Formerly known as Saigon – the Pearl of the Orient during Vietnam War era, Ho Chi Minh City is now named after President Ho Chi Minh and currently holds the title of the most modern and bustling city in Vietnam and definitely is the economic centre of the country featuring the skyscrapers and modern building along with the trendiest for every aspect of life.
Owning one of the three international airport in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City welcomes millions of tourists every year coming as business trip, leisure trip or only stopover for connecting. Nevertheless, because of its strategic position so close to the Delta and at the meeting point between Cambodia and Laos, it has always been a connecting point and a must see site for one stepping in Vietnam with many interesting places waiting for exploration.
Let’s not forget that Ho Chi Minh City was taken by both French and American Army thus the influence still lingers in many buildings in the city centre (which nowadays turned into hotels or post office) are reminiscent of the past and is exceptionally the contrast between the old and the new.
Also a driven tourist point, Ho Chi Minh City charms others by its chaotic traits with lots of energy and life breathing coloring by many people from everywhere dashing to find a resident and all welcome with a title of Saigonian, and it results from the multiple cultures jointing together. The City also marked itself as the attraction with numerous sites to visit: Fine Art to War memorabilia (Cu Chi Tunnel, War Remnants Museum – may recalled of the past a lot), Reunification Palace, Cao Dai Church as well as activities to set mind in: night life bars, Tourist street full of tipsy but funny characters, scooter tour normally combined with street food exploration, cafeteria, cruise dinner or even cooking class not to mention the special cuisine which simply set a special place in every visitor’s heart. The ghosts of the past still haunt the city but the real beauty of Saigon is the seamless blending of the two different worlds into one thrilling and the interesting things seem to be endless.
