"Former Saigon" Top 5 Page for this destination Ho Chi Minh City by SirRichard

Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide: 3,155 reviews and 7,296 photos

A street of Old Saigon

A mythical name

Saigon was kind of a magical name to me. After seeing so many movies and books about old Saigon, Saigon at the colonialist period, french Saigon... I admit I had an idealised concept of the city. I expected to find old colonial chalets in quiet streets lined up with trees and a busy harbour zone where the underground guys lived...

Old times are over

a 30s car

and though I admit U can find some corners like this (see pic), HCMC (official name of the city, though locally is still called Saigon) is a 5-8 million people city, industrial and commercial heart of the country and human magnet for thousands of peasants that come here to try to improve their lives...

A busy & alive city

Cholon Market

This makes Saigon a modern, chaotic, noisy & bustling city!

As a tourist you will wander around the District 1, between Pham Ngu Lao (backpackers area) and the Continental Hotel, and maybe U make a visit to Cholon District, the Chinatown, at the west.
And U must visit the Mekong Delta area too, 2-3 days tour is the ideal!

Last visit to Ho Chi Minh City: Aug 2003
Intro Written Oct 12, 2003
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Reviews (37)

Net Cafe Pasteur Shopping (4)

After visiting several internet cafes in central Saigon, I found this convenient bar with several screens and an... more travel advice

The entrance (no door) - Ho Chi Minh City

Thanh Binh Restaurant Restaurants (4)

This is a local chinese restaurant, one of those that don't have menu, they just show you the food they are cooking and... more travel advice

Tan Nam restaurant Restaurants (4)

This recently open vietnamese restaurant is nicely decorarated in a modern asiatic style. They have some fixed menus... more travel advice

SPAIN restaurant Restaurants (4)

Just couldn't believe when I saw it, but there it was!! A spanish restaurant in Saigon!! At the neon sign, the bull, the... more travel advice

Tourist Traps (1)
Snakes in the Mekong Delta
Nightlife (4)
See All Rex Hotel
Local Customs (4)
See All The Ho Chi Minh portrait
Favorites (6)
See All Main areas

Things to Do (7)
See All Reunification Palace
Transportation (3)
See All Motorbikes
Hotels (3)
See All LUAN "friendly guesthouse"
Off The Beaten Path (1)
Bonsai garden

Comments (9)

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juleshark Sep 8, 2009 at 11:23 AM

Having been a GI in Saigon in 1968 and 1969 I couldn't help but smile walking down most streets in District one after a 40 year absence. KFC, Pizza Hut, Sheraton, Starbucks, etc. The old hard line communists must feel they were sold out.
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Matyas Jun 21, 2009 at 11:21 AM

Wonderful page. So how much was that Mekong Delta Tour? Just curiosity:)
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roamer61 Jun 16, 2008 at 11:03 AM

Nice page on HCM City. Vietnam is on my list.
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jenniferchin Jul 13, 2006 at 11:27 PM

Spanish restuarant in HCMC ? hehehehe .. ok ok a must try then ...
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canadiantravelgirl Apr 24, 2006 at 6:31 AM

Great page with lots of good tips!!! It seems like a great place to explore!!!
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Irine_29 Oct 31, 2003 at 12:02 AM

Spain restaurant, Paloma cafe...couldn't escape, uh? ;-) very nice tour, it seems that the country is gradually being healed by the woonds of the war...nice hat btw..;-)
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Carmela71 Oct 14, 2003 at 4:05 AM

Another great page, Joaquin, but who can you like snakes??? arhhh lol I loved the pig hehehe
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Enrique8 Oct 13, 2003 at 11:23 AM

So the Continental is no longer what it was? :-(( Nice page, very informative, I liked the piggie pic, looks so cute... and delicious!
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herzog63 Oct 12, 2003 at 3:02 PM

The Cholon area looks so fun to get lost...explore and enjoy!! Wonderful page Joaquin!!