Ho Chi Minh City

Formerly known as Saigon and renamed in honor of the former president and prime minister of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam), Ho Chi Minh City is not only the largest city in Vietnam but also one of the most well-known. A central character in the story of the Vietnam War, the “Fall of Saigon”, or the city’s liberation, depending on who is telling it, is one of the most pivotal events in both American and Vietnamese history. For over a hundred years, Saigon was the capital – first under the French colonizers, and later the regime of South Vietnam. Following the end of the Vietnam War, Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City, though locals still refer to it by its old name. Today, Saigon is the industrial and commercial heart of the country, attracting green youth and seasoned businessmen alike with its rapid expansion and numerous opportunities. While development is rampant, the city still retains infrastructure from its days as the colonial capital – with quaint, European-style architecture alongside newly-constructed commercial buildings.