As we continue our journey through Vietnam we really had no expectations for Ho Chi Minh City, but were blown away how old and new co-exist so well together in Saigon !
Years of war and a difficult reunification took their toll on HCMC, the locals still refer to city as Saigon. The bustling, French colonial city was on the skids for years, but in the 1990’s, the city was brought back to life. The first thing that hits you is the architecture, the City Hall is located at the end of Nguyen Hue St, and was built between 1898 and 1908 in French colonial style – designed after the Hotel de Ville in Paris. The building has been known as Hotel de Ville, the Town Hall, and the City Hall of Saigon – but renamed to Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee in 1975.
The future for Vietnam is a bright one, and tourists are welcomed with open arms into this gem of a city in Asia’s crown.