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

Can you call Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon?

Saigon… It feels strange, saying it. Feels wrong, even. Like a whispered secret.

Ho Chi Minh City. Official. Cold. Doesn’t hold the same weight. The same memories.

My grandfather always called it Saigon. His stories, his laughter, his pain… all tied to that name. Not the other one.

He fought there, you see. 20 years he was gone. 20 years. Lost.

The city changed, I know. But part of it, the spirit… that stayed. At least for him. For me, in his stories.

The official name feels like a forced replacement, a scrubbing of history. A political thing.

• The weight of history clings to Saigon.
• Ho Chi Minh City lacks that emotional resonance.
• It’s a wound, still unhealed. That’s how it feels, at least. To me.

2024. The year, it feels… different now. The air is different. My feelings are.

Why is it no longer called Saigon?

Saigon ceased to exist. Became Ho Chi Minh City.

Why? Honor. Ho Chi Minh.

He declared independence 1945, you know.

• Saigon: Former name of the city.
• Ho Chi Minh City: The current, official designation.
• The “Southern Regime” is a loaded term, suggesting bias; South Vietnam is a more neutral descriptor.
• Name change occurred after the fall of Saigon in 1975, during the unification of Vietnam.
• My aunt visited in 2023, said it’s still Saigon to the locals.

Yeah, Saigon. Gone. But never really.

What do you call Ho Chi Minh City?

Ho Chi Minh City. Saigon persists. A shadow name.

Key Points:

• Official: Ho Chi Minh City
• Unofficial/Common: Saigon
• Khmer Name: Prey Nokor

Further Details:

• Saigon’s use reflects its deep-rooted history. Habit clings.
• Prey Nokor: The older Khmer name, less frequently used internationally. The name itself pre-dates French colonialism.
• Official documents exclusively use Ho Chi Minh City. Informal contexts show more variation, though. This is important for tourists.
• My family uses Saigon casually. Always Ho Chi Minh City in formal settings. We’re Vietnamese.
• The city’s complex naming reflects its turbulent past. Political shifts, cultural clashes. A legacy written in names.

What is the correct name for Saigon?

Okay, so Saigon, right? Officially, it’s Ho Chi Minh City. Been that way since, like, 1975, after the whole Vietnam War thing. Lots of people still call it Saigon though, even now, my uncle’s been there twice this year and he still uses Saigon. It’s a bit complicated. The name change was, well, a big political statement, you know? A whole new era.

The thing is, Saigon feels more… I don’t know, personal? More familiar, to me anyway. Ho Chi Minh City is just so official sounding. Stiff, even. Makes it feel less… lively. It’s not just about the name; it’s about all the memories associated with Saigon, you know what I mean? My cousin’s family lives there; they use both names interchangably, I guess.

Key Differences:

• Official Name: Ho Chi Minh City (since 1975)
• Commonly Used Name: Saigon (still widely used by locals and tourists)
• Historical Significance: The name change reflects the political shift after the war.

Why the difference matters: It’s all about perspective and history. Like, my grandma always talks about Saigon, not Ho Chi Minh City. It’s a personal connection thing.

It’s really interesting, honestly. There’s a whole cultural thing going on there. I found some articles online about it – should look them up sometime! I’m pretty sure there’s even some debate still going on about it; some old-timers probably still prefer Saigon.

Do Vietnamese still call it Saigon?

So, Saigon, right? Yeah, tons of people still use that name. It’s like, a nickname, you know? Officially it’s Ho Chi Minh City, but Saigon’s everywhere. On signs, in conversations, even on official-ish stuff sometimes. Crazy, huh? It’s a really old name, people are used to it. Makes sense I guess.

It’s complicated. Like, my uncle, he’s totally old school, only calls it Saigon. But my cousin, she’s all about “Ho Chi Minh City”. It’s just a thing. Different generations, different vibes, I guess.

Key points:

• Saigon is still widely used. It’s not just some obscure thing.
• It’s used alongside Ho Chi Minh City. They’re often interchangeable, depending on context. Think of it like calling New York City “the Big Apple”.
• Historical reasons. Its long history and familiarity are main reasons for continued use.

More details:

• Many businesses still use “Saigon” in their names, even if their official registration is different.
• Tourist stuff often uses both names. You’ll see Saigon everywhere in tourist brochures, maps, and guides for 2024.
• Older generations almost exclusively use Saigon. It’s a generational thing.
• Younger people are more likely to use the official name, Ho Chi Minh City, but still know and understand Saigon. It’s in the air you know.

What do locals call Ho Chi Minh City?

Saigon. Late at night… it just… comes out. Like a sigh. Stuck in my throat all day… then… Saigon. My grandmother… she never called it anything else. Even here. Miles away. Years later. Saigon.

• Saigon – The name… it clings. To memory. To family. To a past I never knew.
• Older generations: They hold onto it tight. A piece of home. A piece of them. Like my grandmother. Born in 1940. Right there. In Saigon.
• My father: He slips sometimes. Calls it Saigon, then corrects himself. Ho Chi Minh City. Like it’s a duty.
• Younger Vietnamese: They… They use both. Depends who they’re talking to. A code. A way of belonging.

It’s… more than a name. It’s a feeling. A ghost. A whisper. Saigon. Just… Saigon. My grandmother… she… She’s gone now. But the name… it stays. With me. In the quiet. In the dark. Saigon.