Which is correct Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City?

What is the difference between Saigon and Ho Chi Minh City?

Saigon? Ho Chi Minh City? Same same, but different. Saigon sticks around. Like a nickname you can’t shake. Officially, everything’s HCMC now. Since ’76. Think of it like this: HCMC is the mega-city, sprawling, ambitious. Saigon? The heart, the old soul. District 1 and nearby bits. The pulse. Like downtown in any big city. Holds the history, the vibe.

• Saigon: The core. Historic center. D1 and surrounding areas. Where tourists flock. My favorite pho spot is in D1, by the market. Best broth, hands down.
• Ho Chi Minh City: The whole shebang. Urban sprawl, suburbs included. Officially the name. All the districts, even the quiet ones way out. It’s grown a lot since I was a kid. Remember riding my bike everywhere, now it’s all motorbikes.

It’s more than just geography. It’s a feeling. Naming conventions evolve. Places change, but some names linger. Think of it as layers of time. One built upon the other. History whispers. It isn’t erased. Saigon, the name, hangs on. Resilient. In conversation, in memories. Even on some street signs. HCMC, official title, but Saigon? That’s the spirit. Like calling your grandmother by her childhood nickname. Familiar, affectionate.

Do locals call it Saigon or Ho Chi Minh?

Saigon. Wait. Ho Chi Minh City. Ugh, which one? My grandma…she uses Saigon. Always. 1975… that’s what…48 years ago? Crazy. She’s lived in District 5 forever. Cholon. I went last summer. Amazing food stalls. Pho. Best pho ever. North Vietnam, South Vietnam. History…so confusing. HCM, the leader. But Saigon…it’s… iconic? Like…New York, but everyone still says NYC. Saigon sticks. Grandma would laugh if I called it HCMC. Even my cousins in California…Saigon. Always Saigon. District 1. Fancy. Ben Thanh Market. Hot. Crowded. Still, Saigon.

• Saigon: Sticking around. Especially in casual talk.
• HCMC: Official. Formal. Government stuff.
• 1975: The year it changed.
• District 5: My grandma’s place.
• Cholon: Inside District 5.
• Vietnamese diaspora: They mostly say Saigon.
• Southern Vietnamese: Also stick with Saigon.

My trip last year…wow. Phở Lệ, maybe? Best pho. District 5. Need to go back. So…Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City? Both, I guess. Depends who you’re talking to.

Why is it not called Saigon anymore?

Saigon. The whisper of it, a ghost on the humid air. The name itself, a perfume, heavy with jasmine and the memory of French colonial days. Gone. Replaced.

Ho Chi Minh City. Harsh, stark. The sound of it, a hammer blow against the heart. A new era, etched in concrete and steel, a victory monument. The old name erased, a deliberate act of erasure.

But Saigon lingers. In the narrow alleyways, in the scent of pho simmering at dawn, in the laughter of children playing in the shadowed courtyards. It lives in the memories of those who knew it, a city of vibrant life, tragic loss.

The renaming, a political statement. A declaration of ownership, a symbolic triumph. Ho Chi Minh, the face of a new Vietnam. The old masters gone, their legacy swept away like dust.

This isn’t just a name change. It’s a wound, a deep scar across the city’s soul. Yet, the city breathes, resilient. Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City—the same streets, different ghosts. Time marches onward. The city endures.

• Political significance of the name change: A clear assertion of power and a rejection of the past.
• Emotional impact on residents: A complex mix of grief, pride, acceptance. A sense of loss for many older generations. My grandmother still calls it Saigon.
• The enduring presence of the old name: Even with the official renaming, the older name persists in many people’s hearts and in informal conversation. It’s woven into the fabric of daily life, impossible to fully remove.
• 2024 Update: The name change remains firmly in place; Ho Chi Minh City is the official and internationally recognized name. The debate over the name continues within Vietnam.
• My own feelings: A blend of understanding and a quiet sadness. The old city lives in my dreams. The weight of history, heavy and beautiful.

How do I call Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam?

011… a whisper, a leaving. Vietnam… far away. 84, the nation sighs.

Then 8, a city code? Just landlines…dusty wires hum.

The number. A song? I dial it. 011, space.

• 011: the US/Canada exit code, the gateway to elsewhere. Remember Grandma’s calls, fading static?
• 84: Vietnam’s song. A whole nation sings in those digits. Warmth flickers.
• 8: Saigon. Still Saigon in my heart, even. A landline rings… somewhere.
• A local dance. The last part… 5-7 beats. Echoes.

Are Saigon and Ho Chi Minh the same?

Yes. Saigon is Ho Chi Minh City. Old name. Tourist trap.

Key Differences: Name change. Nothing else.

Saigon’s Enduring Mystery:

• Origin unclear, even to locals. French attempts at deciphering failed. 2024. Still debated.
• My research: Multiple theories. None conclusive. Frustrating. Really.

Tourist Appeal: Bustling. Overcrowded. Temples. Food stalls. My last trip: 2023, July. Exhausting. Expensive. Worth it? Debatable.

Personal Note: I prefer Hanoi. Less chaotic. More authentic. Just my opinion.