🇻🇳

Ho Chi Minh City

VietnamAsia
Explore Ho Chi Minh City in Nearaway.in

Local Greeting

Xin chào

How locals say hello in Ho Chi Minh City

Best Time to Visit

Dry season (December–April)

Must Eat

PhởBánh mìBún bò HuếCơm tấmFresh spring rolls

Local Tip

To cross the street, walk slowly and steadily — the motorbikes will flow around you. Never stop suddenly.

Origin Story

Colonial
📅 Founded 1698 (Vietnamese); earlier Khmer settlementOriginally Prey Nokor (Khmer) / Gia Định / SaigonBy Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh, Vietnamese general

Khmer fishermen called this Mekong Delta confluence Prey Nokor — forest city. Vietnamese settlers moved south in the late 17th century and in 1698 the Nguyễn lords formally established the settlement as Gia Định. The French made it the colonial capital of Cochinchina in 1859 and renamed it Saigon, building wide boulevards and neoclassical buildings still visible today. After April 30, 1975, the city was renamed Ho Chi Minh City — though locals still call it Saigon.

Fun Fact

Ho Chi Minh City has over 8 million registered motorbikes — roughly one per person.

Cultural Dos

  • Bargain at markets (politely)
  • Remove shoes at temples
  • Try street-side plastic stool dining

Cultural Don'ts

  • Refer to it as Saigon to locals who prefer the official name
  • Leave tips at casual eateries
  • Rush the coffee ritual

Nearaway.in — A window to every place on Earth