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Originally settled by the Khmer, the Vietnamese
took control of this region in the 17th century. After the
French conquered Saigon, in 1859, they made it the capital
of Cochin China in 1862, extending and embellishing the city
with broad boulevards and elegant architecture. 4.5 million
people had made Saigon their home by 1969, but the city was
all but evacuated when it fell to the North in 1975. Despite
changing its name to Ho Chi Minh City, locals were reluctant
to adopt the new name. So the authorities have compromised,
allowing the central area to be called 'Saigon.' The current
population is believed to fall between six and seven million.
 Artex
Saigon Orchid Farm - One of several in the outskirts of
the city, this farm has a vast collection of blooms, including
several rare varieties.
The
Art Museum - A broad spectrum of exhibits, including contemporary
paintings, some of which are for sale. The museum also houses
older works, including some valuable Cham, Indian and Khmer
pieces.
Bink
Quoi Tourist Village - Offering a pleasant choice of activities
including water puppet shows, boat rides, and river cruises.
There is also an evening dinner cruise complete with cultural
show.
Cong
Vien Van Hoa Park - Formerly a recreational enclave for
the French, this elegant tree-shaded sports club has several
tennis courts and a swimming pool. There are also a gym and
table tennis facilities.
Cu
Chi Tunnels - This maze of underground tunnels, about
an hour from Ho Chi Minh City, is built on several levels,
and measures a total of almost 250km. The soil above is between
3 to 4 metres thick, and can support a 50-ton tank. The connecting
tunnels are a claustrophobic 0.5 to 1 metres wide, just enough
space for a person to crawl in. Some of them have been modified
to accommodate visitors. Accommodation, meeting rooms, mess
halls, hospitals, an operating theatre, and even a miniature
cinema were all constructed within the network and housed
an underground army whose insistent guerilla strategy baffled
the American forces, and ultimately defeated their superior
firepower.
Giac
Lam Pagoda - Reflecting elements of Taoism and Confucianism
as well as Buddhism, this is thought to be the oldest pagoda
in the city, dating from 1744.
History
Museum - Displays and illustrations depicting the cultural
evolution of the country from early times, plus valuable exhibits
originally from Angkor Wat.
Jade
Emperor Pagoda - This impressively colourful, incense-filled,
Chinese temple was built in 1909 and contains a plethora of
remarkable statues and figures.
Mariamman
Hindu Temple - Dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Mariamman,
and also revered by many non-Hindus, this temple was built
towards the end of the 19th century and is said to have miraculous
powers.
Notre
Dame Cathedral - The two 40 metre high towers of this
Neo-Romanesque building dominates the city's skyline. It was
completed in 1883, but lost its original stained glass windows
as a result of fighting in WWII.
Reunification
Palace - An historic site in the fight for independence,
on 30th April 1975, the first Communist tanks broke through
the gates of the palace and a soldier unfurled a North Vietnamese
flag from an upper floor balcony.
Revolutionary
Museum - Exhibits depicting the communist struggle for
independence are on display inside this beautiful white neo-classical
building.
War
Remnants Museum - A chilling reminder of the Vietnam War,
with an assortment of American military pieces and armaments,
plus various other exhibits and photographs all attesting
to the hideous suffering caused by any kind of war.
Xa
Loi Pagoda - Built in 1956, and housing a sacred relic
of the Buddha, several monks used this location for self-immolation
in protest against American involvement in Vietnam.
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