The Vietnamese people seem to use the names Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City or simply HCMC interchangeably. Ho Chi Minh City is the economic centre of Vietnam, although geographically it’s 1,120 km south of Hanoi. With a rapidly growing population, new hotels, chic bars and trendy clubs, Ho Chi Minh City is enjoying its climate of prosperity and growth.

The old Saigon landmarks—the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Rex Hotel, the Hotel de Ville—are still there. But new office towers, built by multinational corporations now setting up shop in Vietnam, are radically changing the skyline. Ho Chi Minh City’s millions of motorbikes emit a constant roar and palpable exhaust, and the city’s two- and three-hour traffic jams are legendary. Amid all this, there are still nearly 200 temples and pagodas in the city.

History buffs should stop by the Reunification Palace, where the South Vietnamese government officially turned over power to the North in 1975. It’s a trip back in time.

On Ho Chi Minh City’s doorstep is the Mekong delta, with its burgeoning markets, luminous green rice fields, Khmer pagodas, and fruit and flower orchards.

When to travel to Ho Chi Minh

The most comfortable time to visit climatically is in the seasons between December and April as the place exhibits a dry climate during this time of the year. Although it is hot, the nights are very cool and pleasant.

From May to October the wet season follows while July to November the typhoon season reigns supreme as violent tropical storms can target the coasts any time.