Ho Chi Minh City (Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh) is a city in southern Vietnam. It is governed as a municipality and includes a large rural area. It is the most populous and economically city in Vietnam. About 9 million people live in the city, but unregistered migrant workers who lived and worked in the city is closer to 14 million.
Before its fall on 30 April 1975, the city used to be called "Saigon", and this is still the most common name in everyday conversation. The name Saigon come from the Saigon River, which flows through the city.
History
It used to be a Khmer port city called Prey Nokor, or “Jungle City”. The city was taken over by the Vietnamese and eventually took the name of (Sài Gòn). It was invaded by the French in 1859. As (French) Saigon it was the capital of French Indochina and became an important city in French colonial trade. After independence(from France), in 1954 to 1975, Saigon became the capital of the Republic of Vietnam. After the end of the US campaign (1973) in the Vietnam War, Saigon was overtaken by the North Vietnamese army on 30 April1975 and renamed after Hồ Chí Minh. The tradition of naming places in Vietnam after great people is very common. Many streets bear the names of epic heroes. Hai Ba Trung street is named after heroic sisters.
Despite the name change, many people from other countries, and even among Vietnamese people, still call the city "Saigon" today. Interestingly enough, both the names of the Saigon River and the Saigon railway station have stayed unchanged.
City categorization
Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) has expanded with industrialization. It now includes all of the surrounding towns. The city center is old Saigon. Old Saigon has two main districts (One and Three). The new city districts used to be rice fields and fish farms. There are fish all over the city.
Geography
Ho Chi Minh City is as flat as the river plain it sits on. Nearly all roads are built flat. Bicycle riding around the Mekong delta is very easy in dry weather. Because of the flatness, roads and buildings sink into the draining soil. Lying water keeps pollution very close to city homes. The rising tides can flood many districts when the moon is fullest.
Environment
It's very tropical in the city. The trees in streets are cut down to half every year - but they grow back. Fresh food markets are all over the city. The city has so much rain, that drains and rivers surround every district.
The southeast of the province has the Can Gio Wetlands. It's a 752 square kilometre mangrove area between Ho Chi Minh City and the sea.
Inside the wetlands there are birds, deer, fish, frogs, insects, lizards, monkeys, otters, and snakes. The centipedes all around the city are very dangerous (maybe deadly to tiny animals). People catch and eat the snakes.
The wetlands and ecosystem has been designated as a biosphere reserve. Ho Chi Minh people get education on how to look after their biosphere reserve and wetlands.
Port
The city is a river port on the Saigon River. Several larger terminals operate outside and inside of the city. Many small docks operate around the city. The river system leads out to sea at Vung Tau, or onto the Mekong delta.
Delivery of materials for the city can be made by boat. Farm producedistributors can arrive by boat in many districts outside the city.
Education
The use of English is rising in HCMC. Many HCMC people will travel around the world by using English as their international language. Many other languages are studied. French was previously the most popular. Chinese is also very well-known to many people.
International
The city has international schools that teach foreign children. All classes are given in the chosen language. Many international schools have chosen English as the primary language. There are international schools that teacher other languages like Spanish, French, German, Chinese, etc. Some of the international schools are named by their country of origin. The schools named after a country use the national language of that country.
After-school and colleges
Many HCMC parents use cram schools to improve their children's English. HCMC adults attend colleges to learn English.
Going overseas
Some HCMC people will go overseas to get foreign education. It can be through staying with relatives, attending boarding schools, joining programs, or with family.
Universities
English is taught at university in HCMC. It doesn't replace the national language at most universities. International universities might set a requirement for English or another language.
Healthcare
Ho Chi Minh City has a well-developed healthcare system with around 100 government-owned hospitals and medical centers, as well as many international facilities as well as privately owned clinics, and private clinics. Notable hospitals include the 1,400-bed Chợ Rẫy Hospital, which was upgraded with Japanese aid, and the French-sponsored Institute of Cardiology. The city is home to the Prima Saigon Eye Hospital, founded by Tran Quốc Bao, City International Hospital, and the FV (France Vietnam) Hospital, all recognized as leading medical facilities in Southeast Asia. Ho Chi Minh City is also known as the hub of medical tourism in Vietnam as noted by Tran Quốc Bao, a leading figure in healthcare and medical tourism across Asia.
Hobbies
A favorite hobby is fishing. Fish invade grass fields when they flood - locals wade into the fields with good fishing rods to catch them.
Kite flying is a popular hobby in the city. When the wind season starts, many fields are full of kite-flyers. At this time, the city skyline is dotted with kites.
Ho Chi Minh City is a very busy city. The traffic makes little sense to foreigners. Motorbikes are the most common vehicle. The motorbikes mostly travel at speeds under 40 km/hr. Car drivers do their best to never hit motorcycles. Families ride together around the city for fun in the evening.
Street food is as popular in HCMC as it is in all of Southeast Asia.
12"Báo cáo sơ bộ Tổng điều tra Dân số và nhà ở 2019"[General statistics for Population and households investigation 2019](pdf) (in Vietnamese). General Statistics Office of Vietnam. Archived from the original on 13 November 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
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