Area: 2,095.5 sq. km Population: 8,146.3 thousand habitants (2015). Administrative divisions: - Districts (19): 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 (5): Nha Be, Can Gio Hoc Mon, Cu Chi Binh Chanh. Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Hoa, Khmer, Cham...
◊ FEATURES
Considering as the Pearl of the Far East, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) with more than 300 years of development has presented many ancient architectural constructions, famous vestiges and renowned sights. Its specific culture is the harmonious blending of traditional values with northern and western cultural features. HCMC is a trade, industrial, scientific, technical, cultural centre and especially as one of the largest tourist centres in Viet Nam.
Hundreds of rivers and canals cross Ho Chi Minh City. The Sai Gon River, crossing 106km of the city, is the biggest. The river network from Ho Chi Minh City to the surrounding provinces and Cambodia is much developed
Ho Chi Minh City also constitutes the cultural centre of the South and the Mekong River Delta. It is the city where quoc ngu (national writing) was first generalized, and where the first books written in quoc ngu were published.
With the appearance and development of books, essays, schools, artistic and intellectual circles, Sai Gon has had a long history of cultural influence.
Climate: There are two distinct seasons. The rainy season lasts from May to November and brings an average rainfall of 1,979mm (77.9 inches). The dry season lasts from December to April the next year. The average annual temperature is 27.5ºC (81.59ºF) and there is almost no winter. So, the climate is particularly favourable for tourism all year round.
◊ HISTORY
While Ha Noi has over 1,000 years of history, Ho Chi Minh City is a relatively new settlement. The name of Sai Gon was registered for the first time in documents dating back to 1698. Due to its favourable geographical location, topography, and climate, this area rapidly became a converging point for traders from all over the world.
Sai Gon Port was built in 1862 and foreign traders quickly became familiar with Ong Lanh Market, Ray Market, Ben Thanh Market and Sai Gon Market. For many years, Sai Gon was praised as the “Pearl of the Far East”.
Ho Chi Minh City is where the heroic resistance against aggressors and the struggling process for independence of the Vietnamese Nation began. It was also where Ho Chi Minh Campaign triumphantly finished on 30 April 1975. At the first session of the 6th National Assembly of Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, in July 1976, the name of the city was officially changed to Ho Chi Minh City.
Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee
◊ TOURISM
Being one of the biggest tourism centres of Viet Nam, Ho Chi Minh City attracts a large of visitors with various attractions, such as Ho Chi Minh Museum, formerly known as Dragon House Wharf, Cu Chi Tunnels, Nguyen Hue Walking Street - the most modern walking street in Viet Nam, system of museums, theatres, cultural houses, parks... The city also invested in many tourist areas such as Vam Sat – Can Gio, Thanh Da, Binh Quoi, A Glimpse of Viet Nam; many amusement parks such as Dam Sen, Ky Hoa, Suoi Tien, Thao Cam Vien… attracting numerous domestic and foreign tourists.
Despite its quite recent past, with more than 300 years history, Ho Chi Minh City nevertheless possesses numerous interesting buildings, displaying a characteristic combination of Vietnamese, Chinese and European cultures. These include Nha Rong (Dragon House Wharf), Quoc To Temple (National Ancestor’s 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...).
The city's resources and accommodations are attractive to many travellers. Numerous steps have been and will be taken to stabilize the tourism potential of the city. For instance, historical relics and architectural works have been restored, traditional values have been recovered in festivals, and many museums are upgraded.
◊ TRANSPORTATION
Ho Chi Minh City is the main junction for trains, roads, water, and air transportation systems for domestic trips and for foreign destination. The City has National Road N°.13 which connects Viet Nam with the rest of Indochina. Ho Chi Minh City is 72km from My Tho, 116km from Vung Tau, 136km from Vinh Long, 169km from Can Tho, 250km from Rach Gia, 338km from Ha Tien, 300km from Da Lat, 445km from Nha Trang, 965km from Da Nang, 1,051km from Hue and 1,690km from Ha Noi.
Bus: There is a variety of bus stations around Ho Chi Minh City.
- Mien Dong Bus Station: There are bus services from the bus station to destinations north of HCMC such as Binh Duong, Buon Ma Thuot, Da Nang, Da Lat, Dong Nai, Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Hue, Nam Dinh, Nha Trang, Phan Thiet, Pleiku, Quang Ngai, Quy Nhon, Tuy Hoa, Vinh, Vung Tau. Most buses leave daily from 5am to 5:30pm.
- Mien Tay Bus Station: Located on the western edge of the city, where buses and minibuses leave for most major destinations in the Mekong River Delta.
- An Suong Bus Station: Buses to Tay Ninh, Cu Chi and other destinations in the South.
City bus: There are nearly 200 bus routes. Fare cost at least: VND5,000. Operation hours: 5am-21pm everyday.
Train: The Express trains take 29.5-38 hours to reach Ha Noi, hard and soft seats are available. Air-conditioned sleepers should be booked in advance. Train tickets can be purchased at the ticket office of the station and also at most of travel agents in the city.
There are also several local trains from Sai Gon Railway Station to Phan Thiet, Nha Trang, Tuy Hoa, Da Nang, Vinh.
Air: Tan Son Nhat International Airport, 7km from center of city, is the biggest airport with many domestic and international routes. From HCMC, there are regular flights to many cities around Viet Nam and in the world.
Ho Chi Minh City
Add: 3/5 St. Tch 24, Dist. 12
Tel: (84-28) 3718 6777
Add: 2K Street No. 10, Tan Quy Ward, Dist. 7
Tel: (84-28) 3775 4335
Add: 390 Nguyen Thi Kieu St., Dist. 12
Tel: (84-28) 6255 3855
Add: 15 Bui Thi Xuan St., Dist. 1
Tel: (84-28) 3925 4303
Add: 320/21 Nguyen Thi Thap St., Dist. 7
Tel: (84-28) 3771 0249
Add: 103-105 Tran Thien Chanh, Dist. 10
Tel: (84-28) 3862 9248
Add: 717A Xo Viet Nghe Tinh St., Binh Thanh Dist.
Tel: (84-28) 3899 2507
Add: 781/A48 Le Hong Phong ++ St., Dist. 10
Tel: (84-28) 3862 0941
Add: 297/19 To Hien Thanh St., Dist. 10
Tel: (84-28) 3868 4889
Add:
Tel: (84-28) 3775 5359
Add: 22 Nguyen An Ninh St., Dist. 1
Tel: (84-28) 3823 5053
Add: 74-76 No. 8 St., Binh Chanh Dist.
Tel: (84-28) 5431 9498
Add: 120/6 Tran Dinh Xu St., Dist. 1
Tel: (84-28) 3920 1732
Add: 31 Bau Cat 6 St., Tan Binh Dist.
Tel: (84-28) 3842 8382
Add: 62 No.2 St, Tan Phong - Kim Son Project Area, Dist. 7
Tel: (84-28) 6292 7272
Add: 20-22 Nguyen Trong Tuyen St., Phu Nhuan Dist.
Tel: (84-28) 3995 9239
Add: 148 Tran Hung Dao St., Dist. 1
Tel: (84-28) 3838 8686
Add: 95 St. 2, Tan Phong Ward, Dist. 7
Tel: (84-28) 3776 0953
Add: 65-67-69 Street No. 5, Binh Thoi Quarter, Dist. 11
Tel: (84-28) 3858 1421
Add: 64/9 Xuan Dieu St., Dist Tan Binh
Tel: (84-28) 3845 1304
Add: 15 Road 2 Cu Xa Lu Gia, Dist. 11
Tel: (84-28) 3865 0921
Add: 38 Ly Tu Trong St., Dist. 1
Tel: (84-28) 3825 6704
Add: 79 Suong Nguyet Anh St., Dist.1
Tel: (84-28) 6290 6571
Add: 148 Hai Ba Trung St., Dist. 1
Tel: (84-28) 3823 4564
Add: 140/13 Tran Huy Lieu St., Phu Nhuan Dist.
Tel: (84-28) 3844 4484
Add: 283 - 285 Cach Mang Thang 8 St., Dist. 10
Tel: (84-28) 3863 2309/ 38622569
Add: 34 Dong Khoi St., Dist. 1
Tel: (84-28) 3822 3623
Add: 5A Nguyen Sieu St., Dist. 1
Tel: (84-28) 3927 9399/ 3825 6257
Add: 1 Hoa Su St., Phu Nhan Dist.
Tel: (84-28) 3517 8797
Add: 2 Phan Van Chuong St., Dist. 7
Tel: (84-28) 5410 9999
Add: 11 - 13 Lam Son St., Dist. 1
Tel: (84-28) 3824 7194
Add: 778/45 Nguyen Kiem St., Phu Nhuan Dist.
Tel: (84-28) 3844 5500
Add: 98 Le Lai St., Dist. 1
Tel: (84-28) 3925 3971
Add: 60A Truong Son St., Tan Binh Dist.
Tel: (84-28) 6297 1889
Add: 23 Nguyen Khac Vien St., Dist.7
Tel: (84-28) 5411 5555
Add: 20 Ho Huan Nghiep St., Dist.1
Tel: (84-28) 3823 9000
Add: 46 - 48 - 50 Dong Khoi St., Dist. 1
Tel: (84-28) 3823 8310
Add: Floor 6 - Parkson Hung Vuong, Dist. 5
Tel: (84-28) 3222 0456
Add: 37 Ngo Duc Ke St., Dist. 1
Tel: (84-28) 3829 4297