Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City is a megacity in southern Vietnam that extends across numerous districts with several million inhabitants. Wide boulevards run alongside narrow alleys, canals wind through residential and commercial zones, while tall buildings stand next to low colonial structures and markets plus parks sit scattered between the streets.

The area served as a fishing settlement for centuries before French colonists took control in 1859 and transformed it into a trading hub. After the war ended in 1975, the city was renamed and grew into the largest urban zone in the country.

Street vendors cook fresh meals on sidewalks while people gather around low plastic stools to eat and chat. Temples and pagodas fill with locals lighting incense and praying quietly in front of altars.

The central district offers many hotels and serves as a good starting point for exploring surrounding neighborhoods. Motorbike taxis and buses connect different areas, though traffic gets heavy during morning and evening hours.

Beneath the urban area runs an extensive tunnel network that served as hideouts and supply routes during wartime. Some sections lie several meters underground and remain open for visitors today.

Location: Vietnam

Inception: 1698

Founders: Nguyen Huu Chanh

Elevation above the sea: 13 m

Reference: TPHCM

Part of: Southern Vietnam, Vietnam

Shares border with: Tây Ninh, Long An, Đồng Nai, Bình Dương, Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu, Tiền Giang

Address: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Website: http://hochiminhcity.gov.vn

GPS coordinates: 10.77556,106.70194

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:09