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Ho Chi Minh City
Area:
2,095.2 sq. km
Population:
5,730,700 habitants (2004)
Administrative divisions:
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Districts:
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.
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Rural districts:
Nha Be, Can Gio, Hoc Mon, Cu Chi, Binh Chanh.
Ethnic groups:
Viet (Kinh), Hoa, Khmer, Cham...
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Geography
In the core of the Mekong Delta, Ho Chi Minh City,
formerly known as Saigon, is second the most important
in Vietnam after Hanoi. It is not only a commercial
center but also a scientific, technological, industrial
and tourist center. The city is bathed by many rivers,
arroyos and canals, the biggest river being the Saigon
River. The Port of Saigon, established in 1862, is
accessible to ships weighing up to 30,000 tons, a rare
advantage for an inland river port. Climate:The
climate is generally hot and humid. There are two
distinctive seasons: the rainy season, from May to
November, and the dry season, from December to April.
The annual average temperature is 27ºC. The hottest
month is April and the lowest is December. It is warm
all year.
History
Many
centuries ago, Saigon was already a busy commercial
center. Merchants from China, Japan and many European
countries would sail upstream the Saigon River to reach
the islet of Pho, a trading center. In the year of 1874,
Cho Lon merged with Saigon, forming the largest city in
the Indochina. It had been many times celebrated as the
Pearl of the Far East. After the reunification of the
country, the 6th National Assembly in its
meeting of the 2nd of July, 1976, has
officially rebaptized Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City. The
history of city relates closely with the struggle for
the independence and freedom of Vietnam.
Tourism
Today, Ho Chi Minh City is the big tourism center in
Vietnam, attracting a large of visitors to Vietnam. Ho
Chi Minh City has various attractions as Ho Chi Minh
Museum, formerly known as Dragon House Wharf, Cu Chi
Tunnels, system of museums, theatres, cultural houses...
Recently, many tourist areas are invested such as Thanh
Da, Binh Quoi Village, Dam Sen Park, Saigon Water Park,
Suoi Tien, Ky Hoa..., which draw numerous tourists.
Despite its quite recent past, Ho Chi Minh City
nevertheless possesses various beautiful buildings,
displaying a characteristic combination of Vietnamese,
Chinese and European cultures. These include Nha Rong
(Dragon House Wharf), Quoc To Temple (National
Ancestors’ 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...). After more than 300 years of development,
Ho Chi Minh City presents many ancient architectural
constructions, famous vestiges and renowned sights. It
is remarkable for its harmonious blending of traditional
national values with northern and western cultural
features.
Transportation
Ho Chi Minh City is the main junction for trains, roads,
water, and air transportation systems for domestic trips
and for foreign destination.
- Roads: Ho Chi Minh City is 1,730km from Hanoi,
99km from Tay Ninh, 30km from Bien Hoa (Dong Nai), 70km
from My Tho, 125km from Vung Tau, 168km from Can Tho,
308km from Dalat, and 375km from Buon Ma Thuot. The City
has National Highway 13 which connects Vietnam with the
rest of Indochina.
- Train: Thong Nhat express train connects Ho Chi
Minh City and Hanoi, vie many provinces in Vietnam.
- Air: Tan Son Nhat International Airport, 7km
from center of city, is the biggest airport with many
domestic and international routes. There are flights
from Hanoi and Danang to Ho Chi Minh City and between
the City to many regions as well a lot of countries on
over the world. |
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