Ho Chi Minh City Overview

HO CHI MINH CITY OVERVIEW

Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, once “The Pearl of the Far East” is the biggest city in Vietnam. It is the most crowded city in the country with the official population of over 8 million people on the total area of over 2,095 km2. The city now comprises 19 districts and 5 suburban districts.

District 1, along the Saigon River, where downtown Saigon is located, is the commercial center and contains most of the city’s monuments and landmarks. Ben Thanh Market is located at District 1 where many Muslim travelers and tourist to stay there, especially Malay street (lorong Malayu). Ben Thanh Market is the most popular market in the city. Ben Thanh Market is best for people-watching and browsing over actually purchasing goods.

Ben Thanh Night Market turns into a market that offers a various types of goods of a slightly different design. Trinkets and souvenirs will stick around but at night there are more food offerings where small restaurants pop up, seemingly out of thin air, to serve delicious street food to any and all who stop by. The ambience is different as well. At night the crowds thin out and you’ll be able to enjoy a much more authentic experience where locals rub shoulders and relax after a long day of work.

With favorable weather the whole year round and the convenient access from other countries by air, by road and by sea, Ho Chi Minh City is a busy and dynamic metropolitan.