festival is a very auspicious festival for the Vietnamese. It is celebrated |
 | Café India Cuisine: South Indian Café India offers the best South Indian food in all o |  | Villa Romaine Cuisine: Italian Villa Romaine offers the city’s highest quality Italian f |
 | Pho 2000 Cuisine: Vietnamese Pho 2000 is in an ideal location for people who are busy |  | Lemongrass Cuisine: Vietnamese Popular among tourists, locals and expats alike, this co |
 | L’En Tete Cuisine: French A stylish French bistro, L’En Tete serves classic French c |  | Au Lac Do Brazil Cuisine: Brazilian This restaurant is known as a Brazilian churrascaria – |
 | Fast Facts Location Ho Chi Minh City is located in the southeastern region of Vietnam, 1760 km south of Hanoi. Its average elevation is 19 meters above sea level. The city covers an area of 2095 square kilometers and borders the South China Sea to the South with a coast of 15 kilometers. Dialing code +848 Emergency numbers Police - 113 Fire brigade - 114 Ambulance / Medical Aid – 115 Population Approx 9 million Languages National language – Vietnamese (Mon-Khmer) Second languages – French, English Recently, Chinese and Japanese have become popular Time Zone GMT/UTC + 7:00 hours Average January Temperatures 26.5 Degrees Celsius Average July Temperatures 28 Degrees Celsius Annual rainfall 1800 millimeters on average per year |
