Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Prey Nokor and later Sai Gon, is the largest city in Vietnam, located at the delta of the Mekong River. The Saigon River flows by the city. The city was under French colonial rule for a long period. The French influence can still be seen in the existing architectures, which also gave it the name “Pearl of the Far East” and “Paris of the Orient.” It got its new name in 1975, after a Communist takeover. Today, in English, the name is abbreviated to HCMC; in French it is known as Ho Chi Minh Ville, abbreviated to HCMV.
HCMC is a culturally vibrant city, with a rich past and a modern outlook. It is the cultural and economic capital of Vietnam. The city life essentially revolves round the streets, teeming with shops and carts selling all sorts of foods and fares. The city streets are thronged by motorbikes - so much so that HCMC can all be called “the motorbike capital.” The city traffic might seem unmanageable to a newcomer because the motor cyclists barely look out for traffic signals or pedestrian crossings. You have to get a hang of it before you dare to cross the streets without caring about traffic rules yourself.
Geographically, HCMC is located just a few degrees above the equator, and thus falls within the tropical climate zone. There are typically two seasons- the wet season and the dry season. December to April is the dry season, and the best time to visit HCMC, while the rest of the year belongs to the wet season.
There are a number of museums in HCMC, which displays remnants of war history. Apart from these, there are quite a few gardens, temples and pagodas to look at.
The Reunification Palace, or the Independence Palace used to the residence of the president of former South Vietnam. Most parts of this building has been kept exactly like they used to be in the 60s.
The War Remnant Museum displays man’s cruelty during the Vietnam war. Cruel, yet real photographs, simulated prisons and war armaments are in display in this museum. You may find war amputees trying and selling their wares nearby.
The Ho Chi Minh Museum is a storehouse of information about none other than the Father of the nation, Ho Chi Minh. If you are well-informed about the history of the country, you can visit the Museum of Vietnamese History.
Take a snap or two with the statue of Uncle Ho in front of the City Hall, a beautifully maintained French Colonial building.
There are some wonderfully decorated Pagodas in the city for the religiously inclined. You may also visit the French build Catholic Cathedral, the Notre Dame Cathedral.
The Dam Sen Water Park offers a range of exciting water slides, which may not be easy to resist. Another must do for tourists in Vietnam is to visit one of the hair salons, and get yourself pampered with the world’s best hair wash, manicure and pedicure, and that too for a very reasonable price.
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