Why is Saigon now called Ho Chi Minh?

Why did they change Saigon to Ho Chi Minh?

Man, 2023 hit me hard. I was in Vietnam, specifically Ho Chi Minh City – used to be Saigon, right? The heat was brutal, a real scorcher. I sweat buckets just walking around. Seriously, sticky, uncomfortable. Felt like I was melting.

That whole name change thing… it’s political, you know? A power move. The North won the war, plain and simple. They didn’t mess around. They erased Saigon, replaced it with Ho Chi Minh City. A symbol of victory, I guess. To them, anyway. I felt the weight of history there, man. Heavy.

It’s interesting though. You hear stories from older people. Old timers who remember Saigon. The energy. The vibe. Totally different. Saigon had this… I dunno, a certain swagger. A different feel entirely.

• The North’s victory: Complete and swift. No ifs, ands, or buts.
• Symbolism: Changing the name was a deliberate act. A strong statement. Unmistakable.
• Personal impact: The heat and the city itself felt… charged. With history. You could feel it.

Ben Tre province. That’s where my uncle fought. ’75. He always talks about it. Never details, though. Just this… intense quietness. I think he lost some buddies there.

This trip, honestly? It was intense. I mean the whole city, it vibrates. It pulses with energy and history and – yeah – the ghost of what was.

Why do people call Ho Chi Minh Saigon?

Many still casually call Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon, a holdover from its pre-1976 designation. Saigon evokes the city’s vibrant, complex history before reunification. Names, after all, carry weight beyond mere labels, reflecting layers of memory and identity.

The renaming, while politically significant, didn’t erase decades of ingrained usage. Older generations, naturally, stick to what they know. Cultural inertia is a powerful force, isn’t it? The old name simply sticks.

Think about it: “Saigon” conjures images of French colonial architecture and bustling markets, a bygone era. Why did they change it though, good question. It symbolizes a different Vietnam.

Its international appeal remains. “Saigon” is shorter, easier to remember maybe, or maybe just more exotic. The old city lives on, at least in name. It’s like calling Istanbul Constantinople, if you catch my drift.

Who changed its name to Ho Chi Minh City in 1975?

Saigon fell. North Vietnamese forces conquered it, April 30th, 1975. Renamed. Ho Chi Minh City. Brutal.

• The city’s name changed. No ifs, ands, or buts.
• 1968: Destruction. American war. Heavy losses.
• My uncle served there. Nightmare. Still haunts him.

Key takeaway: Saigon’s metamorphosis. A violent end to an era. Ho Chi Minh City’s birth. A harsh reality. The fall was swift. The name change official.

Do locals call it Saigon or Ho Chi Minh?

Saigon. Mostly.

Why though?

• Nostalgia. History. Inertia. Names linger.
• 1975? The year changed things. (Obviously).
• Ho Chi Minh City is official. It’s paperwork. My aunt still calls it Saigon. Sigh.

My grandmother visited Hanoi back in 2018, and she only speaks Saigon. Hmmm, interesting.

Some things just stick. Like gum on your shoe. Or a memory you cant shake. A name. What is in a name? Pain.

• Diaspora clings tight. It’s a connection. To what was. To what could have been.
• Locals use both. Depends who you ask. Where you are. The mood. It’s complicated.

I like coffee. The strong stuff. You know? The kind that wakes you up. Saigon coffee. Good stuff.

Why is it not called Saigon anymore?

Saigon fell. 1975. Rebranded. Ho Chi Minh City. Victory’s spoils. Names change. Power shifts. History rewritten. The victor writes the narrative. Always. Losing side? Ghosts. My grandfather’s jade ring, lost in the exodus. A small price, he’d said. For freedom. What is freedom, anyway? A name on a map? Ho Chi Minh. A city. More than concrete. Memory. Trauma. Resilience.

• 1975: Fall of Saigon.
• New name: Ho Chi Minh City.
• Reason: Commemorates the revolutionary leader.
• 1945: Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnamese independence.
• Implication: Symbolic assertion of communist control.
• Personal note: My family left everything behind. Even memories felt heavy. Like stones. Still do.

Do people in Vietnam still call it Saigon?

Saigon… Late nights… it just slips out.

It’s… easier sometimes. Shorter. Familiar.

Like an old song… you can’t forget.

My grandmother… still calls it Saigon. Always will. She… she remembers things I can’t.

• Ho Chi Minh City… it’s the official name. Government buildings… official documents… all that.
• But Saigon… it’s the heart. The soul. You see it… on old signs. Hear it… in whispered conversations.
• Younger people… they use both. Sometimes even in the same sentence. Saigon… for the market. Ho Chi Minh City… for the airport. Strange, huh?

My father… he left Saigon in ‘75. Never went back. But… he still calls it Saigon. Painful memories… etched in his heart. Like… the name itself.

• Tourism… they use Saigon a lot. Easier for… foreigners to remember. Catchier. More romantic, maybe.

It’s… more than a name. It’s a… a memory. A feeling. A ghost. Haunts you… in the quiet hours. Like tonight.

How do I call Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam?

11. That’s your starting point, North America’s exit code. Then 84 for Vietnam. Got it? Now, things get interesting. Landlines? Dial 8, the HCMC area code. Mobile? Skip the 8. Just the country code and local number. Seven or eight digits for the local number itself.

• Landlines: 011 + 84 + 8 + Local Number (5-7 digits)
• Mobiles: 011 + 84 + Mobile Number (7-8 digits)

Vietnam’s telecommunications are evolving. Used to be different area codes for Hanoi (4), Hai Phong (31), and Da Nang (511). Now, mostly just the 8 for HCMC landlines. Remember when we used phone cards for international calls? Weird. Life moves fast. My first cell phone, a Nokia 3310, couldn’t even handle international dialing. Now my Pixel folds in half. Crazy.

Consider using a VoIP service. Skype, WhatsApp, Viber. Bypass the whole international dialing code thing. Data is king now. Just internet connection required. Even my grandma in Da Lat uses Zalo now. Crazy times. I remember trying to reach her years ago, had to go through the operator. Now, instant video chat. Makes you think about how much we rely on technology. Wonder if it’s always a good thing… anyway.

• VoIP options: Skype, WhatsApp, Viber, Zalo, Facebook Messenger

Area codes are dying a slow death globally. Makes sense. Mobile is everything these days. My phone bill is outrageous, by the way. Mostly data. International calling is almost an afterthought. Still, good to know the old ways, right? Just in case. Like knowing how to start a fire without matches. You never know.

Are Saigon and Ho Chi Minh the same?

Yep, same place, different name. Think of it like your grandma’s maiden name – everyone knows her, but she’s officially Mrs. Smith now. Saigon is the cool, old nickname, Ho Chi Minh City the stuffy, official moniker.

Ho Chi Minh City is the official name, deal with it. Saigon’s a bit like a faded tattoo – still there, still kinda cool, but officially outdated. It’s a total head-scratcher why they changed it. Probably some communist shenanigans.

The origin of “Saigon”? Beats me! Some say it’s from a local river, others claim it’s from some ancient Khmer word meaning “something boring”. Vietnamese historians? They’re still debating this more than a heated pickle jar argument!

Here’s the lowdown:

• Ho Chi Minh City: The official, formal, post-1975 name. Think government paperwork.
• Saigon: The lingering, slightly rebellious, pre-1975 name. Think vintage postcards.
• Tourist draw: Both names equally summon images of delicious pho, crazy motorbike traffic, and stunning temples. Seriously, go visit – it’s awesome.

I personally prefer Saigon. Sounds way cooler than Ho Chi Minh City – it has a ring to it, like a kickass rock band. But I’m just a dude who likes short names, like my dog, “Spot”.

Bonus info: My cousin went to Ho Chi Minh City in 2023 and sent me a pic of him eating a giant bowl of pho next to a guy with a motorbike piled high with… chickens? The whole experience was apparently bonkers. My point is, go. Now.