After ceding to communist rule by the Vietnamese People’s Army in 1975, the city of Saigon was renamed to honour the late leader Ho Chi Minh. Yet it remains Saigon in the popular imagination, and few but officials will call it that today in a city that has shrugged off the effects of civil turmoil and is rapidly embracing the 21st century.
There’s still something of its old soul remaining in the winding markets teeming with hawkers and traders and the tranquil, ancient pagodas like islands of calm amid the chaos. But the modern skyscrapers that increasingly dominate the skyline tell the story of new prosperity in a city that is the economic heartbeat of a rapidly modernising nation.
Though less picturesque than its northern neighbour Hanoi there is a great deal of conventional beauty to be found and the star attraction of Hanoi is not what you see but what you feel as the relentless urban pace casts you head long on a daily roller-coaster ride.
Where to stay
The Park Hyatt manages to retain a great deal of character despite its international, corporate market. The historic Hotel Majestic has a great location and has eye-catching good looks from both the inside and out.
Where to eat
Lemon Grass serves top end Vietnamese cuisine, with a second restaurant (same menu) two blocks away when it gets full. Quan An Ngon is another top choice for traditional cuisine and offers a unique dining experience.
What to see
The Cu Chi Tunnels, 40 miles north of Saigon, are an immense underground labyrinth that were used by Viet Cong guerillas during the war. The War Remnants Museum has some controversial exhibits, but is more fascinating as a result. Notre Dame Cathedral is a little piece of France on the scenic Paris Square.
