Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) - The Pearl Of The Far East

Ho Chi Minh City
Ethnic groups: Viet(Kinh), Hoa, Cham, Khmer.
Highlights: Meseums, Ben Thanh Market, Thong Nhat Conference Hali, Theatre, Chinese Pagodas in Cholon, Cu Chi Tunnels, Suoi Tien Resort..Being the biggest toutism centre of Vietnam Ho Chi Minh city is 1730km south of Hanoi and about 60km from the coast.
Hundred of rivers and canals cross Ho Chi Minh City. The Saigon River, crossing 106km of the city, is the biggest. The river network from Ho Chi Minh City to the sorrounding provinces of transportation by road railway or sea from Ho Chi Minh City to all other provinces are also very convenient. Nation Highway 1A and Thong Nhat Railway connect Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi and National Highway 13 connects Vietnam with the rest of indochina. Tan Son Nhat International Airport only 7km from the centre of the city, is the biggest airport in Vietnam.
Ho Chi Minh City also constitutes the cultural of the South and the Mekong Delta. It is the city where the quoc ngu (national writting) was firt generalized, and where the firt books written in quoc ngu were published.
With the apperance and development of books, essays, schools, artistic and intellectual circles Saigon has had a long history of cultural influence.

Climate

There are two distinct seasons. The rainy season last from May to November and brings an average rainfall of 1979 mm (77.9 inches). The dry season lasts from December to April the next year. The annual average temperature is 27-550C (81.590F) and there is almost no winter. So the climate is particularly favourable for tourism all year round.

Administative Districts
Ho Chi Minh City is divided in 19 urban districts and five rural districts. Urban districts are nurnbered from 1 to 12 and also include Tan Binh, Binh Thanh, Phu Nhuan, Thu Duc, Go Vap, Binh Tan, and Tan Phu. As for rural districts, Nha Be, Can Gio, Hoc Mon, Cu Chi, Binh Chanh.

History
While Hanoi has 1000 years of history, Ho Chi Minh City is a relatively new settlement. The nam of Saigon was registered for the first time in documents dating back to 1698. Due to its favourable geographical location, topography, and climate this area rapidly became a converging point for trades from all over the world.
Saigon Port wad built in 1862 and foreign traders quickly became familiar with the Ong Lanh Market, Ray Market, Ben Thanh Market and Saigon Market. For many years, Saigon was praised ad the Pearl of the Far East.
Ho Chi Minh City is where the heroic resistance against aggessors and the struggling process for independence of the Vietnamese Nation began. It was also where the Ho Chi Minh Campaign triurnnphantly finished on 30 April 1975. At the first session of the 6 National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, in July 1976, the name of the town was offically changed to Ho Chi Minh City.

Tourist Attaactions.
Despite its quite recent past with more than 300 years history, Ho Chi Minh City nevertheless possesses a characteristic combination of Vietnamese, Chinese and European cultures. There incluce Nha Rong (Dragon House Wharf) Quoc To Ternple (National Ancestors’ Temple), Xa Tay (Municipal Office) Ho Chi Minh Municipal Theatre as well as many pagodas and churches.
Ho Chi Minh City draws approximately 70% of visitors to the country. The city’s resources and accommadations are altractive to many travellers. Numerous steps have been and will be taken to stabilize the tourism potential of the city. For instance, historical relics and architectural workd have been restored, traditional values have been recovered in festivals and many museums are expected to be upgraded.

Thong Nhat Conference Hall
Thong Nhat Conference Hall is stuated at 106 Nguyen Du Street in Ho Chi Minh City. Originally called Norodom Palace and Palace of Indochina Governor General. It was built in 1868 and inaugutated in 1878.
After 1954 Ngo Dinh Diem South Vietnam’s President and his family lived and worked in Noro dom Palace. In 1963 this palace was heavily destroyed by bombs. President Diem commanded the remains to be detroyed and to build a new palace to be called Doc Lap Palace or Independence Palace. The new palace was built on a 120.000 m2 area and covered 4500m2. It included a basement 3 main floors, 2 mezzanines, one terrace, and one upper floor. There are a total of 95 rooms in the Palace, each decorated according to its function. The Palace also features two exhibition rooms, a 33-room guest house, and numerous entertainment services such as tennis courts and stilt houses.
On April 30 1975 the tanks of the liberation arrny entered the Independence Palace and the government including 45 members and president Duong Van Minh, surrendered without condition.
After the liberation the Indenpendence Palace became the headquarters of the city’s military administration committee. The political consultation for national unification was held in this palace which was renamed Thong Nhat Conference Hall.
Nowadays Thong Nhat Conterence Hall has become a historic cultural relic attracting domestic as well as international visitors, The Thong Nhat Conference Hall is open from 7.30am to 11am and 1pm to 4pm daily. The entrance gar for foreigners is at 106 Nguyen Du Road. Adrnission costs 10.000VND.

Ho Chi Minh City Municipal Theater

Ho Chi Minh City Municipal Theater as originally an opera house for the Western audiences. It’s construction was begun in 1898 and completed on 17 January 1900 according to the design by architect Ferrt. It holds 800 seats. The cost for the building at that time was nearly 1 million dong (old currency).

In 1944 the House was badly damaged by air raids. Then it became a temporary residence of the French and of Northerners migrating to Saigon after the signing of the Geneva Agreements in 1954. It was restored in 1955 and made the seat of Saigon Lower House Parliament in 1956.

After the liberation of Saigon, it was put under the management of the Artistic Performance Organization Company (Saigon Concert) and became the City’s Opera House ever since.

A variety of shows and performances are held in the Theater: dancing and singing, spoken drama, circus, and fashion shows. It frequently hosts domestic and overseas professional art troupes. This is also where conferences, seminars and big festivals of the city are held.

Investments have been poured into the restoration of the Theater to its original conditions with advanced technique to make it capable of hosting performance of greater national and international dimensions.

The theatre features shows nightly from 8pm to 10pm.

Ben Thanh Market

Ben Thanh Market is situated at the intersection of Le Loi, Ham Nghi, Tran Hung Dao Avenues and Le Lai Road, 700m south-west of the Rex Hotel. At first, the market was situated near the Ben Nghe River Dike. It was a brick market with a wooden frame and thatched roof, which was partly damaged by a fire in 1870. In 1911 it was demolished for a more spacious one, which  was completed in March 1914.

After being moved many times, it is now standing in the very centre of the city where consumers can conveniently find all sorts of products imaginable.

In 1985 the interior as well as the exterior of Ben Thanh Market was completely remodeled except the front with the clock tower, which was kept as it was.

Nowadays, the goods in Ben Thanh market are abundant, including almost all-domestic products – especially those from Mekong Delta – and modern industrial products from other countries.

Notre Dame Cathedral

Notre Dame Cathedral is a magnificent building situated at the Paris Square in the heart of the city. It was built between October 1877 and April 1880 in a French style at a cost of 2.5 million French francs. With the approval of the Vatican, the cathedral was named Notre Dame during ceremonies held in December 1959.

Its neo-Romanesque architecture and two 57.6m-high square towers tipped with iron spires dominate the city’s skyline. In front of the cathedral is a statue of the Virgin Mary. Visitors who wish  to attend mass should go Sunday at 9.30am

Dam Sen Park

Covering 52ha on the corner of Lac Long Quan and Hoa Binh St., Dam Sen Park is composed of various areas. There is an area for entertainment, including a central flower garden, a prehistoric valley, a fun house, a ball game centre, electronic games, and make-up rooms.

There is also an area for camping and a lake offering many aquatic activities. A pavilion for dancing and water puppetry is located near the lake.

Dam Sen park is a large-scaled park within the city, which is particularly convenient for city dwellers to come and enjoy themselves here, especially at weekends. A whole complex including Co-op mart, a modern bowling center, luxurious Sports and Gymnasium Center, etc. will satisfy all kinds of your needs for shopping, entertainment and give you a truly relax holiday when you are really happy with your families of friends.

Entrance ticket costs 15,000VND for adult and 8,000VND for children.

Dam Sen Park is open: Mon-Sat: 08:30 a.m – 06:00 p.m ; Sundays and Holidays: 08:00 a.m – 07:00 p.m

Zoo and Botanical Gardens

The construction of the gardens began in March 1864 under the supervision of tropical botanist J.B. Louis Pierre and was completed in 1865. Many valuable trees from different parts of the country, as well as from India, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and other countries were planted here. A concrete bridge was built over Thi Nghe Canal in 1927, linking the Zoo and Botanical Gardens.

The Zoo and Botanical Gardens consists of separate sections where one can see rare animals and ornamental plants, such as a famous collection of orchids, and enjoy the recreational areas for children and adults.

The Zoo keeps hundreds of species of mammals, reptiles and birds. The cages are fairly spacious, including outdoor enclosures for tigers, monkeys, lions deer, apes, crocodiles, snakes and hippopotami.

The Botanical Garden is located at 2 Nguyen Binh Khiem, Ben Nghe Quarter, District 1. There are two gates to the Zoo. The main entrance gate is on Nguyen Binh Khiem Road at the corner of Le Duan Road. The other gate is on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Road near the bridge over the Thi Nghe Channel.

Cholon

Whenever Cholon is referred to, everyone many immediately think of a Cholon – China Town inside Ho Chi Minh City. Cholon has become part and parcel of every itinerary to this city.

Tran Hung Dao Boulevard, which connects Sai Gon and Cholon is considered the spine bone of Cholon.

Cholon now covers a vast area from the residential quarters in Districts 5 and 10 to the vicinity of Districts 6 and 11. The Hoa people living there still preserve their age-old cultural, architectural, and religious values. The classical beauty of their architectural style finds expressions in row of tile-roofed houses, which seem to be caught forever in a brownish gray colour.

During daylight, Cholon is bustling with seller and buyers doing their business. Binh Tay Market, on of the most important market of Ho Chi Minh City, is located inside Cho Lon. It can be said that nothing is not sold there. Three or four-star hotels, restaurants include Aquatria, Dong Khanh, Bat Dat, Ngoc Lan Dinh, Soai Kinh Lam, Ai Hue, Thien Hong and A Dong.

When night falls, Cholon seems to rejuvenate. From a distance one can see neon signs of various sizes, shapes and colours. Tourists flock into this area not only for purchasing goods but also tasting the gastronomy of the Hoa. One can enjoy mouth-watering dishes as dumplings, boned duck’s legs, Duong Chau fried rice, Tu Xuyen tofu and so on.

Tourists also have a chance to explore the other side of Cholon. This is its residential area by the poor people, with their street stalls lighted under yellowish oil lamps, saddened by the cry of vendors at night. This poses a picture of great contrast.

Such is panoramic picture of Cholon, come to explore.

PAGODAS AND TEMPLATE

Vinh Nghiem Pagoda

Vinh Nghiem Pagoda is located on 339 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Road, District 3. It was built between 1964 and 1971 with funds from Buddhist followers as the headquarters of Vinh Nghiem region to entertain religious affairs.

The pagoda is noteworthy for its ancient Asian architecture and seven-story tower, which houses various Buddha statues and a bell presented by Japanese Buddhists during the Vietnam War as a token of their prayers to the end of hostilities.

The pagoda is open everyday from 7.30am to 11.30am and 2pm to 6pm. At the base of the tower is a shop that sells Buddhist ritual objects (open only on holidays).

Van Hanh Monastery

Van Hanh Monastery is situated near the road between Phu Nhuan and Go Vap Districts. It includes the imposing Tam Quan (three-entrance gate), the main court hall, Vietnam Buddhism Higher College office, the Institute of Buddhism Research office and the Translation Council of Vietnam Prayer Books office.

Van Hanh Monastery regularly welcomes international Buddhist delegations and other foreign visitors. Devotees form all over the country come to this monastery to celebrate Buddha’s birthday and to take part in preaching sessions. It is open daily.

Giac Lam Pagoda

Giac Lam Pagoda (also known as the Cam Son or Cam Dien Pagoda) is located at 118 Lac Long Quan Street in Tan Binh District. Built in 1744, under the reign of Lord Nguyen Phuc Khoat, it is one of the city’s oldest pagodas and, unlike many other local religious structures, it has not been renovated since 1900; the architecture, layout, and ornamentation remain almost unaltered. The scenery around the pagoda is picturesque and many people come here to  write or recite poetry.

Standing in the front garden is a shining white statue of the Goddess of Mercy, perched upon a lotus blossom, a symbol of purity. Inside, on either side of the main altar, are statues of Ameda Buddha and Sakyamuni Buddha, along with more representations of the Goddess of Mercy. The Pagoda also houses 113 statues made of brass and precious timber. It is open from 6.am to 9.pm

Giac Viet Pagoda

The Giac Vien Pagoda is located in Lac Long Quan St., District 11. Built in 1798, it is architecturally similar to the Giac Lam Pagoda. However, Giac Vien is situated in a more rural location next to Dam Sen Lake.

After a while the pagoda was in need of renovations. Bonze Hai Tinh, of the Giac Lam Pagoda (located approximately 2km from Giac Vien), moved there and gradually raised enough funds to make the repairs. When they were completed, Bonze Hai Tinh entrusted the pagoda to his disciple, Hoang Ngai.

The most noteworthy elements of the pagoda are the finely carved wooden boards, typical of the ancient architecture of the South. The repairs carried out in 1958 and 1961-1962 were inspired by Western architecture.

It is said that King Gia Long used to worship at Giac Vien before his death in 1819.

Xa Loi Pagoda

Xa Loi Pagoda is situated at 89 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan Street, District 3. Its construction was initiated in August 1965, according to the design of architects Tran Van Duong and Do Ba Vinh. The opening ceremony was held in May 1958.

The South Vietnam Association of Buddhist Study built the pagoda to worship the remains of Biddha. The altar on the first floor, dedicated to Sakyamauni Buddha, is soberly decorated. The Sakyamuni Buddha statue is an excellent work of art made by Le Van Mau in 1954.

The pagoda is open daily from 7.am to 11.am and  from 2.pm to 5.pm.

Phung Son Pagoda

Phung Son Pagoda is located at 1408, 3 Thang 2 Road, District 11. Many years ago, it was decided that it should be moved to a different location. All of the ritual objects were loaded on to the back of a white elephant for transportation.

On the way to the new site, the elephant slipped and all of the precious object fell into nearly pond. This even interpreted as a sign that the pagoda should remain at its original location. All of the ritual objects were retrieved, except the bell, which locals say was heard ringing whenever there was a new or fully moon up until a century ago.

Phung Son Pagoda was established in the early 19th century by Bonze Lieu Thong. Since then, it has undergone two major restorations. Many statues found in the pagoda were created by a group of craftsmen from Sa Dec. A number of valuable statues, such as Di Da Tam Ton, Ngu Hien Thuong y Thu, a stone statue of Buddha covered with gold leaves, and a ceramic statue of Tieu Dien are also found in the pagoda.

The surrounding area is an archaeological site from which many artifacts were excavated, such as a baked earthen head statues and ceramic items belonging to the Oc-Eo culture. The Ministry of Culture has recognized the pagoda as a historical and cultural relic. Prayers are heid three times a day from 4.am to 5.am, 4.pm to 5.pm and 6.pm to 7.pm.

Le Van Duyet Template

Le Van Duyet was born in 1764, in the village of Long Hung, Tien Giang Province. He was renowned military dignitary of the Nguyen Dynasty, and the last governor of the military province of Gia Dinh.

Due a long feud between Duyet and Empror Minh Mang in 1835, the Empror desecrated Duyet’s tomb and forbad anyone to offer candies or to burn incense on his behalt.

However , in 1841, Empror Thieu Tri reexamined the case of officially for gave Duyet repairing his tomb, and one again conffering ancient honourable tiles upon him. Since then, Le Van Duyet Template has undergone constant repair and is much visited.

Le Van Duyet template is located on 126 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Binh Thanh District (Tel: 08.38412517)

Tran Hung Dao Template

Tran Hung Dao Template is situated at 36 Vo Thi Sau Street, District 1. It was first erected in 1932 as Buddhist pagoda bearing the name of Van An. In 1958, it was entirely rebuilt, featuring the architecture seen today, forming a T-shape with two-piled up roofs and eight curved corners adorned with dragon and phoenix figures.

It is styled after northern Vietnamese temples and communal houses. Inside, there are many horizontal and vertical lacquered boards, as well as carved and meticulously inlaid incense tables. On the wall, there are pictures of Tran Hung Dao as he chased away Kublai Khan’s Mongol aggressors in the 13th century.

The greatest ceremonies at the temple occur over the New Year and on the 20th day of the eighth lunar month to celebrate Tran Hung Dao. The temple is open daily from 6 to 11am and from 2.pm to 6.pm.

MUSEUMS

Ho Chi Minh Museum-Dragon House Wharf

The Dragon House Wharf, formerly known as Nha Rong, was built in 1863 by the local materials and European materials. It consists of 2-storey building according to the European architectural style, but the roof made by Orient style, head horse-shaped, anchor, and two dragons-shaped symbols on the top of the building, then the name “Dragon House” was taken. This museum mostly contains pictures and objects relating to President Ho Chi Minh.

It is from this area that the young man Nguyen Tat Thanh (later became President Ho Chi Minh) set sail on a French ship named Admiral Latouche Treville in June 1911 to serve the country.

In September 1979, the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City chose Nha Rong as Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site-Dragon House Wharf, then changed it into Ho Chi Minh Museum branch in Ho Chi Minh City.

Over time, approximately ten million visitors, local as well as international, have seen Ho Chi Minh Museum-Dragon House Wharf.

The Dragon House Wharf, or Uncle Ho’s Memorial Site is located at No1, Nguyen Tat Thanh Road, District 4, just across the Ben Nghe Channel and the Saigon River.

It is open on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, from 8.am to 11,30.am and 2.pm to 6.pm, and on Sunday from 8am to 8pm.

Revolutionary Museum

Located in a building more than 100 years old at 65 Ly Tu Trong Street (on the corner with Nam Ky Khoi Nghia), the Revolutionary Museum used to be the Palace of the Governor of Cochinchina and, then, the office of the imperial delegate of the King.

Numerous pictures and exhibits are displayed, related to the struggle against French colonialists and American aggressors, as well as images related to the general uprising at Mau Than Spring (1968) and the historical Ho Chi Minh Campaign (1975) to liberate the country.

The museum is open from 8am to 11,30am and 2pm to 4,30pm from Tuesday to Sunday. Admission to the museum is about 10,000VND