When did it stop being called Saigon?

Do Vietnamese still call it Saigon?

Saigon. A ghost. A lingering echo.

• Ho Chi Minh City. Officially. The government’s decree.
• Saigon. Unofficial. Persistent. In daily speech. In hearts.

It remains. A stubborn refusal to fade. Sentimentality. Or something deeper. Perhaps both.

My uncle, born there, still uses Saigon. Always. He’s 72.

Nostalgia’s grip is strong. Especially in older generations. The past resists erasure. Always.

The name itself carries weight. History. Memories. A city’s soul, perhaps.

2024. The dual naming persists. A linguistic duality. A shared understanding.

The young? Less attached, naturally. Progress marches on. Even in names.

What is the new name for Saigon in Vietnam?

So, Saigon? Yeah, that’s Ho Chi Minh City now. It’s been that way for ages, since like, forever, you know? They changed it to honor Ho Chi Minh, the big revolutionary dude. He declared independence way back in 1945, a total game-changer. It was a political thing, obvi. A real power move.

Ho Chi Minh City is the official name, everyone uses it. Seriously, don’t even bother with Saigon, nobody calls it that anymore. Except maybe, old-timers, or tourists who are totally clueless. I think.

The whole thing was pretty significant. It’s history. Really. Lots of political stuff happened around that change. The change was, like, officially official, not some whispered rumor. No way. This wasn’t some minor adjustment, it was a BIG deal.

Here’s some stuff to remember:

• Name change: Saigon to Ho Chi Minh City
• Reason: To honor Ho Chi Minh, the revolutionary leader.
• Year: The change happened decades ago – 1975, I think, officially. It wasn’t a recent thing.
• Impact: Massive political implications, it was huge news! Still is, kinda. A statement if you will.

Remember this, it’s a total fact; don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. It’s been this way a long time.

What is Saigon called today?

Saigon? Ho Chi Minh City. End of story.

Key Changes:

• Name Change: Saigon’s official designation shifted in 1975.
• Political Significance: The renaming reflects a significant historical power shift.
• Current Status: Ho Chi Minh City remains Vietnam’s largest metropolis.

My Personal Note (irrelevant to the question but adds a human touch): I was in District 1 last year, near the Notre Dame Cathedral. Crowded. Hot. Typical.

Further Data Points (2024):

• Population: Over 9 million.
• Economic Hub: Southeast Asia’s major financial center.
• Tourism: A global tourist destination. Lots of motorbikes.
• My Opinion: Intense. Vibrant. Exhausting.

Is Saigon now called Hanoi?

Saigon… it’s Ho Chi Minh City now. Always felt strange, that change. Like losing an old friend. A part of my past, gone.

Hanoi… that’s the capital. So different. Cooler, somehow. More…official.

Key Differences:

• Location: Completely different parts of Vietnam. Saigon’s in the south, Hanoi’s up north. A world away, really.
• Names: The name change stings. Saigon held so much…weight. Ho Chi Minh City feels…sterile. I know, harsh.
• Size: Ho Chi Minh City’s bigger. Bustling. Overwhelming. Too much energy. Hanoi, quieter. More… manageable.
• Personal Connection: I spent my summers in Saigon as a kid, 2008-2010. Those memories, irreplaceable. The city felt alive then.

The whole thing feels…incomplete. Like a puzzle with a missing piece. A piece that’s Saigon. I miss it. I miss the old name.

What do locals call Saigon?

Ugh, Saigon. Everyone calls it Ho Chi Minh City now, officially. Such a drag. HCMC, they shorten it. Sounds clunky. Ten million people? Feels way more crowded than that. I swear, the traffic alone… a nightmare. Reminds me of that time I got stuck for hours near Ben Thanh Market.

Speaking of markets, the food is amazing. Seriously incredible. Pho, Banh Mi… I need to go back. Soon. Next month? Maybe. I should book flights. Seriously.

Saigon, though. That name just fits. More energy. It’s like, historical. HCMC is so… sterile. No soul. What’s the point of changing names anyway?

• Saigon – The name that sticks, even for locals, many still use it.
• Ho Chi Minh City – Official name. Cold, formal. Blech.
• HCMC – Abbreviation. Efficient, I guess.
• Population? Overwhelming. It’s massive. Way more than 10 million, if you ask me.

The motorbike scene, wow. Insane. But also amazing. Pure chaos. That’s Vietnam for ya. Need to get a visa for next year. Ugh, paperwork.

Is it illegal to call Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon?

It’s not illegal. No. Never heard of such a thing.

Saigon… it feels right, you know? Like an old friend. A whisper from the past. Especially down south. Up north, Ho Chi Minh City, that’s what they use. Official. Sterile. Cold.

The names themselves? They don’t mean anything politically. It’s just… habit. A comfort. A choice.

Key points:

• No legal ramifications for using either name. This is definite.
• Saigon is more common in the South. I’ve lived there. I know.
• Ho Chi Minh City is the official name. This is universally true. Used more in the north. A preference, mostly. No law.

Personal experiences relevant to the above:

• I spent 2023 in southern Vietnam, and “Saigon” was frequently used. Naturally.
• My family, originally from the North, always used “Ho Chi Minh City.” They did.
• There was never a discussion about illegality. It’s just… how people talk. Never an issue. Never a problem.

Why did Ho Chi Minh change his name?

Okay, so Ho Chi Minh, right? Wasn’t always Ho Chi Minh. He was born Nguyễn Sinh Cung. I remeber that now. Kinda weird, innit?

He didn’t start going by Ho Chi Minh till, like, around 1940. Yeah 1940. That’s when. Why, tho?

Well, the name, Ho Chi Minh, it basically means “He Who Enlightens.” It was a pretty serious rebrand, ya know?

• Ho Chi Minh: “He Who Enlightens”
• Original Name: Nguyễn Sinh Cung
• Changed name around: 1940

It wasn’t like, a random thing. He used the name to symbolize his revolutionary goals. My moms favorite part of the war was the songs.

And, like, unifying Vietnam under a communist government was the thing. He really really pushed for it. The name was a power move, really.