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settled by the Khmer, the Vietnamese took control of this region in the 17th century.
After the French conquered Saigon, in 1859, they made it the capital of Cochin
China in 1862, extending and embellishing the city with broad boulevards and elegant
architecture. 4.5 million people had made Saigon their home by 1969, but the city
was all but evacuated when it fell to the North in 1975. Despite changing its
name to Ho Chi Minh City, locals were reluctant to adopt the new name. So the
authorities have compromised, allowing the central area to be called 'Saigon.'
The current population is believed to fall between six and seven million. 
 Artex
Saigon Orchid Farm - One of several in the outskirts of the city, this farm
has a vast collection of blooms, including several rare varieties.
The
Art Museum - A broad spectrum of exhibits, including contemporary paintings,
some of which are for sale. The museum also houses older works, including some
valuable Cham, Indian and Khmer pieces.
Bink
Quoi Tourist Village - Offering a pleasant choice of activities including
water puppet shows, boat rides, and river cruises. There is also an evening dinner
cruise complete with cultural show.
Cong
Vien Van Hoa Park - Formerly a recreational enclave for the French, this elegant
tree-shaded sports club has several tennis courts and a swimming pool. There are
also a gym and table tennis facilities.
Cu
Chi Tunnels - This maze of underground tunnels, about an hour from Ho Chi
Minh City, is built on several levels, and measures a total of almost 250km. The
soil above is between 3 to 4 metres thick, and can support a 50-ton tank. The
connecting tunnels are a claustrophobic 0.5 to 1 metres wide, just enough space
for a person to crawl in. Some of them have been modified to accommodate visitors.
Accommodation, meeting rooms, mess halls, hospitals, an operating theatre, and
even a miniature cinema were all constructed within the network and housed an
underground army whose insistent guerilla strategy baffled the American forces,
and ultimately defeated their superior firepower.
Giac
Lam Pagoda - Reflecting elements of Taoism and Confucianism as well as Buddhism,
this is thought to be the oldest pagoda in the city, dating from 1744.
History
Museum - Displays and illustrations depicting the cultural evolution of the
country from early times, plus valuable exhibits originally from Angkor Wat.
Jade
Emperor Pagoda - This impressively colourful, incense-filled, Chinese temple
was built in 1909 and contains a plethora of remarkable statues and figures.
Mariamman
Hindu Temple - Dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Mariamman, and also revered
by many non-Hindus, this temple was built towards the end of the 19th century
and is said to have miraculous powers.
Notre
Dame Cathedral - The two 40 metre high towers of this Neo-Romanesque building
dominates the city's skyline. It was completed in 1883, but lost its original
stained glass windows as a result of fighting in WWII.
Reunification
Palace - An historic site in the fight for independence, on 30th April 1975,
the first Communist tanks broke through the gates of the palace and a soldier
unfurled a North Vietnamese flag from an upper floor balcony.
Revolutionary
Museum - Exhibits depicting the communist struggle for independence are on
display inside this beautiful white neo-classical building.
War
Remnants Museum - A chilling reminder of the Vietnam War, with an assortment
of American military pieces and armaments, plus various other exhibits and photographs
all attesting to the hideous suffering caused by any kind of war.
Xa
Loi Pagoda - Built in 1956, and housing a sacred relic of the Buddha, several
monks used this location for self-immolation in protest against American involvement
in Vietnam.
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