Ho Chi Minh City Packages/Deals & Travel Agents Near Me

The Vietnamese use the names Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City, or simply "HCMC" interchangeably.

By any name, Ho Chi Minh City is the economic center of Vietnam, although geographically it's 700 mi/1,120 km south of Hanoi, the capital. With a rapidly growing population, new hotels, chic bars and trendy clubs, Ho Chi Minh City is enjoying a climate of prosperity and growth.

On Ho Chi Minh City's doorstep is the Mekong Delta, with its burgeoning markets, luminous green rice fields, Khmer-styled pagodas, and fruit and flower orchards. The best way to view this tropical wonderland is by boat—you can rent a tour boat in the delta towns of Ben Tre, Vinh Long and Can Tho.

Potpourri

The city has undergone several name changes. Once a small fishing village called Prey Nokor, in the 1690s it was named Gia Djnh, and in the 1860s the French changed it to Saigon. In 1975, it was renamed after the then current Vietnamese leader at the time, Ho Chi Minh or "Uncle Ho".

The city experiences two distinct seasons: The rainy season from May through November, and the dry season from December through April.

Despite the fact that Vietnam is a Buddhist country and Christmas is not recognized as a national holiday, Ho Chi Minh City is known for its beautiful display of lights and decorations. Throughout December, buildings and trees in the downtown area are draped with colored lights.

There is a two-tiered price structure in Vietnam, with a tourist price and a lower Vietnamese price. You will be paying the tourist price. For many, this is only fair, as the median wage in Vietnam is about US$150 a month, while US$300 a month is considered positively middle-class.

An estimated 6.8 million motorbikes are found on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City. The most frequently replaced part of a motorbike is the horn.

Location

Saigon Port was established during the French colonial rule and was then known as Saigon Commercial Port.

The port is located along the Saigon River. Its three terminals are Nha Rong, Khanh Hoi and Tan Thuan. The port also includes various mooring buoys on either side of the river. Larger ships have to dock at Phu My, which is two and a half hours away from the city center.

Most cruise lines provide shuttles from the dock that drop people off at the Rex Hotel, which is in the center of the city. If you need to take a taxi, hire one outside the dock gates because they are much cheaper than the ones inside.