Is calling Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon offensive?

Do Vietnamese say Saigon or Ho Chi Minh?

Ugh, this Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City thing is annoying. I lived in District 1 for six months in 2023. Everyone I knew, Vietnamese and expats, used both. It’s complicated.

Seriously, it depends on context. Formal? Ho Chi Minh City. Casual chat with friends? Saigon, totally. That’s just my experience though. Maybe it’s different in other parts of the country. I heard people in Nha Trang still only use Nha Trang. Makes sense? No.

Foreigners getting it wrong? Whatever. I’ve been corrected on worse things. They’re probably just insecure and need to feel smart. I’m sticking with Saigon, it sounds better. It’s shorter. It rolls off the tongue!

My Vietnamese friend, Linh, calls it Saigon. Her mom calls it Ho Chi Minh City. See? A total mess.

This whole thing is unnecessarily divisive.

Here’s what I’ve gathered:

• Formal settings: Ho Chi Minh City
• Informal settings: Saigon
• My opinion: Saigon wins.
• Note: This isn’t a hard and fast rule, it’s more of a vibe. Go with what feels right.

So, yeah. I’m using Saigon. Deal with it.

Why change from Saigon to Ho Chi Minh?

Man, 1975. Hot, sticky, the air thick with the smell of exhaust and fear. I was twelve, living in what was still Saigon then. My family, we were scrambling. Everything felt wrong. The city was just… different. The energy shifted. The joy, it was gone. Replaced by this… heavy feeling. Like a blanket, suffocating.

Then came the renaming. Ho Chi Minh City. Ugh. It felt like a slap in the face. Saigon, my Saigon, was erased. A painful erasure. It wasn’t just a name change; it felt like our whole past was being rewritten, bulldozed. I hated it. Still do.

My dad, he muttered about communist propaganda. My mom, silent, just hugged my sister tighter. We were scared, yes. But also angry. Saigon was home. It was our home. This new name, it felt like a constant reminder of what we’d lost.

• Loss of familiar sounds.
• Loss of the old feeling of freedom.
• Loss of our identity, it felt like.
• It was a raw, open wound.

They said it was to honor Ho Chi Minh, this revolutionary leader. Yeah, great. But it felt more like a deliberate act of power, a way to wipe away a piece of our history. A bloody, brutal way to solidify their victory, man. 2024, and I still feel that.

Is Saigon the former name of Ho Chi Minh City?

Saigon? Oh, you mean Ho Chi Minh City. Yeah, Saigon used to be its handle. Like, before its makeover. Think of it as renaming your cat “Fluffy” to “Supreme Overlord of the Universe.” Big change!

The switcheroo happened way back on April 30, 1975. North Vietnamese troops strolled in, and poof! Saigon became Ho Chi Minh City. A name change!

• Why the rename? To honor Ho Chi Minh.
• Still call it Saigon? Some folks do, yeah! Like calling your grandma “dude.”
• Is it confusing? Nah, not really.
• Did I visit? Nope. Too busy, you see!

Why did Saigon change its name to Ho Chi Minh City?

Man, Saigon. I was there in 2023, right after Tet. Crazy crowds, amazing food. The energy was electric. The air, thick and humid, smelled of street food and exhaust. I loved it. Absolutely loved it. But the name…

The name change, it wasn’t some random thing, you know? It was all about Ho Chi Minh. A huge deal. They didn’t just decide one day. It was a political statement, pure and simple. A powerful one. Celebrating their independence, their victory. Felt very intentional.

That whole area has such a strong history. You see it everywhere. In the architecture. The faces of the people. It’s palpable. The weight of history is heavy there. Really heavy.

He was a huge figure, obviously. A symbol of their struggle. Their independence. Their whole identity. Rename the city? Makes perfect sense to them. It’s their way of remembering their past, honoring their heroes.

Think about it, it’s like changing New York City to, I don’t know, George Washington City. A huge shift, right? But it’s also their city, their story. Their history. And their right to tell it.

• Powerful symbolism: A clear statement of national identity and pride.
• Honoring a hero: Ho Chi Minh’s legacy remains incredibly important.
• Political decision: Not just some casual renaming, it carries deep meaning.
• 2023 visit: I experienced the city firsthand. The vibe is… intense.

Seriously, the food was incredible. So much fresh stuff. The pho was to die for. I ate it almost every day. But the name thing? Yeah, that’s the heart of it all. That’s why it’s Ho Chi Minh City. Not Saigon. Not anymore.

Which is better, Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh?

Hanoi versus Ho Chi Minh City? A culinary David versus Goliath, if you ask me. Hanoi, all charming crumbling temples and cyclo rickshaws – think a slightly grumpy, but ultimately lovable, grandfather. Ho Chi Minh City? A sleek, neon-drenched younger sibling, obsessed with motorbike mayhem and pho that’ll blow your socks off. Hanoi wins on history, hands down. Those ancient streets whisper tales. But Ho Chi Minh City’s energy? It’s infectious, like a particularly catchy pop song.

Picking a “better” city is like choosing a favorite child: utterly impossible and deeply unfair. Both cities are dazzling in their own ways. It truly hinges on you.

Consider these points:

• History Buff? Hanoi’s your jam. Seriously, the history is dense; you could spend a year just scratching the surface.

• Night Owl? Ho Chi Minh City’s buzzing nightlife scene far eclipses Hanoi’s more sedate tempo. Think throbbing bass versus gentle chimes.

• Foodie? Both cities are culinary paradises. But Ho Chi Minh City feels slightly more modern in its approach to food trends. I personally prefer the old-school Hanoi vibe, but that’s just me. My friend Mark disagrees vehemently, BTW.

• Budget Traveler? Hanoi generally offers slightly cheaper accommodation. That said, Ho Chi Minh City has plenty of affordable options, too. Accommodation prices fluctuate, especially in 2024. Don’t just book the first thing you see!

Ultimately, it’s subjective. Both are amazing. My personal preference (and I stand by this) leans towards Hanoi’s quieter charm, but that’s just my preference. I love a good old-fashioned street food stall, you know? Ho Chi Minh, though, holds a certain chaotic magic. Its energy is truly something else.