Ho Chi Minh City#Etymology

{{Main|Names of Ho Chi Minh City}}

The first known human habitation in the area was a Cham settlement called Baigaur.{{Cite book|editor-last=Vo|editor-first=Nghia M.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0oeEpKDCmV4C&pg=218

| page=218|title=The Viet Kieu in America: Personal Accounts of Postwar Immigrants from Vietnam|date=2009|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-5490-7|quote=Saigon began as the Cham village of Baigaur, then became the Khmer Prey Nôkôr before being taken over by the Vietnamese and renamed Gia Dinh Thanh and then Saigon.}}

The Cambodians then took over the Cham village of Baigaur and renamed it Prey Nokor, a small fishing village.{{Cite book |last=Vo |first=Nghia M. |title=Saigon: A History |date=2011 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-6466-1 |pages=7–8}}{{Cite book |author=Salkin |first1=Robert M. |title=Asia and Oceania |last2=Ring |first2=Trudy |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=1996 |isbn=1-884964-04-4 |editor=Schellinger|editor-first=Paul E. |series=International Dictionary of Historic Places |volume=5 |pages=353–354 |editor2=Salkin|editor-first2=Robert M.}} Over time, under the control of the Vietnamese, it was officially renamed Gia Định ({{linktext|嘉|定}}) in 1698, a name that was retained until the time of the French conquest in the 1860s, when it adopted the name {{lang|vi|Sài Gòn}}, francized as {{lang|fr|Saïgon}}, although the city was still indicated as {{lang|vi-Hani|嘉定}} on Vietnamese maps written in chữ Hán until at least 1891.{{cite web |year=1890 |title=Comprehensive Map of Vietnam's Provinces |url=http://www.wdl.org/en/item/226/zoom.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110630141328/http://www.wdl.org/en/item/226/zoom.html |archive-date=30 June 2011 |access-date=13 April 2011 |work=World Digital Library |publisher=UNESCO}}

The current name, Ho Chi Minh City, was given after reunification in 1976 to honour Ho Chi Minh.{{refn|The text of the resolution is as follows:

"By the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, 6th tenure, 1st session, for officially renaming Saigon-Gia Dinh City as Ho Chi Minh City.

The National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Considering the boundless love of the people of Saigon-Gia Dinh City for Chairman Ho Chi Minh and their wish for the city to be named after him;

Considering the long and difficult revolutionary struggle launched in Saigon-Gia Dinh City, with several glorious feats, deserves the honour of being named after Chairman Ho Chi Minh;

After discussing the suggestion of the Presidium of the National Assembly's meeting;(PNAM)

Decides to rename Saigon-Gia Dinh City as Ho Chi Minh City."{{cite web |title=From Saigon to Ho Chi Minh City |url=http://www.eng.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/eng/news/default.aspx?cat_id=510&news_id=243 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110207101605/http://www.eng.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/eng/news/default.aspx?cat_id=510&news_id=243 |archive-date=7 February 2011 |access-date=15 June 2010 |publisher=People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City}}|group=nb}} Even today, however, the informal name of {{lang|vi|Sài Gòn}} remains in daily speech. However, there is a technical difference between the two terms: {{lang|vi|Sài Gòn}} is commonly used to refer to the city centre in District 1 and the adjacent areas, while Ho Chi Minh City refers to all of its urban and rural districts.

File:SaiGonGiaDinhChuNom.jpg

The original toponym behind Sài Gòn was attested earliest as {{lang|zh-Hant|柴棍}}, with two phonograms whose Sino-Vietnamese readings are sài and côn respectively, in Lê Quý Đôn's "Miscellaneous Chronicles of the Pacified Frontier" ({{lang|zh-Hant|撫邊雜錄}}, {{lang|vi|Phủ biên tạp lục}} c. 1776), wherein Lê relates that, in 1674, Cambodian prince Ang Nan was installed as uparaja in {{lang|zh-Hant|柴棍}} (Sài Gòn) by Vietnamese forces.

{{lang|zh-Hant|柴棍}} also appears later in Trịnh Hoài Đức's "Comprehensive Records about the Gia Định Citadel" ({{lang|zh-Hant|嘉定城通志}}, {{lang|vi|Gia Định thành thông chí}}, c. 1820), "Textbook on the Geography of the Southern Country" ({{lang|zh-Hant|南國地輿教科書}}, {{lang|vi|Nam quốc địa dư giáo khoa thư}}, 1908),{{Cite web |last=梁 Lương |first=竹潭 Trúc Đàm |date=1908 |title=南國地輿教科書 Nam quốc địa dư giáo khoa thư |url=https://lib.nomfoundation.org/collection/1/volume/1043/ |website=Nom Foundation}} etc.

Adrien Launay's {{lang|fr|Histoire de la Mission de Cochinchine|italics=no}} (1688–1823), "Documents Historiques II: 1728 – 1771" (1924: [https://books.google.com/books?id=zZ6AAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA190 190]) cites 1747 documents containing the toponyms: provincia Rai-gon, Rai-gon thong (for *Sài Gòn thượng "Upper Saigon"), & Rai-gon-ha (for *Sài Gòn hạ "Lower Saigon").

It is probably a transcription of Khmer {{lang|km|ព្រៃនគរ}} (Prey Nokôr){{Harvnb|Vo|2011|p=9}}{{Cite book |last=Ky |first=Pétrus |title=Excursions et Reconnaissance |publisher=Imprimerie Coloniale |year=1885 |volume=X |location=Saigon |language=fr |chapter=Souvenirs historiques sur Saigon et ses environs |author-link=Pétrus Ky |chapter-url=https://virtual-saigon.net/Asset/Source/refBibliography_ID-3228_No-01.pdf |access-date=20 May 2021 |archive-date=20 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520054031/https://virtual-saigon.net/Asset/Source/refBibliography_ID-3228_No-01.pdf |url-status=live}}{{refn|"The Khmer name for Saigon, by the way, is Prey Nokor; prey means forest, nokor home or city."{{cite book |title=War and hope: the case for Cambodia |author=Norodom Sihanouk |publisher=Pantheon Books |year=1980 |isbn=0-394-51115-8 |page=[https://archive.org/details/warhopecasef00noro/page/54 54] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/warhopecasef00noro/page/54}}|group=nb}}, or Khmer {{lang|km|ព្រៃគរ}} (Prey Kôr).

The proposal that Sài Gòn is from non-Sino-Vietnamese reading of Chinese {{lang|zh|堤岸}} ("embankment", {{transliteration|yue|tai4 ngon6}}, SV: đê ngạn){{refn|"Un siècle plus tard (1773), la révolte des TÁYON (sic) [qu'éclata] tout, d'abord dans les montagnes de la province de Qui-Nhon, et s'étendit rapidement dans le sud, chassa de Bien-Hoa le mouvement commercial qu'y avaient attiré les Chinois. Ceux-ci abandonnèrent Cou-lao-pho, remontèrent de fleuve de Tan-Binh, et vinrent choisir la position actuele de CHOLEN. Cette création date d'environ 1778. Ils appelèrent leur nouvelle résidence TAI-NGON ou TIN-GAN. Le nom transformé par les Annamites en celui de SAIGON fut depuis appliqué à tort, par l'expédition française, au SAIGON actuel dont la dénomination locale est BEN-NGHE ou BEN-THANH."Francis Garnier, quoted in: {{cite book |title=Tuyển tập Vương Hồng Sến |author=Hồng Sến Vương, Q. Thắng Nguyễn |url=https://www.scribd.com/Lich-Su-Thu-Do-Sai-Gon/d/7230907 |publisher=Nhà xuất bản Văn học |year=2002 |access-date=9 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100505043006/http://www.scribd.com/Lich-Su-Thu-Do-Sai-Gon/d/7230907 |archive-date=5 May 2010 |url-status=dead}}|group=nb}}, the Cantonese name of Chợ Lớn, (e.g. by Vương Hồng Sển) has been critiqued as folk-etymological, as: (1) the Vietnamese source Phủ biên tạp lục (albeit written in literary Chinese) was the earliest extant one containing the local toponym's transcription; (2) {{lang|zh|堤岸}} has variant form {{lang|zh|提岸}}, thus suggesting that both were transcriptions of a local toponym and thus are cognates to, not originals of, Sài Gòn. Saigon is unlikely to be from {{lang|zh|堤岸}} since in "Textbook on the Geography of the Southern Country", it also lists Chợ Lớn as {{lang|vi-Hani|𢄂𢀲}} separate from {{lang|zh|柴棍}} Sài Gòn.{{Original research inline|date=September 2024}}

The current official name, {{lang|vi|Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh}}, was first proclaimed in 1945, and later adopted in 1976. It is abbreviated as TP.HCM, and translated in English as Ho Chi Minh City, abbreviated as HCMC, and in French as {{lang|fr|Hô-Chi-Minh-Ville}} (the circumflex is sometimes omitted), abbreviated as HCMV. The name commemorates Ho Chi Minh, the first leader of North Vietnam. This name, though not his given name, was one he favored throughout his later years. It combines a common Vietnamese surname ({{lang|vi|Hồ|italics=no}}, {{vi-nom|胡}}) with a given name meaning "enlightened will" (from Sino-Vietnamese, 志 明; {{lang|vi|Chí|italics=no}} meaning 'will' or 'spirit', and {{lang|vi|Minh|italics=no}} meaning 'light'), in essence, meaning "light bringer".{{cite web |title=Historic Figures: Hồ Chí Minh (1890–1969) |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/ho_chi_minh.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100122111037/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/ho_chi_minh.shtml |archive-date=22 January 2010 |access-date=1 June 2010 |publisher=BBC}} Nowadays, "Saigon" is still used as a semi-official name for the city, in some cases being used interchangeably with Ho Chi Minh City, partly due to its long history and familiarity.{{cite web |last=Sinha |first=Sayoni |date=2019-07-04 |title=Craft brews and skyline views the ultimate Ho Chi Minh City itinerary |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/travel/craft-brews-and-skyline-views-the-ultimate-ho-chi-minh-city-itinerary.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705022350/https://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/travel/craft-brews-and-skyline-views-the-ultimate-ho-chi-minh-city-itinerary.aspx |archive-date=5 July 2019 |access-date=23 November 2019 |website=National Geographic}}

The earliest settlement in the area was a Funan temple at the location of the current Phụng Sơn Buddhist temple, founded in the 4th century AD.{{cite book |author=Corfield |first=Justin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pdAZBQAAQBAJ&pg=PR17 |title=Historical Dictionary of Ho Chi Minh City |publisher=Anthem Press |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-78308-333-6 |page=xvii |access-date=27 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028033608/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=pdAZBQAAQBAJ&pg=PR17 |archive-date=28 October 2018 |url-status=live}} A settlement called Baigaur was established on the site in the 11th century by the Champa. Baigaur was renamed Prey Nokor after conquest by the Khmer Empire around 1145, Prey Nokor grew on the site of a small fishing village and area of forest.{{Harvnb|Vo|2011|pp=8, 12}}

The first Vietnamese people crossed the sea to explore this land completely without the organisation of the Nguyễn Lords. Thanks to the marriage between Princess Nguyễn Phúc Ngọc Vạn – daughter of Lord Nguyễn Phúc Nguyên – and the King of Cambodia Chey Chettha II in 1620, the relationship between Vietnam and Cambodia became smooth, and the people of the two countries could freely move back and forth. In exchange, Chey Chettha II gifted Prei Nokor to the Nguyễn lords.Song, Jeong Nam, Sự mở rộng lãnh thổ Đại Việt dưới thời Hậu Lê và tính chất, Korean University of Foreign Studies, Seoul, 2010, p.22 Vietnamese settlers began to migrate to the area of Saigon, Đồng Nai. Before that, the Funanese, Khmer, and Cham had lived there, scattered from time immemorial.

The period from 1623 to 1698 is considered the period of the formation of later Saigon. In 1623, Lord Nguyen sent a mission to ask his son-in-law, King Chey Chettha II, to set up tax collection stations in Prey Nokor (Sài Gòn) and Kas Krobei (Bến Nghé). Although this was a deserted jungle area, it was located on the traffic routes between Vietnam, Cambodia, and Siam. The next two important events of this period were the establishment of the barracks and residence of Vice King Ang Non and the establishment of a palace at Tân Mỹ (near the present-day Cống Quỳnh–Nguyễn Trãi crossroads). It can be said that Saigon was formed from these three government agencies.

File:Map of Saigon 1795 Jean-Marie Dayot.jpg (Citadel of Eight Trigrams) or Thành Quy (Citadel of Tortoise) in 1795.]]

File:Ban Do Gia Dinh 1815 Tran Van Hoc v2.png

In 1679, Lord Nguyễn Phúc Tần allowed a group of Chinese refugees from the Qing dynasty to settle in Mỹ Tho, Biên Hòa and Saigon to seek refuge. In 1698, Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh, a Vietnamese noble, was sent by the Nguyễn rulers of Huế by sea to establish Vietnamese administrative structures in the area, thus detaching the area from Cambodia, which was not strong enough to intervene. He is often credited with the expansion of Saigon into a significant settlement.{{cite web |title=Chúa Nguyễn cử thống suất Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh vào Nam kinh lược |url=http://www.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/left/gioi_thieu/lich_su_van_hoa/lich_su/cong_cuoc_khai_duong_mo_loi/chua_nguyen_cu_thong_suat_nguyen_huu_canh_vao_nam_kinh_luoc?left_menu=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070518155404/http://www.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/left/gioi_thieu/lich_su_van_hoa/lich_su/cong_cuoc_khai_duong_mo_loi/chua_nguyen_cu_thong_suat_nguyen_huu_canh_vao_nam_kinh_luoc?left_menu=1 |archive-date=2007-05-18 |access-date=2021-05-19 |website=HCM CityWeb |language=vi}}{{Cite book |last=Harms |first=Erik |title=Saigon's Edge: On the Margins of Ho Chi Minh City |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-8166-5605-9 |location=Minnesota |page=11}} King Chey Chettha IV of Cambodia tried to stop the Vietnamese but was defeated by Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh in 1700. In February 1700, he invaded Cambodia from An Giang. In March, the Vietnamese expedition under Cảnh and a Chinese general Trần Thượng Xuyên (Chen Shangchuan) defeated the main Cambodian army at Bích Đôi citadel, king Chey Chettha IV took flight while his nephew Ang Em surrendered to the invaders, as the Vietnamese marched onto and captured Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh. As a result, Saigon and Long An were officially and securely obtained by the Nguyễn, more Vietnamese settlers moved into the new conquered lands.Song, Jeong Nam, Sự mở rộng lãnh thổ Đại Việt dưới thời Hậu Lê và tính chất, Korean University of Foreign Studies, Seoul, 2010, p.23

In 1788, Nguyễn Ánh captured the city, and used it as a centre of resistance against Tây Sơn.{{Harvnb|Vo|2011|p=36}} Two years later, a large Vauban citadel called Gia Định, or Thành Bát Quái ("Eight Diagrams") was built by Victor Olivier de Puymanel, one of the Nguyễn Ánh's French mercenaries.{{Cite book |last=McLeod |first=Mark W. |title=The Vietnamese Response to French Intervention, 1862–1874 |publisher=Praeger |year=1991 |isbn=978-0-275-93562-7 |location=New York |page=10}} The citadel was captured by Lê Văn Khôi during his revolt of 1833–35 against Emperor Minh Mạng. Following the revolt, Minh Mạng ordered it to be dismantled, and a new citadel, called Phụng Thành, was built in 1836.{{Harvnb|Vo|2011|p=56}} In 1859, the citadel was destroyed by the French following the Battle of Kỳ Hòa. Initially called Gia Định, the Vietnamese city became Saigon in the 18th century.

Ceded to France by the 1862 Treaty of Saigon,{{Harvnb|Corfield|2014|p=xix}} the city was planned by the French to transform into a large town for colonization. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, construction of various French-style buildings began, including a botanical garden, the Norodom Palace, Hotel Continental, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and Bến Thành Market, among many others.{{Harvnb|Vo|2011|pp=75, 85–86}}{{Harvnb|Corfield|2014|pp=xix−xx}} In April 1865, Gia Định Báo was established in Saigon, becoming the first newspaper published in Vietnam.{{Harvnb|Vo|2011|p=82}} During the French colonial era, Saigon became known as "Pearl of the Orient" ({{lang|vi|Hòn ngọc Viễn Đông}}),{{Cite book |last=Bogle |first=James E. |url=https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNAAK857.pdf |title=Dialectics of Urban Proposals for the Saigon Metropolitan Area |date=January 1972 |publisher=Ministry of Public Works, Republic of Vietnam; United States Agency for International Development |page=11 |access-date=20 May 2021 |archive-date=20 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520054031/https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNAAK857.pdf |url-status=dead}} or "Paris of the Extreme Orient".{{Harvnb|Vo|2011|pp=1, 77}}

On 27 April 1931, a new région called Saigon–Cholon consisting of Saigon and Cholon was formed; the name Cholon was dropped after South Vietnam gained independence from France in 1955.{{Harvnb|Corfield|2014|p=xxi}} From about 256,000 in 1930,{{Cite book |last1=Banens |first1=Maks |url=https://www.ier.hit-u.ac.jp/COE/Japanese/discussionpapers/DP98.7/98_7.html |title=Estimating population and labour force in Vietnam under French rule (1900–1954) |last2=Bassino |first2=Jean-Pascal |last3=Egretaud |first3=Eric |publisher=Paul Valéry University |year=1998 |location=Montpellier |access-date=20 May 2021 |archive-date=3 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403120609/http://www.ier.hit-u.ac.jp/COE/Japanese/discussionpapers/DP98.7/98_7.html |url-status=live}} Saigon's population rose to 1.2 million in 1950.

File:French capture of Saigon in 1859.jpg|The Siege of Saigon fortress in 1859 by Franco-Spanish forces.

File:Coat of Arms Saigon.svg|Coat of arms of Saigon established during French colonial administration and used from 1870 to 1975.

File:Citadel of Saigon 1881.jpg|Map of Saigon in 1881.

File:Casernes du 11e R.I.C. à Saigon.jpg|French soldiers stationed at a barrack in Saigon in 1930.

File:Japanese troops entering Saigon in 1941.jpg|Imperial Japanese soldiers entering Saigon in 1941, during World War II.

File:Saigon under attack by US carrier planes on 12 January 1945.jpg|Saigon afire after aerial attacks from carrier-based planes of the US Pacific Fleet in 1945.

On 14 June 1949, 10 days after France returned Cochinchina to Vietnam, former Emperor Bảo Đại made Saigon the capital of the State of Vietnam with himself as head of state.{{Cite book |last=Taylor |first=K. W. |title=A History of the Vietnamese |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-521-87586-8 |page=547}} The state was proclaimed in July. In July 1954, the Geneva Agreement partitioned Vietnam along the 17th parallel (Bến Hải River), with the communist Việt Minh, under Ho Chi Minh, gaining complete control of the northern half of the country, while the southern half gained independence from France.{{Harvnb|Vo|2011|p=130}} The State officially became the Republic of Vietnam when Bảo Đại was deposed by his Prime Minister Ngô Đình Diệm in the 1955 referendum, with Saigon as its capital.{{Cite book |title=The Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War: A Political, Social, and Military History |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-85109-960-3|editor-last=Tucker|editor-first=Spencer C. |edition=2nd |volume=III |location=California |pages=1010–1011 |chapter=Saigon}} On 22 October 1956, the city was given the official name, {{lang|vi|Đô Thành Sài Gòn}} ("Capital City Saigon").{{cite web |title=Sài Gòn dưới thời Mỹ Ngụy |url=http://www.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/left/gioi_thieu/lich_su_van_hoa/lich_su/tp_chung_nhan_cua_dong_chay_ls/khang_chien_chong_my/sai_gon_duoi_thoi_my_nguy?left_menu=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070518085101/http://www.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/left/gioi_thieu/lich_su_van_hoa/lich_su/tp_chung_nhan_cua_dong_chay_ls/khang_chien_chong_my/sai_gon_duoi_thoi_my_nguy?left_menu=1 |archive-date=2007-05-18 |access-date=2021-05-19 |website=HCM CityWeb |language=vi}} After the decree of 27 March 1959 came into effect, Saigon was divided into eight districts and 41 wards. In December 1966, two wards from old An Khánh Commune of Gia Định, were formed into District 1, then seceded shortly later to become District 9.{{cite web |title=Lịch sử vùng đất |url=http://www.lienminhhtxhcm.com.vn/VietNam/SaiGon/oldSaiGon/intro1.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050907031225/http://www.lienminhhtxhcm.com.vn/VietNam/SaiGon/oldSaiGon/intro1.asp |archive-date=2005-09-07 |access-date=2021-05-22 |publisher=Ho Chi Minh City Cooperative Alliance |language=vi}} In July 1969, District 10 and District 11 were founded, and by 1975, the city's area consisted of eleven districts, Gia Định, Củ Chi District (Hậu Nghĩa), and Phú Hòa District (Bình Dương).

Saigon served as the financial, industrial and transport centre of the Republic of Vietnam.{{Harvnb|Bogle|1972|p=14}} In the late 1950s, with the U.S. providing nearly $2 billion in aid to the Diệm regime, the country's economy grew rapidly under capitalism; by 1960, over half of South Vietnam's factories were located in Saigon.{{Harvnb|Bogle|1972|p=13}} However, beginning in the 1960s, Saigon experienced economic downturn and high inflation, as it was completely dependent on U.S. aid and imports from other countries. As a result of widespread urbanisation, with the population reaching 3.3 million by 1970, the city was described by the USAID as being turned "into a huge slum".{{Harvnb|Bogle|1972|p=31}} The city also suffered from "prostitutes, drug addicts, corrupt officials, beggars, orphans, and Americans with money", and according to Stanley Karnow, it was "a black-market city in the largest sense of the word".

On 28 April 1955, the Vietnamese National Army launched an attack against Bình Xuyên military force in the city. The battle lasted until May, killing an estimated 500 people and leaving about 20,000 homeless.{{Harvnb|Vo|2011|pp=129–130}} Ngô Đình Diệm then later turned on other paramilitary groups in Saigon, including the Hòa Hảo Buddhist reform movement. On 11 June 1963, Buddhist monk Thích Quảng Đức burned himself in the city, in protest of the Diệm regime. On 1 November of the same year, Diệm was assassinated in Saigon, in a successful coup by Dương Văn Minh.

During the 1968 Tet Offensive, communist forces launched a failed attempt to capture the city. Seven years later, on 30 April 1975, Saigon was captured, ending the Vietnam War with a victory for North Vietnam,{{cite web |last=Woollacott |first=Martin |date=21 April 2015 |title=Forty years on from the fall of Saigon: witnessing the end of the Vietnam war |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2015/apr/21/40-years-on-from-fall-of-saigon-witnessing-end-of-vietnam-war |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170501071233/https://www.theguardian.com/news/2015/apr/21/40-years-on-from-fall-of-saigon-witnessing-end-of-vietnam-war |archive-date=1 May 2017 |access-date=14 December 2016 |website=The Guardian}} and the city came under the control of the Vietnamese People's Army.

File:Vietnam Independence Palace 1967.jpg|The Independence Palace in 1967. It was the official residence and workplace of the President of South Vietnam.

File:Saigon Opera House, 1967.jpg|The Saigon Opera House as seen from Tự Do (Liberty) Street in 1967.

File:Tu Do Street, Saigon.jpg|Street view of Saigon in 1968.

File:StanVacBuilding1955.jpg|The headquarters of StanVac (now part of Exxon) is an example of Vietnamese modernist architecture which boomed during the era.

In July 1976, upon the establishment of the unified communist Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the city of Saigon (including the Cholon area), the province of Gia Ðịnh and two suburban districts of two other nearby provinces were combined to create Ho Chi Minh City, in honour of the late Communist leader Ho Chi Minh.{{refn|The text of the resolution is as follows:

"By the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, 6th tenure, 1st session, for officially renaming Saigon-Gia Dinh City as Ho Chi Minh City.

The National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Considering the boundless love of the people of Saigon – Gia Dinh City for Chairman Ho Chi Minh and their wish for the city to be named after him;

Considering the long and difficult revolutionary struggle launched in Saigon–Gia Dinh City, with several glorious feats, deserves the honour of being named after Chairman Ho Chi Minh;

After discussing the suggestion of the Presidium of the National Assembly's meeting;

Decides to rename Saigon-Gia Dinh City as Ho Chi Minh City."|group=nb}} At the time, the city covered an area of {{convert|1295.5|km2}} with eight districts and five rurals: Thủ Đức, Hóc Môn, Củ Chi, Bình Chánh, and Nhà Bè. Since 1978, administrative divisions in the city have been revised numerous times, most recently in 2020, when District 2, District 9, and Thủ Đức District were consolidated to form a municipal city.

On 29 October 2002, 60 people died and 90 were injured in the International Trade Center building fire in Ho Chi Minh City.{{cite web |title=Fifteen years on from the horrors of catastrophic blaze that rocked Saigon – VnExpress International |url=https://e.vnexpress.net/projects/fifteen-years-on-from-the-horrors-of-catastrophic-blaze-that-rocked-saigon-3661870/index.html |website=VnExpress International – Latest news, business, travel and analysis from Vietnam |language=EN}}

Today, Ho Chi Minh City, along with its surrounding provinces, is described as "the manufacturing hub" of Vietnam, and "an attractive business hub".{{Cite book |last1=Truong |first1=Truong Hoang |url=https://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/vietnam/13909.pdf |title=Housing and Transportation in Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City |last2=Thao |first2=Truong Thanh |last3=Tung |first3=Son Thanh |publisher=Friedrich Ebert Foundation |year=2017 |location=Hanoi |page=2 |access-date=22 May 2021 |archive-date=22 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522081213/https://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/vietnam/13909.pdf |url-status=live}} In terms of cost, it was ranked the 111th-most expensive major city in the world according to a 2020 survey of 209 cities.{{cite web |date=2020-06-09 |title=Mercer Cost of Living Survey – Worldwide Rankings 2020 |url=https://www.mercer.com/newsroom/2020-cost-of-living.html |url-status=live |access-date=2021-05-22 |publisher=Mercer |archive-date=22 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522081222/https://www.mercer.com/newsroom/2020-cost-of-living.html}} In terms of international connectedness, as of 2020, the city was classified as a "Beta" city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network.{{cite web |title=The World According to GaWC 2020 |url=https://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/world2020t.html |access-date=31 August 2020 |website=GaWC – Research Network |publisher=Globalization and World Cities |archive-date=24 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824031341/https://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/world2020t.html |url-status=live}}

File:Urban-Rural Population and Land Area Estimates, v2, 2010 Thanh Po Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam (13874141364).jpg]]

The city is located in the south-eastern region of Vietnam, {{cvt|1760|km|mi}} south of Hanoi. The average elevation is {{cvt|5|m|ft}} above sea level for the city centre and {{cvt|16|m|ft}} for the suburb areas.{{cite web |title=Cổng thông tin điện tử Bộ Kế hoạch và Đầu tư |url=http://www.mpi.gov.vn/Pages/tinhthanhchitiet.aspx?idTinhThanh=35 |url-status=live |access-date=2021-05-16 |website=mpi.gov.vn |quote=Độ cao trung bình so với mặt nước biển: nội thành là 5 m, ngoại thành là 16 m. |archive-date=16 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516100612/http://www.mpi.gov.vn/Pages/tinhthanhchitiet.aspx?idTinhThanh=35}} It borders Tây Ninh Province and Bình Dương Province to the north, Đồng Nai Province and Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu province to the east, Long An Province to the west, Tiền Giang Province and South China Sea to the south with a coast {{cvt|15|km|0}} long. The city covers an area of {{convert|2,095|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} or 0.63% of the surface of Vietnam), extending up to Củ Chi District ({{cvt|12|mi|km|disp=or}} from the Cambodian border) and down to Cần Giờ on the Eastern Sea. The distance from the northernmost point (Phú Mỹ Hưng Commune, Củ Chi District) to the southernmost one (Long Hòa Commune, Cần Giờ District) is {{cvt|102|km|mi}}, and from the easternmost point (Long Bình ward, District Nine) to the westernmost one (Bình Chánh Commune, Bình Chánh District) is {{cvt|47|km|mi}}.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}} Due to its location on the Mekong Delta, the city is fringed by tidal flats that have been heavily modified for agriculture.{{cite journal |last1=Murray |first1=N.J. |last2=Clemens |first2=R.S. |last3=Phinn |first3=S.R. |last4=Possingham |first4=H.P. |last5=Fuller |first5=R.A. |title=Tracking the rapid loss of tidal wetlands in the Yellow Sea |journal=Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment |date=2014 |volume=12 |issue=5 |pages=267–272 |doi=10.1890/130260 |bibcode=2014FrEE...12..267M |url=https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/60169/1/130260.pdf |access-date=21 August 2021 |archive-date=7 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207073933/https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/60169/1/130260.pdf |url-status=live}}

Saigon is considered one of the most vulnerable cities to the effects of climate change, particularly flooding. During the rainy season, a combination of high tide, heavy rains, high flow volume in the Saigon River and Đồng Nai River and land subsidence results in regular flooding in several parts of the city.{{cite web |url=https://www.royalhaskoningdhv.com/en-gb/vietnam/projects/flood-management-in-ho-chi-minh-city-vietnam/37 |title=Flood management in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam |website=royalhaskoningdhv.com |access-date=18 June 2020 |archive-date=20 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920042934/https://www.royalhaskoningdhv.com/en-gb/vietnam/projects/flood-management-in-ho-chi-minh-city-vietnam/37 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/saigon-braces-for-more-record-tides-this-year-3991458.html |title=Saigon braces for more record tides this year – VnExpress International |website=VnExpress International – Latest news, business, travel and analysis from Vietnam |access-date=18 June 2020 |archive-date=4 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604045830/https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/saigon-braces-for-more-record-tides-this-year-3991458.html |url-status=live}} A once-in-100 year flood would cause 23% of the city to suffer flooding.{{cite web |url=https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/sustainability/our-insights/can-coastal-cities-turn-the-tide-on-rising-flood-risk |title=Can coastal cities turn the tide on climate change flooding risk? |website=mckinsey.com |access-date=18 June 2020 |archive-date=16 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616181841/https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/sustainability/our-insights/can-coastal-cities-turn-the-tide-on-rising-flood-risk |url-status=live}}

{{climate chart

| Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

|23.4|32.0|12

|23.1|32.7|8

|24.9|33.6|18

|26.4|34.5|57

|26.4|34.9|202

|25.5|33.5|224

|25.2|33.0|231

|25.1|32.9|219

|25.0|32.5|490

|25.0|32.3|340

|24.9|32.4|128

|24.3|31.6|41

|float=right

|clear=none

|source = Vietnam Institute for Building Science and Technology,{{cite web| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180722172120/http://ibst.vn/DATA/nhyen/QCVN%2002-2009%20BXD%20So%20lieu%20tu%20nhien.pdf| archive-date = 22 July 2018 |url=http://ibst.vn/DATA/nhyen/QCVN%2002-2009%20BXD%20So%20lieu%20tu%20nhien.pdf |title=Vietnam Building Code Natural Physical & Climatic Data for Construction |publisher=Vietnam Institute for Building Science and Technology |language=vi| access-date = 23 July 2018}} World Meteorological Organization (rainfall){{cite web |url=http://worldweather.wmo.int/082/c003éc09.htm |title=World Weather Information Service – Ho Chi Minh City |publisher=World Meteorological Organization| access-date = 5 September 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130729110904/http://worldweather.wmo.int/082/c00309.htm| archive-date = 29 July 2013| url-status = dead}}

|date= February 2011

}}

The city has a tropical climate, specifically tropical savanna (Aw), with a high average humidity of 78–82%.{{cite web| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180723165910/https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/linked-documents/46391-001-ieeab-04.pdf| archive-date = 23 July 2018 |url=http://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/linked-documents/46391-001-ieeab-04.pdf |title=Viet Nam: Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City Power Grid Development Sector Project |publisher=Asian Development Bank| access-date = 27 January 2015}} The year is divided into two distinct seasons. The rainy season, with an average rainfall of about {{cvt|1800|mm|in|0}} annually (about 150 rainy days per year), usually lasts from May to November. The dry season lasts from December to April. The average temperature is {{cvt|28|°C|°F|0}}, with little variation throughout the year. The highest temperature recorded was {{cvt|40.0|°C|°F|0}} in April while the lowest temperature recorded was {{cvt|13.8|°C|°F|0}} in January. On average, the city experiences between 2,400 and 2,700 hours of sunshine per year.

{{Weather box

|metric first=Y

|single line=Y

|location = Ho Chi Minh City (Tan Son Nhat International Airport)

|temperature colour =

|Jan record high C = 36.4

|Feb record high C = 38.7

|Mar record high C = 39.4

|Apr record high C = 40.0

|May record high C = 39.0

|Jun record high C = 37.5

|Jul record high C = 35.2

|Aug record high C = 36.1

|Sep record high C = 35.3

|Oct record high C = 34.9

|Nov record high C = 35.0

|Dec record high C = 36.3

|year record high C = 40.0

|Jan high C = 32.0

|Feb high C = 32.7

|Mar high C = 33.6

|Apr high C = 34.5

|May high C = 34.9

|Jun high C = 33.5

|Jul high C = 33.0

|Aug high C = 32.9

|Sep high C = 32.6

|Oct high C = 32.3

|Nov high C = 32.4

|Dec high C = 31.6

|year high C =

|Jan mean C = 27.3

|Feb mean C = 27.5

|Mar mean C = 28.1

|Apr mean C = 29.3

|May mean C = 29.5

|Jun mean C = 28.8

|Jul mean C = 28.4

|Aug mean C = 28.3

|Sep mean C = 28.1

|Oct mean C = 28.0

|Nov mean C = 28.0

|Dec mean C = 27.3

|year mean C =

|Jan low C = 23.4

|Feb low C = 23.1

|Mar low C = 24.9

|Apr low C = 26.4

|May low C = 26.4

|Jun low C = 25.5

|Jul low C = 25.2

|Aug low C = 25.1

|Sep low C = 25.0

|Oct low C = 25.0

|Nov low C = 24.9

|Dec low C = 23.9

|year low C =

|Jan record low C = 13.8

|Feb record low C = 16.0

|Mar record low C = 17.5

|Apr record low C = 20.0

|May record low C = 21.1

|Jun record low C = 20.4

|Jul record low C = 19.4

|Aug record low C = 20.0

|Sep record low C = 20.8

|Oct record low C = 19.8

|Nov record low C = 17.6

|Dec record low C = 13.9

|year record low C = 13.8

|rain colour = green

|Jan rain mm = 12

|Feb rain mm = 8

|Mar rain mm = 18

|Apr rain mm = 57

|May rain mm = 202

|Jun rain mm = 224

|Jul rain mm = 231

|Aug rain mm = 219

|Sep rain mm = 490

|Oct rain mm = 340

|Nov rain mm = 128

|Dec rain mm = 41

|year rain mm =

|Jan humidity = 72

|Feb humidity = 70

|Mar humidity = 70

|Apr humidity = 72

|May humidity = 79

|Jun humidity = 82

|Jul humidity = 83

|Aug humidity = 83

|Sep humidity = 85

|Oct humidity = 84

|Nov humidity = 80

|Dec humidity = 77

|year humidity = 78

|Jan rain days = 2.0

|Feb rain days = 1.0

|Mar rain days = 1.0

|Apr rain days = 4.0

|May rain days = 13.0

|Jun rain days = 16.0

|Jul rain days = 19.0

|Aug rain days = 17.0

|Sep rain days = 18.0

|Oct rain days = 16.0

|Nov rain days = 9.0

|Dec rain days = 5.0

|Jan sun = 245

|Feb sun = 246

|Mar sun = 272

|Apr sun = 239

|May sun = 195

|Jun sun = 171

|Jul sun = 180

|Aug sun = 172

|Sep sun = 162

|Oct sun = 182

|Nov sun = 200

|Dec sun = 226

|year sun = 2490

|source 1 = Vietnam Institute for Building Science and Technology,{{cite web| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180722172120/http://ibst.vn/DATA/nhyen/QCVN%2002-2009%20BXD%20So%20lieu%20tu%20nhien.pdf| archive-date = 22 July 2018 |url=http://ibst.vn/DATA/nhyen/QCVN%2002-2009%20BXD%20So%20lieu%20tu%20nhien.pdf |title=Vietnam Building Code Natural Physical & Climatic Data for Construction |publisher=Vietnam Institute for Building Science and Technology |language=vi| access-date = 23 July 2018}}

|source 2 = World Meteorological Organization (rainfall){{cite web |url=http://worldweather.wmo.int/082/c003éc09.htm |title=World Weather Information Service – Ho Chi Minh City |publisher=World Meteorological Organization| access-date = 5 September 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130729110904/http://worldweather.wmo.int/082/c00309.htm| archive-date = 29 July 2013| url-status = dead}}

|date= February 2011}}

File:Ho Chi Minh City, City Hall, 2020-01 CN-03.jpg is the administrative building of the city's government.]]

File:Sai Gon districts coloured numbered 2.png

The city is a municipality at the same level as Vietnam's provinces, which is subdivided into 22 district-level sub-divisions (as of 2020):

{{col div}}

• 5 rural districts ({{cvt|1601|km2|disp=or}} in area), which are designated as rural ({{lang|vi|huyện}}):
• Củ Chi
• Hóc Môn
• Bình Chánh
• Nhà Bè
• Cần Giờ

{{col div end}}

{{col div}}

• 16 urban districts ({{cvt|283|km2|disp=or}} in area), which are designated urban or suburban ({{lang|vi|quận}}):
• District 1
• District 3
• District 4
• District 5
• District 6
• District 7
• District 8
• District 10
• District 11
• District 12
• Gò Vấp
• Tân Bình
• Tân Phú
• Bình Thạnh
• Phú Nhuận
• Bình Tân

{{col div end}}

{{col div}}

• 1 sub-city ({{cvt|211|km2|disp=or|}} in area), which is designated municipal city ({{lang|vi|thành phố thuộc thành phố trực thuộc trung ương}}):
• Thủ Đức

{{col div end}}

They are further subdivided into 5 commune-level towns (or townlets), 58 communes, and 249 wards ({{As of|2020|lc=y}}, see List of HCMC administrative units below).

On 1 January 2021, it was announced that District 2, District 9 and Thủ Đức District would be consolidated and was approved by Standing Committee of the National Assembly.{{cite web |last=VnExpress |title=HCMC set to carve out class-1 city by merging three districts – VnExpress International |url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/hcmc-set-to-carve-out-class-1-city-by-merging-three-districts-4190658.html |access-date=2020-11-12 |website=VnExpress International – Latest news, business, travel and analysis from Vietnam |language=en |archive-date=25 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125002013/https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/hcmc-set-to-carve-out-class-1-city-by-merging-three-districts-4190658.html |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Đoàn Loan |last2=Viết Tuân |date=2020-12-09 |title=Thành lập thành phố Thủ Đức |url=https://vnexpress.net/thanh-lap-thanh-pho-thu-duc-4203798.html |url-status=live |access-date=2021-05-22 |website=VnExpress |language=vi |archive-date=9 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209140051/https://vnexpress.net/thanh-lap-thanh-pho-thu-duc-4203798.html}}

The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee is a 13-member executive branch of the city. The current chairman is Phan Văn Mãi. There are several vice chairmen and chairwomen on the committee with responsibility over various city departments.

The legislative branch of the city is the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council and consists of 105 members. The current chairwoman is Nguyễn Thị Lệ.

The judiciary branch of the city is the Ho Chi Minh City People's Court. The current chief judge is Lê Thanh Phong.

The executive committee of Communist Party of Ho Chi Minh City is the leading organ of the Communist Party in Ho Chi Minh City. The current secretary is Nguyễn Văn Nên. The permanent deputy secretary of the Communist Party is ranked second in the city politics after the Secretary of the Communist Party, while chairman of the People's Committee is ranked third and the chairman of the People's Council is ranked fourth.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}

{{List of HCMC Administrative Units}}

{{historical populations

| source = Tổng cục thống kê Việt Nam{{rp|80}}{{rp|93}}[http://www.gso.gov.vn/default.aspx?tabid=387&idmid=3&ItemID=15569 Dân số trung bình phân theo địa phương qua các năm] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008010457/http://www.gso.gov.vn/default.aspx?tabid=387&idmid=3&ItemID=15569 |date = ngày 8 tháng 10 năm 2014}}, General Statistics Office of Vietnam.

| 1995 | 4640400

| 1996 | 4747900

| 1997 | 4852300

| 1998 | 4957300

| 1999 | 5073100

| 2000 | 5274900

| 2001 | 5454000

| 2002 | 5619400

| 2003 | 5809100

| 2004 | 6007600

| 2005 | 6230900

| 2006 | 6483100

| 2007 | 6725300

| 2008 | 6946100

| 2009 | 7196100

| 2010 | 7378000

| 2011 | 7517900

| 2012 | 7663800

| 2013 | 7818200

| 2014 | 8244400

| 2015 | 8307900

| 2016 | 8441902

| 2017 | 8446000

| 2018 | 8843200

| 2019 | 9038600

| 2020 | 9227600

| 2021 | 9166800}}

The population of the city, as of the 1 October 2004 census, was 6,117,251 (of which 19 inner districts had 5,140,412 residents and 5 suburban districts had 976,839 inhabitants).{{cite web |url=http://www.pso.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/an_pham/sltkcytphcm/30_so_lieu_thong_ke_chu_yeu |title=Statistical office in Ho Chi Minh City |publisher=Pso.hochiminhcity.gov.vn |access-date=3 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100403064035/http://www.pso.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/an_pham/sltkcytphcm/30_so_lieu_thong_ke_chu_yeu |archive-date=3 April 2010}} In mid-2007, the city's population was 6,650,942 – with the 19 inner districts home to 5,564,975 residents and the five suburban districts containing 1,085,967 inhabitants. The result of the 2009 Census shows that the city's population was 7,162,864 people,{{cite web |url=http://www.gso.gov.vn/default_en.aspx?tabid=462&idmid=2&idmid=2&ItemID=9789 |title=General Statistics Office of Vietnam |publisher=Gso.gov.vn |access-date=4 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716062156/http://www.gso.gov.vn/default_en.aspx?tabid=462&idmid=2&idmid=2&ItemID=9789 |archive-date=16 July 2011 |url-status=live}} about 8.34% of the total population of Vietnam, making it the highest population-concentrated city in the country. As of the end of 2012, the total population of the city was 7,750,900 people, an increase of 3.1% from 2011.{{cite web |url=http://www.gso.gov.vn/default.aspx?tabid=383&idmid=2&ItemID=13495 |title=Tong Cuc Thong Ke |publisher=Gso.gov.vn |access-date=2013-04-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404200211/http://www.gso.gov.vn/default.aspx?tabid=383&idmid=2&ItemID=13495 |archive-date=4 April 2013 |url-status=live}} As an administrative unit, its population is also the largest at the provincial level. According to the 2019 census, Ho Chi Minh City has a population of over 8.9 million within the city proper and over 21 million within its metropolitan area.{{cite news |title=Báo cáo sơ bộ Tổng điều tra Dân số và nhà ở 2019 |language=vi |trans-title=General statistics for Population and households investigation 2019 |publisher=General Statistics Office of Vietnam |url=https://www.gso.gov.vn/default.aspx?tabid=512&idmid=5&ItemID=19279 |access-date=20 March 2020 |archive-date=13 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191113154758/https://www.gso.gov.vn/default.aspx?tabid=512&idmid=5&ItemID=19279 |url-status=live}}

In August 2017, the city's mayor, Nguyễn Thành Phong, admitted that previous estimates of 8–10 million were drastic underestimations.{{cite web |url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/guess-how-many-people-are-jamming-into-saigon-hint-it-s-as-bad-as-tokyo-3628742.html |title=Guess how many people are jamming into Saigon? Hint: It's as bad as Tokyo – VnExpress International |access-date=21 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321192622/https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/guess-how-many-people-are-jamming-into-saigon-hint-it-s-as-bad-as-tokyo-3628742.html |archive-date=21 March 2018 |url-status=live}}

The actual population (including those who have not officially registered) was estimated 13 million in 2017.{{cite web |url=http://ttvn.vn/kinh-doanh/chu-tich-nguyen-thanh-phong-du-bao-dan-so-tp-ho-chi-minh-den-nam-2025-la-10-trieu-nguoi-nhung-nay-da-dat-13-trieu-nguoi-5201717811412441.htm |title=Chủ tịch Nguyễn Thành Phong: Dự báo dân số Tp. Hồ Chí Minh đến năm 2025 là 10 triệu người nhưng nay đã đạt 13 triệu người (Chairman Nguyễn Thành Phong: The official population of Ho Chi Minh City is estimated to reach 10 million by 2025 but this number reached 13 million in 2017) |author=Thảo Nguyên |date=17 August 2017 |access-date=17 July 2018 |publisher=Trí thức trẻ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717071102/http://ttvn.vn/kinh-doanh/chu-tich-nguyen-thanh-phong-du-bao-dan-so-tp-ho-chi-minh-den-nam-2025-la-10-trieu-nguoi-nhung-nay-da-dat-13-trieu-nguoi-5201717811412441.htm |archive-date=17 July 2018 |url-status=dead}}

The Ho Chi Minh City Metropolitan Area, a metropolitan area covering most parts of the southeast region plus Tiền Giang Province and Long An Province under planning, will have an area of {{cvt|30000|km2}} with a population of 20 million inhabitants by 2020.{{cite web |url=http://vneconomy.vn/?home=detail&page=category&cat_name=17&id=7838380a353206 |title=Quy hoạch xây dựng vùng Tp.HCM |date=25 April 2008 |publisher=VnEconomy |access-date=18 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610094253/http://vneconomy.vn/?home=detail&page=category&cat_name=17&id=7838380a353206 |archive-date=10 June 2008 |url-status=live}} Inhabitants of Ho Chi Minh City are usually known as "Saigonese" in English and "dân Sài Gòn" in Vietnamese.

The majority of the population are ethnic Vietnamese (Kinh) at about 93.52%. Ho Chi Minh City's largest minority ethnic group are the Chinese (Hoa) with 5.78%. Cholon – in District 5 and parts of Districts 6, 10, and 11 – is home to the largest Chinese community in Vietnam. The Hoa (Chinese) speak a number of varieties of Chinese, including Cantonese, Teochew (Chaozhou), Hokkien, Hainanese, and Hakka; smaller numbers also speak Mandarin Chinese. Other ethnic minorities include Khmer with 0.34%, Cham with 0.1%, as well as a small group of Bawean from Bawean Island in Indonesia (about 400; as of 2015), they occupy District 1.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/indonesia/majalah/2015/08/150727_majalahlain_bawean_vietnam|title=Menelusuri jejak keturunan Indonesia asal Bawean di Vietnam|website=www.bbc.com|date=2 August 2015 |language=id|access-date=23 May 2023}}

Various other nationalities including Koreans, Japanese, Americans, Russians, South Africans, Filipinos, French and Britons reside in Ho Chi Minh City as expatriate workers. The highest concentration of which are in Thủ Đức and District 7.{{cite web |url=http://www.pso.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/an_pham/dansotphcmqua2cuocdieutra1999_2004/ttkqdtds |title=Cục thống kê – Tóm tắt kết quả điều tra dân số |publisher=Pso.hochiminhcity.gov.vn |date=4 January 2001 |access-date=4 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923071237/http://www.pso.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/an_pham/dansotphcmqua2cuocdieutra1999_2004/ttkqdtds |archive-date=23 September 2010}}

As of April 2009, the city recognises 13 religions and 1,983,048 residents identify as religious people. Buddhism and Catholicism are the two predominant religions in Ho Chi Minh City. The largest is Buddhism as it has 1,164,930 followers followed by Catholicism with 745,283 followers, Caodaism with 31,633 followers, Protestantism with 27,016 followers, Islam with 6,580 followers, Hòa Hảo with 4,894 followers, Tịnh độ cư sĩ Phật hội Việt Nam with 1,387 followers, Hinduism with 395 followers, Đạo Tứ ấn hiếu nghĩa with 298 followers, Minh Sư Đạo with 283 followers, Baháʼí Faith with 192 followers, Bửu Sơn Kỳ Hương with 89 followers, Minh Lý Đạo with 67 followers.[https://www.gso.gov.vn/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/KQ-toan-bo-1.pdf THE 2009 VIETNAM POPULATION AND HOUSING CENSUS] Tổng cục Thống kê Việt Nam. Table 7, §79.

{{Cleanup rewrite||section|date=December 2018}}

The city is the economic center of Vietnam and accounts for a large proportion of the economy of Vietnam. Although the city takes up just 0.6% of the country's land area, it contains 8.34% of the population of Vietnam, 20.2% of its GDP, 27.9% of industrial output and 34.9% of the FDI projects in the country in 2005.[http://www.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/left/gioi_thieu/thong_ke/so_ca_nuoc/vi_tri?left_menu=1 Statistics in 2005] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071113081605/http://www.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/left/gioi_thieu/thong_ke/so_ca_nuoc/vi_tri?left_menu=1 |date=13 November 2007}} on the city's official website. In 2005, the city had 4,344,000 labourers, of whom 130,000 are over the labour age norm (in Vietnam, 60 for male and 55 for female workers).[http://www.vienkinhte.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/xemtin.asp?idcha=683&cap=3&id=767 Ho Chi Minh City Economics Institute] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415220843/http://www.vienkinhte.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/xemtin.asp?idcha=683&cap=3&id=767 |date=15 April 2008}} In 2009, GDP per capita reached $2,800, compared to the country's average level of $1,042.{{cite web |author=Hana R. Alberts |url=https://www.forbes.com/2009/12/21/asia-most-expensive-places-lifestyle-real-estate-cities_slide_8.html |title=Forbes profile of Vietnam |work=Forbes |date=21 December 2009 |access-date=24 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514144636/http://www.forbes.com/2009/12/21/asia-most-expensive-places-lifestyle-real-estate-cities_slide_8.html |archive-date=14 May 2012 |url-status=live}}

File:SaigonPort1.JPG is one of five major ports in Vietnam, and is among the busiest container ports in the world.]]

File:Saigon Hi-Tech Park.JPG, located in District 9, is one of Vietnam's two national hi-tech parks.]]

The economy of the city consists of industries ranging from mining, seafood processing, agriculture, and construction, to tourism, finance, industry and trade. The state-owned sector makes up 33.3% of the economy, the private sector 4.6%, and the remainder in foreign investment. Concerning its economic structure, the service sector accounts for 51.1%, industry and construction account for 47.7% and forestry, agriculture and others make up just 1.2%.[http://www.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/left/gioi_thieu/thong_ke/giai_doan_01_06/slcy2?left_menu=1 Chỉ tiêu tổng hợp giai đoạn 2001–06] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415184358/http://www.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/left/gioi_thieu/thong_ke/giai_doan_01_06/slcy2?left_menu=1 |date=15 April 2009}}, Ho Chi Minh City government website. (Dead Link)

The city and its ports are part of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road that runs from the Chinese coast via the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean, there to the Upper Adriatic region of Trieste with its rail connections to Central and Eastern Europe.{{cite web |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Transportation/Chinese-state-port-operator-s-India-and-Vietnam-acquisitions-stall |title=Chinese state port operator's India and Vietnam acquisitions stall |website=Nikkei Asia |access-date=30 January 2021 |archive-date=28 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128040201/https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Transportation/Chinese-state-port-operator-s-India-and-Vietnam-acquisitions-stall |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/asean-business/a-primer-on-china%E2%80%99s-belt-and-road-initiative-plans-in-south-east-asia |title=A primer on China's Belt and Road Initiative plans in South-east Asia |access-date=30 January 2021 |archive-date=5 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205064745/https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/asean-business/a-primer-on-china%E2%80%99s-belt-and-road-initiative-plans-in-south-east-asia |url-status=dead}}

Quang Trung Software Park is a software park situated in District 12. The park is approximately {{cvt|15|km|0}} from downtown Ho Chi Minh City and hosts software enterprises as well as dot.com companies. The park also includes a software training school. Dot.com investors here are supplied with other facilities and services such as residences and high-speed access to the internet as well as favorable taxation. Together with the Hi-Tech Park in Thủ Đức, and the 32 ha. software park inside Tân Thuận Export Processing Zone in District 7 of the city, Ho Chi Minh City aims to become an important hi-tech city in the country and the South-East Asia region.

This park helps the city in particular and Vietnam in general to become an outsourcing location for other enterprises in developed countries, as India has done. Some 300,000 businesses, including many large enterprises, are involved in high-tech, electronic, processing and light industries, and also in construction, building materials and agricultural products. Additionally, crude oil is a popular economic base in the city. Investors are still pouring money into the city. Total local private investment was 160 billion đồng (US$7.5 million)Exchange rate from XE.com with 18,500 newly founded companies. Investment trends to high technology, services and real estate projects.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}

As of June 2006, the city had three export processing zones and twelve industrial parks, in addition to Quang Trung Software Park and Ho Chi Minh City hi-tech park. Intel has invested about 1 billion dollars in a factory in the city. More than fifty banks with hundreds of branches and about 20 insurance companies are also located inside the city. The Stock Exchange, the first stock exchange in Vietnam, was opened in 2001. There are 171 medium and large-scale markets as well as several supermarket chains, shopping malls, and fashion and beauty centers.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}

On Vietnam's Provincial Competitiveness Index 2023, a key tool for evaluating the business environment in Vietnam's provinces, Ho Chi Minh City received a score of 67.19.{{Cite web |title=Chỉ số năng lực cạnh tranh cấp tỉnh (PCI) |url=https://pcivietnam.vn/ |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=pcivietnam.vn |language=vi}} This was a fall from 2022 in which the province received a score of 65.86. In 2023, the province received its highest scores on the 'Time Costs' and 'Law and Order' criterion and lowest on 'Access To Land' and 'Policy Bias'.{{Cite web |last=the-shiv |date=2024-08-13 |title=Doing Business in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 2024 |url=https://the-shiv.com/doing-business-in-ho-chi-minh-city-vietnam/ |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=the-shiv |language=en-AU}}

File:DJI 0212-HDR-Pano (cropped).jpg is the tallest building in Vietnam.]]

With a population now of 8,382,287 (as of Census 2010 on 1 April 2010){{cite web |url=http://www.gso.gov.vn/default.aspx?tabid=512&idmid=5&ItemID=11010 |title=Tong Cuc Thong Ke |publisher=Gso.gov.vn |access-date=24 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331050005/http://www.gso.gov.vn/default.aspx?tabid=512&idmid=5&ItemID=11010 |archive-date=31 March 2012 |url-status=live}} (registered residents plus migrant workers as well as a metropolitan population of 10 million), the city needs increased public infrastructure. To this end, the city and central governments have embarked on an effort to develop new urban centres. The two most prominent projects are the Thủ Thiêm city centre in District 2 and the Phú Mỹ Hưng Urban Area, a new city centre in District 7 (as part of the Saigon South project) where various international schools such as Saigon South International School and Australian Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology are located. In December 2007, Phú Mỹ Hưng's new City Centre completed the {{cvt|17.8|km|mi}} 10–14 lane wide Nguyễn Văn Linh Boulevard linking the Saigon port areas, Tân Thuận Export Processing Zone to the National Highway 1 and the Mekong Delta area. In November 2008, a brand new trade centre, Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre, also opened its doors. Other projects include Grandview, Waterfront, Sky Garden, Riverside and Phú Gia 99. Phú Mỹ Hưng's new City Centre received the first Model New City Award from the Vietnamese Ministry of Construction.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}

In 2007, three million foreign tourists, about 70% of the total number of tourists to Vietnam, visited the city. Total cargo transport to city's ports reached 50.5 million tonnes,{{cite web |url=http://www.mofahcm.gov.vn/vi/tintuc_sk/tulieu/nr060206163738/nr061107160930/ns080114143359 |title=mofahcm |publisher=mofahcm |access-date=3 April 2010 |language=vi |quote=Số lượng khách quốc tế đến TPHCM đã đạt tới 3 triệu lượt người, tăng 14,6% so với năm 2006, chiếm 70% tổng lượng du khách đến VN... Lượng hàng hóa vận chuyển qua cảng đạt 50,5 triệu tấn... |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100131070525/http://www.mofahcm.gov.vn/vi/tintuc_sk/tulieu/nr060206163738/nr061107160930/ns080114143359 |archive-date=31 January 2010 |url-status=dead}} nearly one-third of the total for Vietnam.

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Ho Chi Minh City has many architecturally notable buildings from different styles and time periods. French influence during the colonial era can be seen throughout the city, especially in District 1 where a number of buildings can be found. Notable buildings of French colonial architecture include the Ho Chi Minh City Hall, Saigon Central Post Office, Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon and Bến Thành Market.{{cite news |date=12 July 2019 |title=Charming French architecture in Saigon|url=https://vietnam.vnanet.vn/english/tin-tuc/charming-french-architecture-in-saigon-206961.html |work=Vietnam News Agency |access-date=30 August 2022}}

Apart from its French architecture, Ho Chi Minh City is also home to a number of buildings inspired by Chinese architecture. Notable buildings are mostly found in Chợ Lớn, where many Hoa people reside. These include the Thien Hau Temple, which was first built around 1760, making it one of the oldest historic buildings still standing in the city.{{cite web|title=Cholon: A Little China in the heart of Saigon|url=https://www.gis-reseau-asie.org/en/cholon-little-china-heart-saigon-0|work=French Academic Network for Asian Studies|access-date=15 June 2023|archive-date=15 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230615234341/https://www.gis-reseau-asie.org/en/cholon-little-china-heart-saigon-0|url-status=dead}}

During the Republic of Vietnam era, Vietnamese modernist architecture began to develop in the city. Prominent buildings which were commissioned during this time include the Independence Palace, replacing the former Independence Palace which was of Baroque Revival architecture.{{cite web |title=How Vietnam Created Its Own Brand of Modernist Architecture|url=https://saigoneer.com/vietnam-architecture/8939-how-vietnam-created-its-own-brand-of-modernist-architecture |work=Saigoneer |access-date=15 June 2023}}

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File:Parque Tao Dan, Ciudad Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, 2013-08-15, DD 03.JPG is one of the largest and oldest parks in Ho Chi Minh City.]]

Despite the city's high building density, Ho Chi Minh City has a number of large parks. One of the largest and most popular parks is Tao Đàn Park, located next to the Independence Palace in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.{{cite web |title=The Best Parks and Green Spaces in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam |url=https://theculturetrip.com/asia/vietnam/articles/the-best-parks-and-green-spaces-in-ho-chi-minh-city-vietnam/ |work=Culture Trip |date=26 February 2018 |access-date=15 June 2023}} Other parks in District 1 include the September 23rd Park and 30/4 Park.{{cite web |title=HCMC park gets land back from metro |url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/traffic/hcmc-park-gets-land-back-from-metro-4597948.html |work=VnExpress |access-date=15 June 2023 |author1=Vnexpress }}

The Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens, located on the northern end of District 1, is one of the world's oldest zoos and botanical gardens. It contains a collection of over 600 rare animals and about 4,000 plant species, some of which are over 100 years in age.{{cite web |title=Record revenues at Saigon Zoo after post-Covid reopening |url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/companies/record-revenues-at-saigon-zoo-after-post-covid-reopening-4572389.html |work=VnExpress |access-date=15 June 2023}}

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Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard was the first pedestrian street in Ho Chi Minh City. It opened to the public in April 2015, and is a popular spot for locals and visitors to gather.{{cite web |title=HCMC's popular pedestrian street to get a green facelift |url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/places/hcmc-s-popular-pedestrian-street-to-get-a-green-facelift-3977460.html |work=VnExpress |access-date=15 June 2023 |author1=Vnexpress }} Many events are held in the precinct throughout the year, including the annual flower festival during Tết.{{cite web |title=Saigon flower street all set to blossom for Tet |url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/places/saigon-flower-street-all-set-to-blossom-for-tet-3711432.html |work=VnExpress |access-date=15 June 2023 |author1=Vnexpress }}

Bui Vien Walking Street is also well-known in Ho Chi Minh City due to its status as a hub for western backpackers and tourists.{{cite web |title=Foreigners a common sight again at Saigon tourist hotspots|url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/places/foreigners-a-common-sight-again-at-saigon-tourist-hotspots-4543143.html |work=VnExpress |access-date=15 June 2023}} Bui Vien Street, also known as "Western Street" (Pho Tay), is a backpacker district in Ho Chi Minh City that offers a variety of restaurants, coffee shops, hotels, live music pubs, and rooftop bars. Before becoming a walking street, Bui Vien Street was a popular destination for backpackers to have fun, try unfamiliar cuisines, and explore new places during their trip to Ho Chi Minh City.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-02 |title=Guide To Ho Chi Minh City Nightlife 2023 {{!}} Sipping, Dancing & More – Vietnam Travel Blog |url=https://vietnamtravel.blog/ho-chi-minh-city-nightlife/ |access-date=2023-10-05 |language=en-US}}

file:Ho Chi Minh City, Nguyen Hue Street, 2020-01 CN-02.jpg.]]

File:Tan Son Nhat International Airport.jpg

The city is served by Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport, the largest airport in Vietnam in terms of passengers handled (with an estimated number of over 15.5 million passengers per year in 2010, accounting for more than half of Vietnam's air passenger traffic{{Cite news|date=2007-10-13|title=Mở rộng sân bay Tân Sơn Nhất|url=https://www.sggp.org.vn/share253412.html|access-date=2023-03-17|newspaper=BÁO SÀI GÒN GIẢI PHÓNG|language=vi

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090224202253/http://www.sggp.org.vn/xahoi/2007/10/125219/

| archive-date= 24 February 2009

| author= M. Ha

}}Two more Hanoi<>Saigon flights per day for Pacific Airlines on Vietnamnet.net, accessdate 11 November 2007, {{in lang|vi}} [http://vietnamnet.vn/kinhte/2007/11/753468] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422012941/http://vietnamnet.vn/kinhte/2007/11/753468/|date=22 April 2009}}). Long Thành International Airport is scheduled to begin operating in 2025. Based in Long Thành District, Đồng Nai Province, about {{cvt|40|km|0}} east of Ho Chi Minh City, Long Thành Airport will serve international flights, with a maximum traffic capacity of 100 million passengers per year when fully completed; Tân Sơn Nhất Airport will serve domestic flights.{{cite web |url=http://www.airports.org/aci/aci/file/ADN%20-%20Momberger/ACI-ADN-August.pdf |title=Airport Development News |access-date=19 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061008110715/http://www.airports.org/aci/aci/file/ADN%20-%20Momberger/ACI-ADN-August.pdf |archive-date=8 October 2006}}

The city is also a terminal for many Vietnam Railways train routes in the country. The Reunification Express (tàu Thống Nhất) runs from Saigon to Hanoi from Saigon Railway Station in District 3, with stops at cities and provinces along the line.{{cite web |url=https://vietnam-railway.com/train/from/ho-chi-minh-city |title=Train from Ho Chi Minh City – Ticket fare and Schedule {{!}} Vietnam Railways |website=vietnam-railway.com |language=en |access-date=2017-01-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331124155/https://vietnam-railway.com/train/from/ho-chi-minh-city |archive-date=31 March 2016 |url-status=live}} Within the city, the two main stations are Sóng Thần and Sài Gòn. In addition, there are several smaller stations such as Dĩ An, Thủ Đức, Bình Triệu, Gò Vấp. However, rail transport is not fully developed and presently comprises only 0.6% of passenger traffic and 6% of goods shipments.{{cite web |url=http://www1.mt.gov.vn/ykienatgt/print.asp?ArticleId=2576 |title=Print Version |publisher=.mt.gov.vn |date=29 May 2008 |access-date=24 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401093127/http://www1.mt.gov.vn/ykienatgt/print.asp?ArticleId=2576 |archive-date=1 April 2012}}

The city's location on the Saigon River makes it a bustling commercial and passenger port; besides a constant stream of cargo ships, passenger boats operate regularly between Ho Chi Minh City and various destinations in Southern Vietnam and Cambodia, including Vũng Tàu, Cần Thơ and the Mekong Delta, and Phnom Penh. Traffic between Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam's southern provinces has steadily increased over the years; the Đôi and Tẻ Canals, the main routes to the Mekong Delta, receive 100,000 waterway vehicles every year, representing around 13 million tons of cargo. A project to dredge these routes has been approved to facilitate transport, to be implemented in 2011–14.{{Cite news |url=http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/Economy/198826/City-to-expand-waterway-transport.html |title=City to expand waterway transport |date=19 April 2010 |agency=Vietnam News Service |access-date=3 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100421024424/http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/Economy/198826/City-to-expand-waterway-transport.html |archive-date=21 April 2010}} In 2017, the Saigon Waterbus launched, connecting District 1 to Thủ Đức City.{{Cite web |last=VnExpress |title=Saigon River bus not convenient enough to lure commuters – VnExpress International |url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/business/economy/saigon-river-bus-not-convenient-enough-to-lure-commuters-4016591.html |access-date=2022-08-31 |website=VnExpress International – Latest news, business, travel and analysis from Vietnam |language=en}}

The HCMC Metro, a rapid transit network, is being built in stages. Line 1 was opened 2024.{{Cite web |title='Finally, we made it!': Ho Chi Minh City celebrates first metro |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/vietnam-ho-chi-minh-city-first-metro-train-years-delay-4821486 |access-date=2024-12-22 |website=CNA |language=en}} The line connects Bến Thành to Suối Tiên Park in District 9, with a depot in Long Bình. Planners expect the route to serve more than 160,000 passengers daily.{{cite web |url=http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/vietnammetro |title=Ho Chi Minh City Metro |publisher=Railway-technology.com |access-date=4 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504210158/http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/vietnammetro/ |archive-date=4 May 2010 |url-status=dead}} A line between Bến Thành and Tham Lương in District 12 has been approved by the government,{{cite news |work=Thanh Nien |title=HCMC's subway route No.2 approved |url=http://www.thanhniennews.com/2008/Pages/20081211135245044481.aspx |author=Dinh Muoi |access-date=29 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100521033255/http://www.thanhniennews.com/2008/Pages/20081211135245044481.aspx |archive-date=21 May 2010 |url-status=dead}} and several more lines (Lines 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6) are the subject of ongoing feasibility studies.

Public buses run on many routes and tickets can be purchased on the bus. The city has a number of coach houses, which house coach buses to and from other areas in Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City has five interprovincial coach stations: Mien Dong Coach Station (Binh Thanh), Mien Tay Coach Station (Binh Tan), An Suong Coach Station (Hoc Mon), Nga Tu Ga Coach Station (District 12), and the former Mien Dong Coach Station. The largest coach station – in terms of passengers handled – is the Miền Đông Coach Station in the Bình Thạnh District.

The main means of transport within the city are motorbikes, cars, buses, taxis, and bicycles. Motorbikes remain the most common way to move around the city. Taxis are plentiful and usually have meters, although it is also common to agree on a price before taking a long trip, for example, from the airport to the city centre. For short trips, "{{lang|vi|xe ôm}}" (literally, "hug vehicle") motorcycle taxis are available throughout the city, usually congregating at a major intersection. You can also book motorcycle and car taxis through ride-hailing apps like Grab and GoJek. A popular activity for tourists is a tour of the city on cyclos, which allow for longer trips at a more relaxed pace. For the last few years, cars have become more popular.{{cite web |last=VnExpress |title=November auto sales achieve year record – VnExpress International |url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/business/data-speaks/november-auto-sales-achieve-year-record-4207319.html |access-date=2020-12-17 |website=VnExpress International – Latest news, business, travel and analysis from Vietnam |language=en |archive-date=16 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201216134422/https://e.vnexpress.net/news/business/data-speaks/november-auto-sales-achieve-year-record-4207319.html |url-status=live}} There are approximately 340,000 cars and 3.5 million motorcycles in the city, which is almost double compared with Hanoi. The growing number of cars tend to cause gridlock and contribute to air pollution. The government has called out motorcycles as the reason for the congestion and has developed plans to reduce the number of motorcycles and to improve public transport.{{cite web |title=Imminent gridlocks |author=Hans-Heinrich Bass, Thanh Trung Nguyen |publisher=dandc.eu |date=April 2013 |url=http://www.dandc.eu/en/article/vietnam-needs-tackle-urban-traffic-congestion |access-date=7 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105182238/http://www.dandc.eu/en/article/vietnam-needs-tackle-urban-traffic-congestion |archive-date=5 November 2013 |url-status=live}}

{{Main|Ho Chi Minh City–Trung Luong Expressway|Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh–Dau Giay Expressway}}

File:Cầu Long Thành, Đường cao tốc TP.HCM - Long Thành - Dầu Giây.JPG]]

The city has two expressways making up the North-South Expressway system, connecting the city with other provinces.

The first expressway is Ho Chi Minh City – Trung Lương Expressway, opened in 2010, connecting Ho Chi Minh City with Tiền Giang and the Mekong Delta.{{cite web |url=http://www.tedi.vn/vn-vi/du-an/du-an-duong-cao-toc-thanh-pho-ho-chi-minh-trung-luong/1119.html |title=Dự án đường cao tốc TP.HCM – Trung Lương |publisher=Tedi.vn |access-date=8 May 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506151029/http://www.tedi.vn/vn-vi/du-an/du-an-duong-cao-toc-thanh-pho-ho-chi-minh-trung-luong/1119.html |archive-date=6 May 2016}}

The second one is Ho Chi Minh City – Long Thành – Dầu Giây Expressway, opened in 2015, connecting the city with Đồng Nai, Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu and the Southeast of Vietnam.{{cite news |url=http://vnexpress.net/tin-tuc/thoi-su/ngay-8-2-thong-xe-toan-cao-toc-tp-hcm-long-thanh-dau-giay-3133936.html |title=Ngày 8/2 thông xe toàn cao tốc TP.HCM – Long Thành – Dầu Giây |newspaper=VnExpress |access-date=8 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508212658/http://vnexpress.net/tin-tuc/thoi-su/ngay-8-2-thong-xe-toan-cao-toc-tp-hcm-long-thanh-dau-giay-3133936.html |archive-date=8 May 2016 |url-status=dead}} The Ho Chi Minh City – Long Khánh Expressway is under planning and will be constructed in the near future.

The health care system of the city is relatively developed with a chain of about 100 government owned hospitals or medical centres and dozens of international facilities,{{cite web|url=https://urbansesame.com/community/international-hospitals-and-clinics-in-saigon-a-short-guide-for-expats/ |title=International Hospitals and Clinics in Saigon – A Short Guide for Expats |publisher=Urban Sesame |date=2022-08-02 |accessdate=2022-08-15}} as well as privately owned clinics. The 1,400-bed Chợ Rẫy Hospital, upgraded by Japanese aid and the French-sponsored Institute of Cardiology, Prima Saigon Eye Hospital (Ophthalmology), a member of World Association of Eye Hospitals,{{cite web |url=https://www.waeh.org/news/new-members-of-the-waeh-4/ |title=New members of the WAEH! |author=World Association of Eye Hospitals |website=World Association of Eye Hospitals |date=2023-10-30}} City International Hospital and Franco-Vietnamese Hospital are among the top medical facilities in the South-East Asia region.{{according to|date=February 2025}}

File:Benh vien Cho Ray -phường 12, Quận 5, TPHCM, Việt Nam - panoramio.jpg|Chợ Rẫy Hospital is the largest tertiary care hospital in Ho Chi Minh City and the South of Vietnam.

File:City International Hospital Vietnam.jpg|City International Hospital is an international hospital in Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam{{Cite web |title=8 of the Cheapest Countries to Retire Around the World | author= Travel & Leisure| url=https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/senior-travel/cheapest-countries-to-retire-abroad |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=travelandleisure.com }}

File: Prima Medical Center Saigon.jpg|Prima Saigon Eye Hospital, the first Vietnam member of World Association of Eye Hospitals

File:FV hospital.JPG|Franco-Vietnamese Hospital in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City.

{{See also|List of schools in Ho Chi Minh City}}

Notable high schools in the city include Lê Hồng Phong High School for the Gifted, Phổ Thông Năng Khiếu High School for the Gifted, Trần Đại Nghĩa High School for the Gifted, Nguyễn Thượng Hiền High School, Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai High School, {{ill|Gia Định High School|vi|Trường Trung học phổ thông Gia Định, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh|vertical-align=sup}}, {{ill|Lê Quý Đôn High School|vi|Tr%C6%B0%E1%BB%9Dng Trung h%E1%BB%8Dc ph%E1%BB%95 th%C3%B4ng L%C3%AA Qu%C3%BD %C4%90%C3%B4n, Th%C3%A0nh ph%E1%BB%91 H%E1%BB%93 Ch%C3%AD Minh|vertical-align=sup}}, Marie Curie High School, Võ Thị Sáu High School, Trần Phú High School and others. Though the former schools are all public, private education is also available in Ho Chi Minh City. High school consists of grade 10–12 (sophomore, junior, and senior).{{cite web |url=https://vanbanphapluat.co/decision-1981-qd-ttg-approving-the-structural-framework-the-national-education-system |title=High School Education system |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180428181209/https://vanbanphapluat.co/decision-1981-qd-ttg-approving-the-structural-framework-the-national-education-system |archive-date=28 April 2018 |url-status=dead}}

• VNUHCM High School for the Gifted
• Lê Hồng Phong High School for the Gifted
• Trần Đại Nghĩa High School for the Gifted
• Nguyễn Thượng Hiền High School
• Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai High School
• Bùi Thị Xuân High School
• Phú Nhuận High School
• Trần Phú High School
• Bình Phú High School
• {{ill|Gia Định High School|vi|Trường Trung học phổ thông Gia Định, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh|vertical-align=sup}}
• Mạc Đĩnh Chi High School
• {{ill|Lê Quý Đôn High School|vi|Tr%C6%B0%E1%BB%9Dng Trung h%E1%BB%8Dc ph%E1%BB%95 th%C3%B4ng L%C3%AA Qu%C3%BD %C4%90%C3%B4n, Th%C3%A0nh ph%E1%BB%91 H%E1%BB%93 Ch%C3%AD Minh|vertical-align=sup}}
• Nguyễn Du Secondary School
• Nguyễn Hữu Cầu High School
• Nguyễn Hữu Huân High School
• Marie Curie High School
• Võ Thị Sáu High School
• Võ Trường Toản High School
• Hùng Vương High School
• Chu Văn An High School
• Trưng Vương High School
• Lương Thế Vinh High School
• Trần Khai Nguyên High School
• Ten Lơ Man High School
• Nguyễn Trãi High School
• Nguyễn Khuyến High School
• Nguyễn Du High School
• Nguyễn Công Trứ High School
• Trần Hưng Đạo High School
• Nguyễn Chí Thanh High School
• Nguyễn Thái Bình High School
• Thủ Đức High School
• Nguyễn Văn Cừ High School
• Nguyễn Thị Diệu High School
• Ernst Thalmann High School
• Lawrence S. Ting Memorial School

• Pennsylvania American International School
• Western Australian International School System
• APU International School
• Japanese International School
• Wellspring International Bilingual School Ho Chi Minh City
• Singapore International School
• Horizon International Bilingual School
• Vinschool
• EMASI International Bilingual School
• VStar School
• Horizon International Bilingual School
• Ngô Thời Nhiệm High School
• Nguyễn Khuyến High School
• Khai Trí High School
• Quang Trung Nguyễn Huệ High School
• Trí Đức High School
• Trương Vĩnh Ký High School
• Vinschool
• Hồng Hà Secondary-High School
• Tuệ Đức Pathway School

• ABC International School
• American International School, Saigon
• British International School Ho Chi Minh City
• British Vietnamese International School
• International School Ho Chi Minh City
• International School Ho Chi Minh City - American Academy
• Saigon South International School
• Australian International School, Vietnam
• European International School Ho Chi Minh City
• Canadian International School Vietnam
• International German School Ho Chi Minh City
• Korean International School, HCMC
• Japanese School in Ho Chi Minh City
• Lycée Français International Marguerite Duras
• Saigon South International School
• Taipei School in Ho Chi Minh City
• Renaissance International School Saigon
• Vietnam Finland International School
• International School of North America

{{See also|List of universities in Ho Chi Minh City}}

File:Nhà điều hành Đại học Quốc Gia TPHCM.jpg

Higher education in Ho Chi Minh City is a burgeoning industry; the city boasts over 80 universities and colleges with a total of over 400,000 students. Notable universities include Vietnam National University, with 50,000 students distributed among six schools; The University of Technology ({{lang|vi|Đại học Bách khoa}}, formerly Phú Thọ National Center of Technology); The University of Sciences (formerly Saigon College of Sciences); The University of Social Sciences and Humanities (formerly Saigon College of Letters); The International University; The University of Economics and Law; and the newly established University of Information Technology.

Some other important higher education establishments include University of Pedagogy, University of Economics, University of Architecture, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Nong Lam University (formerly University of Agriculture, Forestry and Silviculture), University of Law, University of Technical Education, University of Banking, University of Industry, Open University,{{cite web |url=http://www.ou.edu.vn/english |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040813134159/http://www.ou.edu.vn/english/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 August 2004 |title=Ho Chi Minh City Open University |publisher=Ou.edu.vn |access-date=3 April 2010}} University of Sports and Physical Education, University of Fine Arts, University of Culture, the Conservatory of Music, the Saigon Institute of Technology, Văn Lang University, Saigon University, and Hoa Sen University.

In addition to the above public universities, Ho Chi Minh City is also home to several private universities. One of the most notable is RMIT International University Vietnam, a campus of Australian public research RMIT University with an enrollment of about 6,000 students. Tuition at RMIT is about US$40,000 for an entire course of study.{{cite web |url=http://www.rmit.edu.vn/ |title=RMIT University website |publisher=Rmit.edu.vn |access-date=24 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501184914/http://rmit.edu.vn/ |archive-date=1 May 2012 |url-status=dead}} Other private universities include The Saigon International University (or SIU) is another private university run by the Group of Asian International Education.{{cite web |url=http://www.siu.edu.vn/pages/MySite.aspx |title=Saigon International University |publisher=siu.edu.vn |access-date=2 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303134442/http://www.siu.edu.vn/Pages/MySite.aspx |archive-date=3 March 2013}} Enrollment at SIU averages about 12,000 students{{cite web |url=http://www.siu.edu.vn/pages/ViewDocument.aspx?Type=3&ID=3943 |title=SIU Group of Asian International Education |publisher=siu.edu.vn |access-date=2 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307112155/http://www.siu.edu.vn/pages/ViewDocument.aspx?Type=3&ID=3943 |archive-date=7 March 2013}} Depending on the type of program, tuition at SIU costs US$5,000–6,000 per year.{{cite web |url=http://www.siu.edu.vn/pages/ViewDocument.aspx?ID=18301&Type=3 |title=Schedule of Course Fees |publisher=siu.edu.vn |access-date=2 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029002034/http://www.siu.edu.vn/pages/ViewDocument.aspx?ID=18301&Type=3 |archive-date=29 October 2008}}

{{Main|Declared monuments of Ho Chi Minh City}}{{see also|List of historic buildings in Ho Chi Minh City}}

File:Bui Vien Walking Street 1.jpg

Tourist attractions in the city are mainly related to periods of French colonisation and the Vietnam War. The city's centre has some wide American-style boulevards and a few French colonial buildings. The majority of these tourist spots are located in District 1 and are a short distance from each other. The most prominent structures in the city centre are the Reunification Palace ({{lang|vi|Dinh Thống Nhất}}), City Hall ({{lang|vi|Ủy ban nhân dân Thành phố}}), Municipal Theatre ({{lang|vi|Nhà hát thành phố}}, also known as the Opera House), City Post Office ({{lang|vi|Bưu điện thành phố}}), State Bank Office ({{lang|vi|Ngân hàng Nhà nước}}), City People's Court ({{lang|vi|Tòa án nhân dân thành phố}}), and Notre-Dame Cathedral ({{lang|vi|Nhà thờ Đức Bà Sài Gòn}}), which was constructed between 1863 and 1880. Some of the historic hotels include the Hotel Majestic, dating from the French colonial era, and the Rex and Caravelle hotels, both of which are former hangouts for American officers and war correspondents in the 1960s & '70s.In 2014, tourism revenue has hit VND 78.7 trillion (US$3.7 billion), up to 4 percent compared to the same period in 2013.

The city has various museums including the City Museum, Museum of History, the Revolutionary Museum, the Museum of south-eastern Armed Forces, the War Remnants Museum, the Museum of Southern Women, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Nhà Rồng Memorial House, and the Bến Dược Relic of Underground Tunnels. The Củ Chi tunnels are north-west of the city in Củ Chi District. The Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens, in District 1, dates from 1865. The Đầm Sen Tourist and Cultural Park, Suối Tiên Amusement and Culture Park, and Cần Giờ's Eco beach resort are three recreational sites inside the city which are popular with tourists. Aside from the Municipal Theatre, there are other places of entertainment such as the Bến Thành Theatre, Hòa Bình Theatre, and the Lan Anh Music Stage. The city is home to hundreds of cinemas and theatres, with cinema and drama theatre revenue accounting for 60–70% of Vietnam's total revenue in this industry.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}} Unlike other theatrical organisations found in Vietnam's provinces and municipalities, residents of the city keep their theatres active without the support of subsidies from the Vietnamese government. The city is also home to most of the private film companies in Vietnam.{{Citation needed|date=May 2013}}

Like many of Vietnam's smaller cities, the city boasts a multitude of restaurants serving typical Vietnamese dishes such as phở or rice vermicelli. Backpacking travellers most often frequent the "Backpackers' Quarter" on Phạm Ngũ Lão Street and Bùi Viện Street, District 1.{{cite web |url=http://tuoitrenews.vn/features/13002/ho-chi-minh-citys-westerners-town |title=Ho Chi Minh City backpackers' town – Tuoi Tre News |access-date=23 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808141518/http://tuoitrenews.vn/features/13002/ho-chi-minh-citys-westerners-town |archive-date=8 August 2016 |url-status=live}}

It was approximated that 4.3 million tourists visited Vietnam in 2007, of which 70 percent, approximately 3 million tourists, visited the city.[http://www.thongtinthuongmaivietnam.com.vn/IWINews.aspx?CatalogID=2426&ID=64806] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080404095748/http://www.thongtinthuongmaivietnam.com.vn/IWINews.aspx?CatalogID=2426&ID=64806|date=4 April 2008}}

According to the most recent international tourist statistic, Ho Chi Minh City welcomed 6 million tourists in 2017.{{cite web |url=http://vietnamtourism.gov.vn/english/items/12419 |title=HCM City welcomes six millionth int'l visitor in 2017 |last=TITC |website=Tổng cục Du lịch Việt Nam}} {{dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}

According to Mastercard's 2019 report, the city is also the country's second most visited city (18th in Asia Pacific), with 4.1 million overnight international visitors in 2018 (after Hanoi with 4.8 million visitors).{{cite web |url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/places/mastercard-lists-hanoi-hcmc-among-top-20-asia-pacific-travel-destinations-3982199.html |title=Mastercard lists Hanoi, HCMC among top 20 Asia-Pacific travel destinations |work=VNExpress |access-date=2019-11-13 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022012813/https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/places/mastercard-lists-hanoi-hcmc-among-top-20-asia-pacific-travel-destinations-3982199.html |archive-date=22 October 2019 |url-status=live}}

File:Vietnam-0375 (3343240896).jpg to welcome Tết Nguyên Đán in Ho Chi Minh City]]

Due to its history, artworks have generally been inspired by both Western and Eastern styles. Famous locations for art in Ho Chi Minh City include Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts, and various art galleries located on Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa street, Trần Phú street, and Bùi Viện street.{{cite web |first=Katie |last=Kalmusky |date=20 May 2020 |title=The 6 Best Art Galleries in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam |url=https://theculturetrip.com/vietnam/articles/the-6-best-art-galleries-in-ho-chi-minh-city-vietnam/ |work=Culture Trip |access-date=10 December 2022}}

File:Bảo tàng Mỹ thuật Tp (kiến trúc tổng thể) (2).jpg|Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts

File:Bảo tàng lịch sử Tp. Hồ Chí Minh.JPG|Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History

File:Bảo tàng chứng tích chiến tranh, tp Ho chi minh vietnam, vo Van tan - panoramio.jpg|War Remnants Museum

Ho Chi Minh City cultivates a strong food and drink culture with lots of roadside restaurants, coffee shops, and food stalls where locals and tourists can enjoy local cuisine and beverages at low prices.{{cite web |last=Guide |first=City Pass |title=City Pass Guide |url=https://www.citypassguide.com/blog/why-is-food-so-cheap-in-vietnam |access-date=2020-12-17 |website=Why Is Food So Cheap in Vietnam? |language=en |archive-date=4 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504193337/https://www.citypassguide.com/blog/why-is-food-so-cheap-in-vietnam |url-status=live}} It is currently ranked in the top five best cities in the world for street food.{{cite web |last=VnExpress |title=Saigon among top five global cities for street food: survey – VnExpress International |url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/food/saigon-among-top-five-global-cities-for-street-food-survey-3995290.html |access-date=2020-12-17 |website=VnExpress International – Latest news, business, travel and analysis from Vietnam |language=en |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122233026/https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/food/saigon-among-top-five-global-cities-for-street-food-survey-3995290.html |url-status=live}}

{{See also|Media of Vietnam|Telecommunications in Vietnam}}

File:Ho Chi Minh City Television Headquarters 2021.jpg, the second largest and the first-ever television network in Vietnam, has its headquarters in District 1.]]

The city's media is the most developed in the country. At present, there are seven daily newspapers: Sài Gòn Giải Phóng (Liberated Saigon), and its Vietnamese, investment and finance, sports, evening, and weekly editions; Tuổi Trẻ (Youth), the highest circulation newspaper in Vietnam; {{lang|vi|Thanh Niên}} (Young People), the second largest circulation in the south of Vietnam; {{lang|vi|Người Lao Động}} (Labourer); {{lang|vi|Thể Thao}} (Sports); {{lang|vi|Pháp Luật}} (Law); The Saigon Times Daily, an English-language newspaper; as well as more than 30 other newspapers and magazines. The city has hundreds of printing and publishing houses, many bookstores, and a widespread network of public and school libraries; the city's General Library houses over 1.5 million books. Once called THVN9, the locally based Ho Chi Minh City Television (HTV) is the first and the second largest television network in the nation, just behind the national Vietnam Television (VTV), broadcasting 24/7 on 7 different channels (using analog and digital technology). Many major international TV channels are provided through two cable networks (SCTV and HTVC), with over one million subscribers. The Voice of Ho Chi Minh City is the largest radio station in south Vietnam.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}

Internet coverage, especially through ADSL connections, is rapidly expanding, with over 2,200,000 subscribers and around 5.5 million frequent users. Internet service providers (ISPs) operating in Ho Chi Minh City include the Vietnam Data Communication Company (VDC), Corporation for Finance and Promoting Technology (FPT), Netnam Company, Saigon Post and Telecommunications Services Corporation (Saigon Postel Corporation, SPT) and Viettel Company. The city has more than two million fixed telephones and about fifteen million cellular phones (the latter growing annually by 20%). Mobile phone service is provided by a number of companies, including Viettel Mobile, MobiFone, VinaPhone, and Vietnam Mobile.

File:Thống Nhất Stadium 2022.jpg is home to the V.League 1 football club Ho Chi Minh City F.C.]]

{{As of|2005}}, Ho Chi Minh City was home to 91 football fields, 86 swimming pools, and 256 gyms.[http://www.pso.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/so_lieu_ktxh/2005/Van_hoa_giao_duc_y_te/0921.htm Exercise and sports] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091230010144/http://www.pso.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/so_lieu_ktxh/2005/Van_hoa_giao_duc_y_te/0921.htm |date=30 December 2009}}. PSO Ho Chi Minh City. The largest stadium in the city is the 15,000-seat Thống Nhất Stadium, located on Đào Duy Từ Street, in Ward 6 of District 10. The next largest is Military Region 7 Stadium, located near Tan Son Nhat Airport in Tân Bình district. The Military Region 7 Stadium was of the venues for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup finals. As well as being a sporting venue, it is also the site of a music school. Phú Thọ Racecourse, another notable sporting venue established during colonial times, is the only racetrack in Vietnam, however, due to poor maintenance, the facilities are not in good condition.{{Cite web|url=https://zingnews.vn/zingnews-post1334930.html|title=Cảnh xuống cấp tại nhà thi đấu hiện đại bậc nhất ở TP.HCM|date=25 July 2022|website=ZingNews.vn}} The city's Department of Physical Education and Sport also manages a number of clubs, including Phan Đình Phùng, Thanh Đa, and Yết Kiêu.

The city is home to a number of association football clubs. One of the city's largest clubs, Ho Chi Minh City F.C., is based at Thống Nhất Stadium, formerly as Cảng Sài Gòn, they were four-time champions of Vietnam's V.League 1 (in 1986, 1993–94, 1997, and 2001–02). Navibank Saigon F.C., founded as Quân Khu 4, were also based at Thống Nhất Stadium, emerged as champions of the First Division in the 2008 season, and were promoted to the V-League in 2009, the club has since been dissolved during a corruption scandal.{{Cite web|url=https://tuoitre.vn/news-518079.htm|title=Chính thức xóa sổ CLB Navibank Sài Gòn|first=TUOI TRE|last=ONLINE|date=29 October 2012|website=TUOI TRE ONLINE}} The city's police department also fielded a football team in the 1990s, Công An Thành Phố, which won the V-League championship in 1995, the club was dissolved in 2002 as the league become more professional. Since its inception in 2016, Sài Gòn F.C. competed in V.League 1, however, in 2022 they suffered relegation and will complete in V.League 2 in 2023.

In 2011, the city was awarded an expansion team for the ASEAN Basketball League.{{cite web |url=http://www.aseanbasketballleague.com/news/detail/6527/ssa-saigon-heat-joins-the-airasia-asean-basketball-league |title=ASEAN Basketball League website |publisher=Aseanbasketballleague.com |date=22 October 2011 |access-date=24 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111227210225/http://www.aseanbasketballleague.com/news/detail/6527/ssa-saigon-heat-joins-the-airasia-asean-basketball-league |archive-date=27 December 2011 |url-status=dead}} Saigon Heat was the first ever international professional basketball team to represent Vietnam.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111227210225/http://www.aseanbasketballleague.com/news/detail/6527/ssa-saigon-heat-joins-the-airasia-asean-basketball-league |url=http://www.aseanbasketballleague.com/news/detail/6527/ssa-saigon-heat-joins-the-airasia-asean-basketball-league |archive-date=27 December 2011 |url-status=dead |title=SSA Saigon Heat Joins the AirAsia ASEAN Basketball League |date=20 October 2011 |publisher=ABL News}} The team also plays in the domestic basketball league, the Vietnam Basketball Association, and have won the championship on three occasions (2019, 2020 and 2022).

In 2016, a second professional basketball team was created, Wings, playing in the domestic Vietnam Basketball Association.

The city hosts a number of international sport events throughout the year, such as the AFF Futsal Championship and the Vietnam Vertical Run. Several other sports are represented by teams in the city, such as Irish (Gaelic) Football, rugby, cricket,{{cite web|url=https://urbansesame.com/community/a-rough-guide-to-saigon-sports-clubs-and-activities-with-mens-and-womens-teams/ |title=Saigon Sports Clubs and Activities – with Men's and Women's Teams |date=15 March 2022 |publisher=Urbansesame.com |accessdate=2022-08-15}} volleyball, basketball, chess, athletics, and table tennis.{{cite web |title=Sports Clubs & Associations – Ho Chi Minh City Business Directory – Angloinfo |url=http://www.angloinfo.com/hcmc/directory/hcmc-sports-clubs-associations-581 |access-date=2021-03-30 |website=Angloinfo Ho Chi Minh City |language=en |archive-date=16 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516094256/https://www.angloinfo.com/hcmc/directory/hcmc-sports-clubs-associations-581 |url-status=live}}

{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Vietnam}}

The city is twinned with:{{cite web|title=Danh sách địa phương nước ngoài kết nghĩa với TpHCM|url=http://www.mofahcm.gov.vn/vi/hoptac_qt/nr041014110554/ns150417132533|url-status=live|access-date=2021-07-25|publisher=Sở ngoại vụ Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh|language=vi |archive-date=7 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607074850/http://www.mofahcm.gov.vn/vi/hoptac_qt/nr041014110554/ns150417132533}}

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• {{flagicon|CHN}} Guangdong Province, China (2009)
• {{flagicon|CHN}} Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China (2013)
• {{flagicon|GER}} Leipzig, Germany (2021){{cite web|url=https://www.leipzig.de/buergerservice-und-verwaltung/internationales/internationale-kooperationen/ho-chi-minh-stadt-und-vietnam#c201714|title=Ho-Chi-Minh-Stadt|publisher=Stadt Leipzig|access-date=16 April 2022|archive-date=6 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306063709/https://www.leipzig.de/buergerservice-und-verwaltung/internationales/internationale-kooperationen/ho-chi-minh-stadt-und-vietnam/#c201714|url-status=dead}}
• {{flagicon|FRA}} Lyon, France (1997)
• {{flagicon|PHL}} Manila, Philippines (1994)
• {{flagicon|BLR}} Minsk, Belarus (2008)
• {{flagicon|RUS}} Moscow, Russia (2003)
• {{flagicon|USA}} New York City, United States (2023){{cite web |title=HCM City, New York establish sister city relationship|url=https://en.baochinhphu.vn/hcm-city-new-york-establish-sister-city-relationship-111230923105920502.htm|publisher=Government of Vietnam|date=2023-09-23|access-date=2023-09-24}}
• {{flagicon|JPN}} Osaka Prefecture, Japan (2007)
• {{flagicon|KHM}} Phnom Penh, Cambodia (1999)
• {{flagicon|RUS}} Saint Petersburg, Russia (2005)
• {{flagicon|USA}} San Francisco, United States (1995)
• {{flagicon|CHN}} Shandong Province, China (2013)
• {{flagicon|CHN}} Shanghai, China (1994)
• {{flagicon|BUL}} Sofia, Bulgaria (2015)
• {{flagicon|LAO}} Vientiane, Laos (2001)
• {{flagicon|RUS}} Vladivostok, Russia (2009)
• {{flagicon|MMR}} Yangon, Myanmar (2012)
• {{flagicon|CHN}} Zhejiang Province, China (2009)

{{div col end}}

In addition to its twin towns, the city is in cooperation with:

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

• {{flagicon|ESP}} Barcelona, Spain (2009)
• {{flagicon|HUN}} Budapest, Hungary (2013)
• {{flagicon|KOR}} Daegu, South Korea (2015)
• {{flagicon|SUI}} Geneva, Switzerland (2007)
• {{flagicon|CHN}} Guangzhou, China (1996)
• {{flagicon|RSA}} Johannesburg, South Africa (2009)
• {{flagicon|SVK}} Košice, Slovakia (2016){{cite web |title=Partnerské mestá mesta Košice |url=https://www.kosice.sk/mesto/partnerske-mesta-mesta-kosice |publisher=Košice |language=sk |access-date=2021-07-25 |archive-date=13 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613102044/https://www.kosice.sk/mesto/partnerske-mesta-mesta-kosice |url-status=live}}
• {{flagicon|RUS}} Moscow Oblast, Russia (2015)
• {{flagicon|AUS}} Northern Territory, Australia (2014)
• {{flagicon|JPN}} Osaka, Japan (2011)
• {{flagicon|AUS}} Queensland, Australia (2005)
• {{flagicon|ESP}} Seville, Spain (2009)
• {{flagicon|CHN}} Shenyang, China (1999)
• {{flagicon|JPN}} Shiga Prefecture, Japan (2014)
• {{flagicon|RUS}} Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia (2000)
• {{flagicon|CAN}} Toronto, Canada (2006)
• {{flagicon|JPN}} Yokohama, Japan (2009)

{{div col end}}

{{Portal|Vietnam}}

• 175 Hospital
• List of East Asian ports
• List of historic buildings in Ho Chi Minh City
• List of historical capitals of Vietnam

{{notelist}}{{Reflist|group=nb}}

{{Reflist|refs=

}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite report |last=Fleming |first=Tom |date=2021 |title=Việt Nam |chapter=Hồ Chí Minh City |pages=160–198 |url=https://www.britishcouncil.vn/sites/default/files/city_profile_vietnam.pdf |series=Cultural Cities Profile East Asia |location=Hà Nội |publisher=British Council Vietnam |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240428111540/https://www.britishcouncil.vn/sites/default/files/city_profile_vietnam.pdf |archive-date=28 April 2024 |access-date=19 April 2025}}

{{refend}}

{{Sister project links|voy=Ho Chi Minh City|s=Special:Search/"Ho Chi Minh City" OR Saigon}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100218043919/http://hochiminhcity.gov.vn/ Official website] {{in lang|vi|en}} (archived 18 February 2010)
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20151026014622/http://www.eng.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/Pages/default.aspx Ho Chi Minh City People's Council] (archived 26 October 2015)
• {{osmrelation-inline|1973756}}

{{Geographic location

|Centre = Ho Chi Minh City

|North = Bình Dương Province

|Northeast =

|East = Đồng Nai Province

|Southeast = Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu province

|South = Tiền Giang Province

|Southwest =

|West = Long An Province

|Northwest = Tây Ninh Province

}}

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{{Megacities}}

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Category:1698 establishments in Vietnam

Category:Populated places established in 1698

Category:Cities in Vietnam

Category:Port cities in Vietnam

Category:Capitals of former nations