Ho Chi Minh City

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.

ALBUM
NEARBY DESTINATIONS
Vinh Nghiem Pagoda

Ho Chi Minh City

Giac Lam Pagoda

Ho Chi Minh City

Nguyen Hue Walking Street

Ho Chi Minh City

Koi Fish Park

Ho Chi Minh City

Cu Chi Tunnels

Ho Chi Minh City

WHERE TO STAY
Thien Nam Thinh Hotel

Add: 3/5 St. Tch 24, Dist. 12

Tel: (84-28) 3718 6777

Van Minh 1 Hotel

Add: 2K Street No. 10, Tan Quy Ward, Dist. 7

Tel: (84-28) 3775 4335

Thanh Binh Hotel

Add: 390 Nguyen Thi Kieu St., Dist. 12

Tel: (84-28) 6255 3855

Hoang Lien Hotel

Add: 15 Bui Thi Xuan St., Dist. 1

Tel: (84-28) 3925 4303

Hoa Quynh Anh Hotel

Add: 320/21 Nguyen Thi Thap St., Dist. 7

Tel: (84-28) 3771 0249

Bien Xanh Hotel

Add: 103-105 Tran Thien Chanh, Dist. 10

Tel: (84-28) 3862 9248

My Quang Hotel

Add: 717A Xo Viet Nghe Tinh St., Binh Thanh Dist.

Tel: (84-28) 3899 2507

Nhat Van 1 Hotel

Add: 781/A48 Le Hong Phong ++ St., Dist. 10

Tel: (84-28) 3862 0941

Michelle Hotel

Add: 297/19 To Hien Thanh St., Dist. 10

Tel: (84-28) 3868 4889

Ngoc Loan Hotel

Add:

Tel: (84-28) 3775 5359

An Tam Hotel

Add: 22 Nguyen An Ninh St., Dist. 1

Tel: (84-28) 3823 5053

Duc Tram Hotel

Add: 74-76 No. 8 St., Binh Chanh Dist.

Tel: (84-28) 5431 9498

Ngoc Trinh Hotel

Add: 120/6 Tran Dinh Xu St., Dist. 1

Tel: (84-28) 3920 1732

Huy Phung Hotel

Add: 31 Bau Cat 6 St., Tan Binh Dist.

Tel: (84-28) 3842 8382

Hoang Anh Hotel

Add: 62 No.2 St, Tan Phong - Kim Son Project Area, Dist. 7

Tel: (84-28) 6292 7272

Hai Phong Hotel

Add: 20-22 Nguyen Trong Tuyen St., Phu Nhuan Dist.

Tel: (84-28) 3995 9239

Hotel Pullman Saigon Centre

Add: 148 Tran Hung Dao St., Dist. 1

Tel: (84-28) 3838 8686

Romance Hotel

Add: 95 St. 2, Tan Phong Ward, Dist. 7

Tel: (84-28) 3776 0953

Tan Hong Ha Hotel

Add: 65-67-69 Street No. 5, Binh Thoi Quarter, Dist. 11

Tel: (84-28) 3858 1421

Thai Binh Hotel

Add: 64/9 Xuan Dieu St., Dist Tan Binh

Tel: (84-28) 3845 1304

WHERE TO EAT
Phu Tho Restaurant

Add: 15 Road 2 Cu Xa Lu Gia, Dist. 11

Tel: (84-28) 3865 0921

Thai Village

Add: 38 Ly Tu Trong St., Dist. 1

Tel: (84-28) 3825 6704

Villa FB Restaurant

Add: 79 Suong Nguyet Anh St., Dist.1

Tel: (84-28) 6290 6571

Hoang Yen Restaurant

Add: 148 Hai Ba Trung St., Dist. 1

Tel: (84-28) 3823 4564

Quan 140

Add: 140/13 Tran Huy Lieu St., Phu Nhuan Dist.

Tel: (84-28) 3844 4484

Nam Bộ Baked Village Restaurant

Add: 283 - 285 Cach Mang Thang 8 St., Dist. 10

Tel: (84-28) 3863 2309/ 38622569

Duc Bao Restaurant

Add: 34 Dong Khoi St., Dist. 1

Tel: (84-28) 3822 3623

Gia Dining Room Restaurant

Add: 5A Nguyen Sieu St., Dist. 1

Tel: (84-28) 3927 9399/ 3825 6257

La Tia To Restaurant

Add: 1 Hoa Su St., Phu Nhan Dist.

Tel: (84-28) 3517 8797

Cham Charm Gallery cuisine Restaurant

Add: 2 Phan Van Chuong St., Dist. 7

Tel: (84-28) 5410 9999

Choi go zip Restaurant

Add: 11 - 13 Lam Son St., Dist. 1

Tel: (84-28) 3824 7194

Hoang Cung Vietnam Restaurant

Add: 38 Ly Tu Trong St., Dist. 1

Tel: (84-28) 3825 6704

La Thom Restaurant

Add: 778/45 Nguyen Kiem St., Phu Nhuan Dist.

Tel: (84-28) 3844 5500

Lion City Restaurant

Add: 98 Le Lai St., Dist. 1

Tel: (84-28) 3925 3971

Long Den Do Restaurant

Add: 60A Truong Son St., Tan Binh Dist.

Tel: (84-28) 6297 1889

Ming Dynasty Restaurant

Add: 23 Nguyen Khac Vien St., Dist.7

Tel: (84-28) 5411 5555

MR BBQ Restaurant

Add: 20 Ho Huan Nghiep St., Dist.1

Tel: (84-28) 3823 9000

Nam Kha Restaurant

Add: 46 - 48 - 50 Dong Khoi St., Dist. 1

Tel: (84-28) 3823 8310

Royal Garden Restaurant

Add: Floor 6 - Parkson Hung Vuong, Dist. 5

Tel: (84-28) 3222 0456

Seoul House Restaurant

Add: 37 Ngo Duc Ke St., Dist. 1

Tel: (84-28) 3829 4297