Ho Chi Minh is Vietnam’s largest city, with a population of 9 million people.
It was the capital of the French protectorate of Cochinchina from 1862 until 1954, and the capital of South Vietnam from 1954 until 1975.
Ho Chi Minh is named after a Vietnamese revolutionary leader.
Ho Chi Minh lived in France as a young man in World War I and, inspired by the Bolshevik Revolution, travelled to the Soviet Union.
He helped establish the Indochinese Communist Party in 1930 and the League for Independence in 1941.
After Germany defeated France in 1940, Ho Chi Minh seized the opportunity for his nationalist cause. He returned to Vietnam in 1941 to organize the league.
At the end of World War II he seized the northern Vietnamese city of Hanoi and declared a Democratic State of Vietnam (or North Vietnam) as president.
Known as ‘Uncle Ho’ he served as president for the next 25 years.
On April 30, 1975, North Vietnamese troops captured Saigon, and the city was subsequently renamed Ho Chi Minh City.
Around 1.5 million motorbikes enter Ho Chi Minh City every day.
There are around 7.3 million motorbikes for its 8.4 million citizens and around 25 motorbikes for every car.
Ho Chi Minh City is a multicultural metropolis. Around 94% of its population is ethnic Vietnamese (kinh), while the largest minority ethnic group is Chinese.
The most prevalent religions in the city are Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism, though roughly 10% of the population are practising Roman Catholics. Buddhism,
Taoism and Confucianism tend to be practised in the same temples.
WHERE TO STAY
The best place to stay in Ho Chi Minh City is the district 1, that where the most touristic place and restaurants are.
We stay at the Aquari hotel, very good location just 2 to 3 blocks from the famous opera.
The room was standard, but very good buffet breakfast, include in price,
For 1 300 000 vnd ($56 US) a night is a very good price, just outside the hotel on the right there is a very good coffee place.
Possibility to be pick up and drop off at the airport for 537 000 vnd ($23 US) each way.
WHERE TO EAT?
Like every big city in Vietnam, there is no problem to find food in Ho Chi Minh city.
WHAT TO SEE
