Ho Chi Minh City, the former Saigon, is often refered to as Vietnam's jewel and the Pearl of the Orient. The official name change took place in 1976, following the reunification of the country.

Ho Chi Minh City is not only a commercial center but also a scientific, technological, industrial and tourist center. It is the second most important in Vietnam after Hanoi. The main ethnic groups populating the area are the Kinh and Hoa.

It is well worth a visit for its bustle and activity, it will help put many of the other things you will see on your tour of Saigon in some kind of special perspective. Central Saigon, which is still the official name for the city center, shows evidence of the French colonial city, with wide, tree-lined boulevards, sidewalk cafes, and elegant French architecture. The city is currently being rebuilt and modernized. Some attractions: Reunification Conference Hall, History Museum, Zoo and Botanical Garden, Ben Thanh Market, Notre Dame Cathedral, Nghia An Hoi Quan Pagoda, Nha Rong Wharf, Thien Hau Temple.