they live in ho chi minh city since 1975

As Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, marks the 40th anniversary of the end of the war, a group of journalists and former Marines revisit the country to remember one of the most 4,882 ratings481 reviews An absorbing and definitive modern history of the Vietnam War from the acclaimed New York Times bestselling author of The Secret War. Vietnam became the Western world's most divisive modern conflict, precipitating a battlefield humiliation for France in 1954, then a vastly greater one for the United States in 1975. Charles Sobhraj is a French serial killer also known by monikers, such as the "Bikini Killer", "The Splitting Killer", and "The Serpent". Operating throughout South-east Asia in the 1970s, he primarily targeted western tourists. Sobhraj has repeatedly shown psychopathic tendencies and is believed to have robbed and murdered in order to fund his extravagant and adventurous lifestyle. On April 29-30, the United States carried out Operation Frequent Wind, in which it evacuated nearly all Americans, both military and civilian, and thousands of South Vietnamese citizens. The Viet Cong took control of the city on April 30, renaming it Ho Chi Minh City and planting their flag at the presidential palace. Inclusions. Tauck's 16-day Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam travel adventure encompasses the best of Southeast Asia as you explore the legendary cities of Hanoi, Hué, Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok.Discover golden Buddhas, ancient kingdoms, inspiring temples and lush landscapes, and experience the unique cultures and traditions of this fascinating Wo Kann Ich Ältere Frauen Kennenlernen. Ho Chi Minh first emerged as an outspoken voice for Vietnamese independence while living as a young man in France during World War I. Inspired by the Bolshevik Revolution, he joined the Communist Party and traveled to the Soviet Union. He helped found the Indochinese Communist Party in 1930 and the League for the Independence of Vietnam, or Viet Minh, in 1941. At World War II’s end, Viet Minh forces seized the northern Vietnamese city of Hanoi and declared a Democratic State of Vietnam or North Vietnam with Ho as president. Known as “Uncle Ho,” he would serve in that position for the next 25 years, becoming a symbol of Vietnam’s struggle for unification during a long and costly conflict with the strongly anti-Communist regime in South Vietnam and its powerful ally, the United Was Ho Chi Minh?Ho Chi Minh was born Nguyen Sinh Cung on May 19, 1890, in a village in central Vietnam then part of French Indochina in Nghe province to Hoang Thi Loan, his mother, and Nguyen Sinh Sac. Ho attended the National Academy in Hue before being expelled for protesting against emperor Bao Dai and French influence in Indochina. In 1911, he found work as a cook on a French steamer and spent the next several years at sea, traveling to Africa, the United States and Britain, among other locations. By 1919, he was living in France, where he organized a group of Vietnamese immigrants and petitioned delegates at the Versailles Peace Conference to demand that the French colonial government in Indochina grant the same rights to its subjects as it did to its by the success of Vladimir Lenin’s Bolshevik Revolution, he joined the new French Communist Party in 1920 and traveled to Moscow three years later. He soon began recruiting members of a Vietnamese nationalist movement that would form the basis of the Indochinese Communist Party founded in Hong Kong in 1930 and traveled the world, including Brussels, Paris and Siam now Thailand, where he worked as a representative of the Communist International Chi Minh Founding of the Viet Minh and North Vietnam When Germany defeated France in 1940, during World War II, Ho saw it as an opportunity for the Vietnamese nationalist cause. Around this time, he began to use the name Ho Chi Minh roughly translated as “Bringer of Light”. With his lieutenants Vo Nguyen Giap and Pham Van Dong, Ho returned to Vietnam in January 1941 and organized the Viet Minh, or League for the Independence of Vietnam. Forced to seek China’s aid for the new organization, Ho was imprisoned for 18 months by Chiang Kai-Shek’s anti-Communist the Allied victory in 1945, Japanese forces withdrew from Vietnam, leaving the French-educated Emperor Bao Dai in control of an independent Vietnam. Led by Vo Nguyen Giap, Viet Minh forces seized the northern city of Hanoi and declared a Democratic State of Vietnam known commonly as North Vietnam, or the Democratic Republic of Vietnam with Ho as president. Bao Dai abdicated in favor of the revolution, but French military troops gained control of southern Vietnam, including Saigon, and Chiang Kai-Shek’s Chinese forces moved into the north according to the terms of an Allied agreement. Ho began negotiations with the French in efforts to achieve a Chinese withdrawal as well as eventual French recognition of Vietnam’s independence and reunification of North and South Vietnam. But in October 1946, a French cruiser opened fire on the town of Haiphong after a clash between French and Vietnamese soldiers. Despite Ho’s best efforts to maintain peace, his more militant followers called for war, which broke out that you know? In February 1967, Ho Chi Minh responded to a personal message from President Lyndon Johnson by announcing that the North Vietnamese would never negotiate under the threat of Chi Minh Toward War with the United States During the First Indochina War, the French returned Bao Dai to power and set up the state of Vietnam South Vietnam in July 1949, with Saigon as its capital. Armed conflict between the two states continued until a decisive battle at Dien Bien Phu ended in French defeat by Viet Minh forces. The subsequent treaty negotiations at Geneva at which Ho was represented by his associate Pham Van Dong partitioned Indochina and called for elections for reunification in by the United States, the strongly anti-Communist South Vietnamese government of Ngo Dinh Diem refused to support the Geneva accords, and put off elections indefinitely. In 1959, armed conflict broke out again, as Communist guerrillas known as the Viet Cong began launching attacks on targets including military installations in South Vietnam. The Viet Cong appealed to North Vietnam for help, and that July the central committee of Ho’s Lao Dong Worker’s Party voted to link the establishment of socialism in the North to the cause of unification with the Chi Minh TrailThe Ho Chi Minh Trail was named after Ho Chi Minh and was a military supply route used by the Viet Minh to send supplies from North Vietnam via Laos and Cambodia to supporters in South Vietnam. At its height, several tons of supplies, weapons and ammunition were sent each day. During the 1960s, it was a common target for American bombs. Ho Chi Minh and the Vietnam War At this same meeting, Ho ceded his position as party secretary-general to Le Duan. He would remain nominally as North Vietnam’s head of state during the Vietnam War, but would take a more behind-the-scenes role. To his people, “Uncle Ho” also remained an important symbol of Vietnam’s unification. The continued to increase its support of South Vietnam, sending economic aid and–beginning in December 1961–military troops. American air strikes against North Vietnam began in 1965, and in July 1966, Ho sent a message to the country’s people that “nothing is as dear to the heart of the Vietnamese as independence and liberation.” This became the motto of the North Vietnamese the heels of North Vietnam’s Tet Offensive in early 1968, President Lyndon Johnson made the decision to halt escalation of the war and called for peace talks to begin. The conflict was still ongoing by September 2, 1969, when Ho Chi Minh died in Hanoi at the age of 79. The last troops left Vietnam in March Fall of SaigonOn April 29, 1975, “White Christmas” played from radios across Saigon, the signal for Americans to evacuate the capitol. Seven thousand people, mainly Americans and South Vietnamese, were evacuated from the city. Photos of the chaos in the streets as men, women and children jostled for space on the last helicopters was broadcast across the April 30, 1975, the last few Americans still in South Vietnam were airlifted out of the country as Saigon fell to communist forces. North Vietnamese Colonel Bui Tin, accepting the surrender of South Vietnam later in the day, remarked, “You have nothing to fear; between Vietnamese there are no victors and no vanquished. Only the Americans have been defeated.” That day, Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh Vietnam War was the longest and most unpopular foreign war in history and cost 58,000 American lives and as many as two million Vietnamese soldiers and civilians were killed. Life quality scoreHousing953/265DetailsLarge apartment$ apartment$ index [score] apartment$ of Living928/248Details5km taxi ride$ Cappuccino$ beer$ kilogram of Apples$ [score] fitness club membership$ public transport$ ticket$ of a meal at a restaurant$ monthly increase in number of startups6Average monthly increase in number of startups [score] spaces [score] spaces on [score] groups74Meetups members28292Number of investors12Number of startup events in the last 12 months125Number of upcoming meetup events16Startup climate scene [score] events20Startup events [score] [score] number of startups171Venture Capital2170/192DetailsVenture capital [score] Connectivity2173/266DetailsAirport hub54Airport hub [score] train connectivity [score] city page handling [score] Freedom4237/264DetailsBusiness freedom [score] from from corruption [score] of labor of labor restrictions [score] to open a to open a business [score] rate [score] deaths per 100,000 residents per year1Guns per 100 residents2Lack of gun related deaths [score] of guns [score] of guns and gun-related deaths [score] expenditure [score] quality [score] expectancy years expectancy [score] mean scores in PISA math mean scores in PISA reading mean scores in PISA science math ranking high school18PISA ranking16PISA ranking high school [score] reading high school22PISA science high school7Percent of happy Quality1263/266DetailsAir quality [score] [score] water quality [score] greenery [score] exchange rate per US dollar for urban for urban areaVNDGDP growth growth rate [score] per capita$ per capita [score] company profit tax rate on payouts as dividends [score] tax level [score] tax % of profit overhead to file company taxes540VAT Sales Tax Access5176/266DetailsDownload speed Mbps access download [score] access upload [score] speed Mbps & Culture6126/264DetailsArt galleries62Art galleries [score] [score] clubs52Comedy clubs [score] venues63Concerts [score] sites66Historical sites [score] [score] art venues54Performing arts [score] venues58Sports [score] [score] Equality Equality Index [score] adoption rights✖ Single onlyLGBT age of consent✔ EqualLGBT blood donation regulationsN/ALGBT conversion therapy regulations✔ BannedLGBT discrimination legality✖ No protectionsLGBT employment discrimination legality✖ No protectionsLGBT gender changing rights✔ Legal, but requires surgeryLGBT homosexuality rights✔ LegalLGBT housing discrimination legality✖ No protectionsLGBT marriage rights✖ UnrecognizedTolerance towards minorities [score] hills or mountains [score] peak in area elevation meters access [score] up to get a free city match score based on your personal preferencesSign up for a free Teleport account to personalize city your housing and living costs, salaries and startedCost of living Costs of living in Ho Chi Minh City are in the least expensive 20 percent of all 248 Teleport cities. Average living expenses are significantly lower compared to other cities, especially in the housing market. Moving to Ho Chi Minh City will very likely decrease your daily costs of living. Sign up for free to get access to our cost of living index and use our international cost of living calculator to do cost comparison by costs USD$300$580Median rent forapartments in city centerSee more prices and detailed cost of living data in Ho Chi Minh CityJob salary calculatorSoftware Engineer salaries in Ho Chi Minh City are low. For this job type, Ho Chi Minh City ranks 225th for salaries among 265 cities. Get access to our salary comparison calculator by signing up. Compare salaries city by city with our free salary wizard and convert your own salary to a local salary in Ho Chi Minh annual salary in USDSee more details and salary rankings for all job types in Ho Chi Minh CityLocals review Ho Chi Minh CityDo locals recommend living in Ho Chi Minh City?What could Ho Chi Minh City do better?improveHoChiMinhCityHow could Ho Chi Minh City improve to make it a more liveable city? We will make sure that the local government will know about the suggestions that reach enough can be the first! 😊 Tell us something that can be improved about your makes Ho Chi Minh City a special place?praiseHoChiMinhCityIs Ho Chi Minh City a great place to live? What makes it special for you? What makes it liveable? What should others know about? Why should they move here? Why do you love it?You can be the first! 😊 Tell us something nice about your taxationEffective income tax rateFor annual salary of $40000For annual salary of $80000Value added tax VATStandard tax rate. Different rates might apply for certain product to other citiesCorporate taxationCompared to other citiesSee more details on taxation in Ho Chi Minh CityLocal CurrencySign up for a free Teleport account to personalize city your housing and living costs, salaries and startedSafetyGun crimes & deaths per 100k people / yearHIGH GUN CRIMELOW GUN CRIMEFEW GUNSMANY GUNSOverall crime rate city rankingThe overall crime rate puts Ho Chi Minh City in position 219 of 266 Teleport Cities in a ranking for the safest more details on gun crime and safety in Ho Chi Minh CityEducationVisaSign up for a free Teleport account to personalize city your housing and living costs, salaries and startedExplore the streets of Ho Chi Minh CityPeople in Ho Chi Minh CityPopulation of Ho Chi Minh CityDensity people per unit of areaDemographics of VietnamLanguagesEnglish proficiency scoreCommon spoken languagesVietnameseFriends living in Ho Chi Minh CityFind out which of your friends are living in Ho Chi Minh City. Nothing is better than knowing a local 😉Teleport Users X Ho Chi Minh CityWork in fromLGBT rights in Ho Chi Minh CityHomosexualityChanging genderLegalBut Requires SurgeryDiscriminationMarriageAdoptionClimateAverage day length hours typeTropical SavannaAverage daily maximum temperatureSign up for a free Teleport account to personalize city your housing and living costs, salaries and startedStartup sceneSign up for a free Teleport account to personalize city your housing and living costs, salaries and startedOn living in Ho Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh City Vietnamese Thành Phố Hồ Chí Minh, commonly known as Saigon Vietnamese Sài Gòn or by the abbreviations HCMC or HCM, is the largest city in Vietnam and the former capital of the Republic of Vietnam South Vietnam.Following the fall of Saigon in 1975, Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City. However the old Saigon name is still used by both Vietnamese and foreigners, especially when referring to the most central part of the city to which most tourists flock. Although the capital of a united Vietnam is Hanoi in the north, Ho Chi Minh City remains Vietnam's main economic and financial centre. Read moreGood Country IndexEvery city comes with a country. How is this one doing in terms of giving back to the global community? Our friends at The Good Country Index measure what each country on earth contributes to the common good of humanity, and what it takes away, relative to its ranking98th from a total of 163 countriesWorld Order145thRefugees hostedRefugees generatedCharity givingBirth rateUN Treaties signedInternational Peace & Security87thDues in arrears to UN peace keeping budgetsInternational violent conflictPeacekeeping troopsArms exportsInternet security 2014Planet & Climate146thEcological footprintReforestation since 1992Hazardous pesticides exports CO2 emissionsOzoneProsperity & Equality67thDevelopment assistanceFDI outflowsFairtrade market sizeUN volunteers abroadOpen trading Culture88thFreedom of movementPress freedomCreative services exportsUNESCO dues in arrears as % of contributionCreative goods exportsScience & Technology86thNobel prizesPatentsJournal exportsInternational publicationsInternational StudentsHealth & Wellbeing47thPharmaceutical exportsVoluntary excess donations to the WHOFood aidHumanitarian aid donationsInternational Health Regulations Compliance See details ▽Still have questions? It would be easy to roar around Ho Chi Minh City like one of the local motorcyclists – stopping at every corner, but never really seeing much – but Vietnam's most populated city is worthy of some slow exploration. From world-class museums and Vietnam's tallest skyscrapers to fragrant, incense-filled temples and street food stalls that recall old Saigon, this former French colonial city is well worth at least three or four days of your time. These are the best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City. The War Remnants Museum is unmissable © xuanhuongho / Getty Images 1. War Remnants Museum Best museum in Ho Chi Minh City To understand the context of the war with the USA, and its devastating impact on Vietnamese civilians, this remarkable, deeply moving museum is an essential visit. Many atrocities documented here were well publicised, but rarely do Americans and Europeans hear the victims of military action tell their own stories. While some displays are one-sided, many of the most disturbing photographs illustrating atrocities are from US sources, including those from the My Lai massacre. The museum primarily deals with the American War, but the French-colonial period and conflicts with China are also documented. US armoured vehicles, artillery pieces, bombs and infantry weapons are on display outside. One corner of the grounds is devoted to the notorious French and South Vietnamese prisons on Phu Quoc and Con Son islands. Artefacts include that most iconic of French appliances, the guillotine, and the notoriously inhumane tiger cages’ used to house war prisoners. Allow at least a couple of hours for your visit. The Jade Emperor located inside the Jade Emperor Pagoda © TRAN THI HAI YEN / Shutterstock 2. Jade Emperor Pagoda Built in 1909 in honour of the supreme Taoist god the Jade Emperor or King of Heaven, Ngoc Hoang, this is one of the most atmospheric temples in Ho Chi Minh City, stuffed with statues of phantasmal divinities and grotesque heroes. The pungent smoke of incense huong fills the air, obscuring the exquisite woodcarvings. Its roof is encrusted with elaborate tile work, and the temple's statues, depicting characters from both Buddhist and Taoist lore, are made from reinforced papier mâché. Inside, worshippers mass before the ineffable Jade Emperor, who presides – draped in luxurious robes and shrouded in a dense fug of incense smoke – over the main sanctuary. He is flanked by his guardians, the Four Big Diamonds Tu Dai Kim Cuong, so named because they are said to be as hard as diamonds. Trying street food in Ho Chi Minh City is a quintessential experience © James Pham / Lonely Planet 3. Eat street food in District 4 Best for foodies Just south of the glitzy Dong Khoi area, it's a short walk over the Ben Nghe Channel to working-class District 4. Here the ambience is far more Saigonese, with little or no concession to tourism, and narrow lanes, street markets and shabby concrete apartment blocks. Order a coffee here and expect a drip-fed Vietnamese coffee that resembles engine oil rather than a frothy cappuccino. District 4 is the best area in the city to sample authentic street food, with dozens of places on Ɖ Vinh Khanh. For great seafood at affordable prices, try Oc Dao 2. HCMC is a city in love with snails, and District 4 is something of a magnet for snail eaters, with many fine places on the buzzing alley Lo J KTT, including Oc Po, which is always packed. 4. Giac Lam Pagoda Believed to be the oldest temple in HCMC 1744, Giac Lam is a fantastically atmospheric place set in peaceful, garden-like grounds. The Chinese characters that constitute the temple's name 覚林寺 mean 'Feel the Woods Temple' and the looming Bodhi tree a native fig tree, sacred to Buddhists in the front garden was the gift of a Sri Lankan monk in 1953. Prayers are held daily from 4am to 5am, 11am to noon, 4pm to 5pm and 7pm to 9pm. Next to the tree stands a gleaming white statue of compassionate Quan The Am Bo Tat also known as the Goddess of Mercy on a lotus blossom, a symbol of purity. As at many Vietnamese Buddhist temples, aspects of both Taoism and Confucianism can be found here. For the sick and elderly, the pagoda is a minor pilgrimage sight, as it contains a bronze bell that, when rung, is believed to answer the prayers posted by petitioners. About 3km from Cholon, Giac Lam Pagoda is best reached by taxi or xe om motorbike taxi. Read more Best day trips from Ho Chi Minh City Pasteur Street Brewing Company is among a slew of good craft beer bars in Ho Chi Min City ©James Pham/Lonely Planet 5. Check out the craft beer scene Best bars in Ho Chi Minh City Happening HCMC is concentrated around the Dong Khoi area, with everything from dives to designer bars open until 1am. Pham Ngu Lao stays open later, and PNL's Bui Vien is a pedestrian-only street from 7pm to 2am on Saturdays and Sundays. Dance clubs usually kick off after 10pm. Amongst all the late night action is a blossoming craft beer scene, including the following bars. Heart of Darkness This premier craft brewery has an always-interesting selection of innovative beers on tap. The selection varies as the Heart of Darkness brewers are always trying something, but the Dream Alone pale ale and Sacred Fire golden ale are great drops. BiaCraft With almost 40 taps, BiaCraft is an essential destination for thirsty souls. Complementing its own creations are ales and ciders from craft breweries in Saigon and Hanoi; it's possible to take out freshly sealed cans of all available beers. Combine a tasting paddle with probably the city's best bar food, with quirky offerings like drunken baby potatoes and Nashville hot quail. Rogue Saigon Live music and Vietnamese craft beers combine on Rogue's rooftop terrace in a gritty building on the riverside edge of District 1. You'll find good beers such as Lac Brewing's Devil's Lake IPA, and music with an acoustic, blues or rock vibe. There are DJ sessions on Saturday and also jams and quiz nights. Central Post Office, pretty enough to be on a postcard © HuyThoai / Getty Images 6. Architecture Ho Chi Minh City is littered with faded, century-old buildings from when it was still under French colonial rule. Scores of heritage buildings are scattered throughout the city, mainly in Districts 1 and 3. Here's some of the most historically intriguing. People’s Committee Building One of the city’s most prominent landmarks is home to the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee. Built between 1901 and 1908, the former Hôtel de Ville decorates the northwestern end of L Nguyen Hue, but unfortunately the ornate interior is not open to the public. Central Post Office The city's landmark French-era post office is a period classic, designed by Marie-Alfred Foulhoux though often credited to Gustave Eiffel and built between 1886 and 1891. Painted on the walls of its grand concourse are fascinating historical maps of South Vietnam, Saigon and Cholon, while a mosaic of Ho Chi Minh takes pride of place at the end of its barrel-vaulted hall. Note the magnificent tiled floor of the interior and the copious green-painted wrought iron. Municipal Theatre Saigon Opera House Gracing the intersection of Dong Khoi and L Le Loi, this grand colonial edifice with a sweeping staircase was built in 1897 and is one of the city's most recognisable buildings. Officially known as the Municipal Theatre, the Opera House captures the flamboyance of France’s belle époque. Performances range from ballet and opera to modern dance and musicals. Dong Khoi is the well-heeled area of Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam © ShevchenkoAndrey / Getty Images 7. Explore Dong Khoi Area This well-heeled area, immediately west of the Saigon River, packages the heart of old Saigon into a swish enclave of designer shops and skyscrapers. Slicing from the river to august Notre Dame Cathedral via the Opera House Municipal Theatre, ritzy Dong Khoi is the main shopping strip and lends its name to the encircling civic centre and central business district. Yet it’s the wide, tree-lined boulevards of L Le Loi and L Nguyen Hue, perpetually swarming with motorbikes, that leave more of an impression – not least if you’ve survived crossing them on foot. It’s in these grand thoroughfares that French-colonial elegance and urban modernity fashion an alluring concoction. Read more Top 20 free things to do in Ho Chi Minh City The red brick exterior of Notre Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Min City was imported from Toulouse © Efired / Shutterstock 8. Notre Dame Cathedral Built between 1877 and 1883, Notre Dame Cathedral enlivens the heart of Ho Chi Minh City's government quarter, facing Dong Khoi. A red-brick, neo-Romanesque church, it has twin bell towers that are both topped with spires and crosses that reach 60m. This Catholic cathedral, named after the Virgin Mary, includes some lovely stained-glass windows and interior walls inlaid with devotional tablets. Its red bricks were imported from Toulouse, France. The History Museum shares an entrance with the Botanical Gardens © James Pham / Lonely Planet 9. History Museum Built in 1929, this notable Sino-French museum houses a rewarding collection of artefacts illustrating the evolution of the cultures of Vietnam, from the Bronze Age Dong Son civilisation which emerged in 2000 BCE and the Funan civilisation 1st to 6th centuries CE to the Cham, Khmer and Vietnamese. Highlights include valuable relics taken from Cambodia’s Angkor Wat and a fine collection of Buddha statues. There's good English information. There's also a perfectly preserved mummy of a local woman who died in 1869, excavated from Xom Cai in District 5; and some exquisite stylised mother-of-pearl Chinese characters inlaid into panels. It's located beside the Botanical Gardens. 10. Botanical Gardens One of the first projects undertaken by the French after establishing Cochin-China as a colony was founding these fantastic, lush gardens. Once one of the finest such gardens in Asia, they’re very agreeable for strolling beneath giant tropical trees. Skip the miserable zoo though. Traffic around Cholon is also part of the experience © Richie Chan / Shutterstock 11. Cholon Chinatown Rummage through Cholon District 5 and lift the lid on a treasure trove of historic temples and Chinese flavours. Ho Chi Minh City’s Chinatown is less Chinese than it once was, largely due to the 1978–79 anti-capitalist and anti-Chinese campaign, when many ethnic Chinese fled the country, taking with them their money and entrepreneurial skills. A lot of those refugees have since returned with foreign passports to explore investment possibilities. Full-form written Chinese characters as opposed to the simplified system used in mainland China decorate shopfronts and temples in abundance, adding to the sensation that you have strayed into a forgotten corner of China. Cholon means big market’ and during the American War it was home to a thriving black market. Like much of HCMC, Cholon’s historic shopfronts are swiftly disappearing under advertising hoardings or succumbing to developers’ bulldozers, but some traditional architecture survives and an atmospheric strip of traditional herb shops thrives between Luong Nhu Hoc and Trieu Quang Phuc, providing both a visual and an olfactory reminder of the old Chinese city. The Fine Arts Museum of Ho Chi Minh City is a must for art lovers © ngoc tran / Shutterstock 12. Fine Arts Museum With its airy corridors and verandas, this elegant 1929 colonial-era, yellow-and-white building is stuffed with period details; it is exuberantly tiled throughout and home to some fine albeit deteriorated stained glass, as well as one of Saigon's oldest lifts. Hung from the walls is an impressive selection of art, including thoughtful pieces from the modern period. As well as contemporary art, much of it unsurprisingly inspired by war, the museum displays pieces dating back to the 4th century. These include elegant Funan-era sculptures of Vishnu, the Buddha and other revered figures carved in both wood and stone, and Cham art dating from the 7th century to the 14th century. More statuary is scattered around the grounds and in the central courtyard accessed from the rear of the building. There’s a selection of lovely prints for sale from 150,000d at the shop. Building No 2 alongside hosts lesser-known works and stages exhibitions. The Reunification Palace is an enormously important sight for history buffs © Quang nguyen vinh / Shutterstock 13. Reunification Palace Surrounded by royal palm trees, the dissonant 1960s architecture of this landmark government building and the eerie ambience of its deserted halls make it an intriguing spectacle. The first Communist tanks to arrive in Saigon rumbled here on 30 April 1975 and it’s as if time has stood still since then. The building is deeply associated with the fall of the city in 1975, yet it's the kitsch detailing and period motifs that steal the show. It's also known as the Independence Palace. The ground floor is arranged with meeting rooms, while upstairs is a grand set of reception rooms, used for welcoming foreign and national dignitaries. In the back of the structure are the president’s living quarters; check out the model boats, horse tails and severed elephants’ feet. Perhaps most fascinating of all is the basement with its telecommunications centre, war room and warren of tunnels, where hulking old fans chop the air and ancient radio transmitters sit impassively. Towards the end are rooms where videos appraise the palace and its history in Vietnamese, English, French, Chinese and Japanese. The national anthem is played at the end of the tape and you are expected to stand up – it would be rude not to. 14. Rooftop bars Best thing to do at night Enjoy Ho Chi Minh City’s frenetic energy from a barstool high above the chaos below. Saigon Saigon Bar in the historic Caravelle Hotel was a favourite hangout of wartime journalists who would report from the ninth storey vantage point, cold beer in hand. Today, that same beer with the same great views is available as The Caravelle Terrace Draft. For cocktails that are equally artsy as alcoholic, Shri Restaurant & Lounge tops the list. Located 23 floors up, sip on innovative cocktails inspired by various neighbourhoods like the Ben Thanh featuring lychee and ginger found in the city’s best-known market or the Thao Cam Vien with notes of cucumber and elderflower, inspired by the botanical gardens. The views are as good as the coffee at Café Eon up the Bitexco Financial Tower © James Pham / Lonely Planet 15. Skyscraper observation towers From the street level, Ho Chi Minh City seems incredibly chaotic, but there’s a quiet beauty to the city when experienced from above the fray. A number of skyscrapers have observation towers or bars which offer views of the city's tree-lined boulevards and the snaking Saigon River. Bitexco Financial Tower From the 68-storey Bitexco Financial Tower – or, indeed, its chic EON Heli Bar on the 52nd floor – visitors can sip on a coffee whilst watching the world go by. Landmark 81 At 81 stories high, the Tetris-like Landmark 81 is Vietnam's tallest building. Its Blank Lounge, some 76 floors up, is where they share the views of the sprawling metropolis with the public. You may also likeVietnam tips a first-timer's guideBest places to eat in Ho Chi Minh City in 2020Ho Chi Minh City’s best rooftop bars Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter. Fast-paced and frenetic, Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam at its most electrifying. Capital city Hanoi conceals its beauty behind a bevy of banyan, fig and flame trees, in a warren of ancient streets and in the elegant 'Paris of the Orient' villas behind tree-lined boulevards. The former Saigon, on the other hand, teases with its brazenness and pride. Its French colonial buildings are dwarfed by groves of skyscrapers; alcohol flows more freely in the louche night, thick with tropical stickiness, while the relentless tide of Hondas flushes some seven million Vietnamese on four million bikes through the city's busy streets. Saigon — as it's still known by the locals — is insatiable. Big commercial interests oil, construction, steel, textiles and small industry from shoe shiners to the beef noodle soup makers power this southern metropolis, which, year on year, strides further towards the Mekong Delta as it gobbles swampland for homes, businesses, schools and roads. Every day, migrants arrive in the city, pinning their dreams on Vietnam's economic powerhouse. Here, the sense of possibility is almost tangible. Ho Chi Minh City's powerful position was born of planning, plunder and providence. It began life as Prey Nokor, a small Khmer village surrounded by tiger-infested jungle. By the 17th century it was under Viet control; a citadel had been built, a canal system dug, the commercially savvy Chinese had arrived and French Catholic missionaries were at work. In 1859, France added Ho Chi Minh City to its colonial acquisitions. La plus grande France — evident in the wide boulevards, cafes peddling baguettes and pastries, ochre-splashed shuttered villas, and civic buildings like the Post Office, Opera House and Town Hall — made the city the capital of its new colony, Cochinchina. After the French were defeated by communist-nationalist revolutionaries in 1954, the country was split into two political halves; the US later swarmed in on an anti-communist mission, propping up the South Vietnam government during a savage internecine war. The communist north won in 1975 and Saigon was rechristened Ho Chi Minh City. Now part of the unified Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the former capital still marches to the beat of its own drum, with visitors required to submit to its thrilling, noisy, rampantly capitalist vortex. While immersed in the urban spin and the percussive thrum of the motorbike river, watch for the tableaux of stills — the cyclo driver napping in the shade of frangipani blossom; coffee drinkers perched low on plastic stools, penned in on pavements by the snouts of parked motorbikes; and the hairdresser snipping locks on the sidewalk with a cracked mirror pressed to a French colonial wall. Sights Reunification Palace The feng shui-designed 1960s palace of the South Vietnam government is now a museum — with psychedelic carpets, bunker, and replica North Vietnamese Army tank the original stormed the gates of the palace on 30 April 1975, heralding the end of the Second Indochina War. Historic heart The French transplanted Paris to the tropics. Visit the custard-coloured Ho Chi Minh City Hall, the paprika-hued Notre Dame Cathedral, beaux arts Central Post Office, wedding-cake-ornate Opera House, and the famous Hotel Continental Saigon, whose bar drew a gaggle of gossips, idlers, war correspondents — and Graham Greene — during Vietnam's war-raddled 20th century. War Remnants Museum The horrors of the Second Indochina War distilled through the subjective lens of the winning side. Some of the photos, military hardware and torture tools require a strong stomach. Chinatown Cholon Squished into the dense urban sprawl of Chinatown are the sweeping roofs of meeting halls and temples, encrusted with vivid ceramic friezes and figures. As Taoism, Confucianism, Buddhism and animism conflate, historian Tim Doling's new Cholon tour expertly sheds light on the religious pantheon. Cu Chi Tunnels Twenty-four miles north west of the city are subterranean tunnels that sheltered communists from 1948 through to the 1970s. Around 75 miles of this labyrinth housed schools, hospitals and living space for 300,000 of those hiding — first from the French and later the Americans. Getting there by boat offers the chance to glimpse the busy Saigon River. Cao Dai Temple Travel writer Norman Lewis wrote in A Dragon Apparent that the Cao Dai Temple, 60 miles north west of the city, 'must be the most outrageously vulgar building ever to have been erected with serious intent'. In doing so, he helped seal its fate as a key sightseeing stop. Its European-Oriental hybrid architecture erupts in a sea of lurid imagery — spiralling, whiskered dragons with bulging eyes wrapped around candy-pink pillars — dedicated to a home-grown religion that incorporates the teachings of Christ, Buddha, Taoism, Confucius, and Muhammad, among others. Sophie's Art Tour Sophie Hughes, an art gallery manager-turned-guide, illuminates the city's art scene with a tour exploring pieces from the French colonial era to the modern day, taking in museums, galleries, shops and avant-garde collectives. Street food tour Aussie Barbara and her Vietnamese husband, Vu, organise trips to sample Ho Chi Minh City's street stalls' best pho beef noodle soup, banh mi baguettes with pate, broken rice, iced coffee, pastries and chè dessert, while ensuring visitors lacking city know-how don't make any cultural clangers. Buy Dong Khoi The main shopping street, selling everything from silks to souvenirs and luxury brands in the heart of downtown Ho Chi Minh City. Mai Lam Reworked ao dais traditional women's dress and embroidered, vintage US Army gear feature in Mai Lam's store-cum-gallery. Liti This small boutique is artfully filled with delicate embroidered fabrics, floral crockery, perfume bottles and antique knick-knacks — many hailing from the French colonial period. Saigon Kitsch Vietnam's propaganda art, with its bold colours, war vignettes and chiselled jaw lines, has been grafted onto eye-catching merchandise, including mugs, mouse mats, folders, cards, notebooks and drink mats. T 00 84 8 3821 8019. Anupa Eco-boutique featuring handmade fish leather bags, chicken leg watchstraps, and cow leather evening bags, yoga bags, travel bags and nappy bags made in Vietnam by a British designer with an Indian background. Eat Vietnam is a culinary nirvana where flavour, colour and texture combine to produce dishes of noodles, shellfish, salads and meats marinated and infused with spices and herbal elixirs. Eat on its street or in its restaurants for the full national repertoire. £ Koto The lunch menu at this training restaurant for disadvantaged youths includes Vietnamese cuisine highlights such as green mango salad with prawns, beef wrapped in betel leaf, barbecue pork ribs, plus soup and a dessert. All for the bargain price of 98,000VND £ ££ Hoa Túc Set inside the courtyard of a former opium refinery, chic Hoa Túc serves up delicious modern cuisine like soft shell crab with passion fruit sauce, and spicy char-grilled beef with kumquat. £££ Blanchy Street This new restaurant has made its culinary mark with Japanese-South American fusion food from former Nobu Berkley chef Martin Brito. Like a local Motorbike taxis xe ôm Fares are negotiable and it's worth bargaining hard drivers carry a spare helmet because many journeys are cheaper in conventional taxis. Or hire one for a cruise; zooming about just for the hell of it is known as chay lòng vòng. Coffee shops Vietnam is the world's second largest producer of the coffee bean. It knows it and loves it and you can find purveyors of the caffeine-lover's drink almost everywhere across the city — inside a florists, in a 'cuckoo's nest', on the ground, inside an abandoned apartment building, or in fashionable French colonial villas. Young locals head to hole-in-the wall Phuc Long. 63 Mac Thi Buoi, District 1. Bitexco Financial Tower The city's tallest skyscraper, at 860ft, opened in 2010 with a Skydeck costing 200,000VND £ to visit. Alternatively, head to the 52nd floor for drinks at the Alto Heli Bar — there's no entrance fee and you can grab beers for around 60,000VND £ Surely a no-brainer. Sleep Most first-time visitors prefer to stay in District 1, which encompasses the main sights, as well as the majority of restaurants, shops, bars and clubs. £ Grand Hotel Saigon Spacious and quiet rooms right on Dong Khoi — the main shopping street — in this historic hotel that's undergone several upgrades since opening in 1937. The al fresco pool is a boon in humid Ho Chi Minh City. ££ Rex Hotel An upgraded downtown hotel with a pivotal role in the nation's history — its fifth-floor bar hosted press conferences during the Vietnam War. The new 'deluxe' rooms are very comfortable but steer clear of rooms overlooking the main roads. £££ Park Hyatt Saigon No expense was spared when building this luxury hotel with a French colonial air — from the stylish Indochine rooms to the renowned Square One restaurant. The hotel's location — directly behind the Opera House — makes it the perfect base for sightseeing. After hours Ho Chi Minh City sweats alcohol. From after-hour dive bars to cocktails in glitzy, glassy abodes, you can party till the wee hours with the city's vibrant nightlife. Alternatively, take the coffee route, favoured by many Vietnamese. Cún House Lounge Tucked away in a hem alley, this stylish architect's studio is great for a quiet drink before heading a few blocks into town. Hem 36, Chu Manh Trinh, District 1. Xu Heaving with a largely expat and wealthy Vietnamese crowd, this popular bar wows with its liquid nitrogen cocktails and exotic Vietnamese mixes, including Sticky Mulberry — juice, sticky rice liquor and sparkling wine. Café Idling in cafes is all part of the Saigon experience. Hidden away upstairs, behind the central Ben Thanh Market, is this artfully designed cafe-cum-drawing room with gorgeous, mismatched upholstery and plenty of space to recline, eat and drink. ESSENTIALS Getting there Vietnam Airlines flies direct from Gatwick. Emirates flies from Gatwick via Dubai. Etihad flies from Heathrow via Abu Dhabi. Malaysia Airlines flies via Kuala Lumpur from Heathrow. Singapore Air via Singapore from Manchester and Heathrow. Air France via Paris from Aberdeen, Birmingham, Heathrow, Newcastle and Manchester. Average flight time 12h. Getting Around Walking is ideal for getting close to the action. But when you need to negotiate longer distances, there are lots of taxis and motorbike taxis, and a handful of cyclos. Vinasun and Mai Linh are the most-trusted taxi firms. Many drivers don't speak English so it's best to have your destination — including the district — written down. When to go November to April, when it's cooler with temperatures around 27 C; summers can be unbearably humid. Need to know Visas 30-day, single-trip visas can be bought on arrival for $45 £27. Currency Vietnamese dong VND. £1 = 34,000VND. Vaccinations Check with your GP prior to departure. International dial code 00 84 8. Time difference GMT +7. How to do it Buffalo Tours offers five-night city breaks, including Etihad flights from Heathrow, accommodation at the Grand Hotel Saigon and touring, from £900 per person. More info Footprint Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos, by Claire Boobbyer. RRP £ Published in the March 2014 issue of National Geographic Traveller UK SocietyDemographics Premium Premium statistics Industry-specific and extensively researched technical data partially from exclusive partnerships. A paid subscription is required for full access. Published by Jan 20, 2023 In 2021, the population of Ho Chi Minh City reached approximately million inhabitants, showing a slight decrease compared to the year before. Previously known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is the largest and most populous city in Vietnam. Number of inhabitants in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam from 2010 to 2021 in million inhabitants CharacteristicInhabitants in millions-You need a Statista Account for unlimited accessImmediate access to 1m+ statisticsIncl. source referencesDownload as PNG, PDF, or XLSAlready have an account? LoginSourceMore informationSurvey time period2010 to 2021 Supplementary notes * Preliminary figures. Figures have been rounded. The source did not provide a date of publication. The date used here is the access Accounts Access All Statistics. Starting from $588 USD / Year Basic Account Get to know the platformYou only have access to basic statistics. This statistic is not included in your AccountThe ideal entry-level account for individual usersInstant access to 1m statisticsDownload in XLS, PDF & PNG formatDetailed references$69 USD $49 USD / Month * in the first 12 months Professional AccountFull accessBusiness Solutions including all features. * Prices do not include sales tax. 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they live in ho chi minh city since 1975