View source for Ho Chi Minh City

{{Short description|Municipality in Vietnam}}
{{Redirect-multi|2|Saigon|HCMC|the city's administrative center|Saigon ward|other uses|Saigon (disambiguation)|and|HCMC (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = 
| native_name = {{lang|vi|Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh}}
| official_name = Ho Chi Minh City
| former_names = 
| native_name_lang = vi
| other_name = Saigon {{nobold|({{lang|vi|Sài Gòn}})}}
| settlement_type = [[Municipalities of Vietnam|Municipality (special)]]
| image_skyline = {{Multiple image
  | total_width            = 310
  | border                 = infobox
  | perrow                 = 1/2/2/1/2
  | caption_align          = center
  | image1                 = Ho Chi Minh City Skyline.jpg
  | caption1               = Skyline of [[Sài Gòn (ward)|Saigon Ward]]
  | alt1                   = Skyline of District 1, Ho Chi Minh City at morning 
  | image2                 = Ho Chi Minh City panorama 2019 (cropped2).jpg
  | alt2                   = Landmark 81 at late afternoon 
  | caption2               = [[Landmark 81]]
  | image3                 = Ho Chi Minh City, City Hall, 2020-01 CN-04.jpg
  | alt3                   = Ho Chi Minh City Hall
  | caption3               = [[Ho Chi Minh City Hall]]
  | image4                 = Municipal Theatre of Ho Chi Minh City, 2023 (01).jpg
  | alt4                   = Saigon Opera House
  | caption4               = [[Ho Chi Minh City Opera House|Saigon Opera House]]
  | image5                 = Basílica de Nuestra Señora, Ciudad Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, 2013-08-14, DD 03.JPG
  | alt5                   = Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon
  | caption5               = [[Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon]]
  | image6                 = Independence Palace (36766444460).jpg
  | alt6                   = Independence Palace
  | caption6               = [[Independence Palace]]
  }}
| image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|type=shape|frame-width=280|frame-align=center|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000}}
| image_map1 = Ho Chi Minh City in Viet Nam.svg
| mapsize1 = 150px
| map_caption = Interactive map outlining Ho Chi Minh City
| pushpin_map = Vietnam#Southeast Asia#Asia
| image_seal = Emblem of Saigon.svg
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Vietnam##Location within Southeast Asia##Location within Asia
| pushpin_relief = yes
| coordinates = {{Coord|10|46|32|N|106|42|07|E|region:VN-SG_type:city(14,000,000)|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = [[Vietnam]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Regions of Vietnam|Region]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Southeast (Vietnam)|Southeast]]
| seat = [[Sài Gòn (ward)|Saigon Ward]]
| parts_type = [[List of districts of Vietnam|Subdivisions]]
| parts = 113 wards, 54 communes and 1 special administrative region
| government_type = [[Municipalities of Vietnam|Municipality]]
| governing_body = Ho Chi Minh City People's Council
| leader_title1 = Secretary of [[Communist Party of Vietnam|CPV]]
| leader_name1 = [[Trần Lưu Quang]]
| leader_title2 = Chairman of People's Council
| leader_name2 = Võ Văn Minh
| leader_title3 = Chairman of People's Committee
| leader_name3 = [[Nguyễn Văn Được]]
| area_footnotes = <ref name="area_2022">{{Cite act|date=18 October 2023|type=Decision|index=3048/QĐ-BTNMT|legislature=[[Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (Vietnam)]]|title=Biểu số 4.5: Hiện trạng sử dụng đất vùng Đông Nam Bộ năm 2022|trans-title=Table 4.5: Current land use status in the Southeast region in 2022|language=vi|url=https://monre.gov.vn/VanBan/Lists/VanBanChiDao/Attachments/3012/b4.5_Signed.pdf}} – the data in the report are in hectares, rounded to integers</ref>
| area_total_km2 = 6781
| area_metro_km2 = 30595
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m = 19
| elevation_ft = 34
| population_footnotes = <ref name="pop_2025">{{Cite web |last=xaydungchinhsach.chinhphu.vn |title=Chi tiết 34 ĐƠN VỊ HÀNH CHÍNH CẤP TỈNH từ 12/6/2025 |url=https://xaydungchinhsach.chinhphu.vn/chi-tiet-34-don-vi-hanh-chinh-cap-tinh-tu-12-6-2025-119250612141845533.htm |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250622034147/https://xaydungchinhsach.chinhphu.vn/chi-tiet-34-don-vi-hanh-chinh-cap-tinh-tu-12-6-2025-119250612141845533.htm |archive-date=2025-06-22 |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=xaydungchinhsach.chinhphu.vn |language=vi}}</ref>
| population_total = 14002598<ref>{{cite web | url=https://xaydungchinhsach.chinhphu.vn/chi-tiet-34-don-vi-hanh-chinh-cap-tinh-tu-12-6-2025-119250612141845533.htm | title=Chi tiết 34 ĐƠN VỊ HÀNH CHÍNH CẤP TỈNH }}</ref>
| population_rank = [[List of cities in Vietnam|1st]]
| population_as_of = 2025
| population_density_km2 = 2067
| population_metro = 22552900
| population_density_metro_km2 = auto
| population_demonym = Saigonese
| demographics_type1 = GDP {{Nobold|(Nominal, 2023)}}<ref name="TelluBase">{{cite web|url=https://tellusant.com/repo/tb/tellubase_factsheet_vnm.pdf|publisher=Tellusant Public Service Series|title=TelluBase—Viet Nam Fact Sheet| access-date = 31 July 2024}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = [[Municipalities of Vietnam|Municipality (Special)]]
| demographics1_info1 = [[United States dollar|US$]] 93.1 billion 
| demographics1_title2 = Per capita
| demographics1_info2 = US$ 6,650
| blank6_name = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2022)
| blank6_info = {{increase}} 0.811<ref>{{Cite web |title=Human Development Index by province(*) by Cities, provincies and Year |url=https://www.gso.gov.vn/en/px-web/?pxid=E1438&theme=Health%2C%20Culture%2C%20Sport%20and%20Living%20standard |access-date=September 28, 2024 |website=[[General Statistics Office of Vietnam]]}}</ref><br />([[List of administrative divisions of Vietnam by Human Development Index|3rd]])
| area_code = 28
| area_code_type = [[Telephone numbers in Vietnam|Area codes]]
| website = {{URL|https://hochiminhcity.gov.vn/}}
| timezone = [[Time in Vietnam|Indochina Time]]
| utc_offset = +7
| postal_code_type = [[Postal codes in Vietnam|Postal code]]
| postal_code = 70xxx–74xxx
| iso_code = [[ISO 3166-2:VN|VN-SG]]
| registration_plate_type = [[Vehicle registration plates of Vietnam|License plate]]
| registration_plate = 41, 50–59
| blank2_name_sec2 = [[Rapid transit|Rapid transit system]]
| blank2_info_sec2 = [[Ho Chi Minh City Metro]]
| established_title = Founded
| established_date = 1698
| established_title1 = Change of name
| established_date1 = 1976
| founder = [[Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh]]
| nicknames = {{Plainlist|
* The city bearing the name of [[Ho Chi Minh|Uncle Ho]] ({{lang|vi|Thành phố mang tên Bác}})
* The Pearl of Far East ({{lang|vi|Hòn ngọc Viễn Đông}})
* Paris of the Orient ({{lang|vi|Paris phương Đông}})
* Sài thành {{small|(The short way to call the "City of Saigon" ({{lang|vi|Thành phố Sài Gòn}}) in Vietnamese)}}
}}
| motto = {{lang|la|Paulatim crescam}} (historical)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Cherry |first=Haydon |title=Down and Out in Saigon: Stories of the Poor in a Colonial City |date=2019 |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=978-0-300-21825-1 |page=29}}</ref><br />{{smaller|Meaning: Little by little we grow}}
| named_for = [[Ho Chi Minh]]
| seat_type = Government center
}}

'''Ho Chi Minh City''' ('''HCMC'''; {{langx|vi|Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh}}, {{IPA|vi|tʰan˨˩ fow˦˥ how˨˩ cɪj˦˥ mɨn˧˧|ipa}}), also known by its historical name '''Saigon''' ([[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]]: {{Lang|vi|Sài Gòn}}, {{IPA|vi|saːj˨˩ ɣɔŋ˨˩|ipa}}),<ref>{{Cite book |editor=Stanley D. Brunn |editor2=Jessica K. Graybill |editor3=Maureen Hays-Mitchell |date=2016 |title=Cities of the world: regional patterns and urban environments |edition=Sixth |location=Lanham, Md. |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |pages=447 |isbn=978-1-4422-4916-5 |oclc=922034582}}</ref> is the most populous city in [[Vietnam]], with a population of more than 14,000,000 in 2025.<ref name="pop_2025"/>

The city's geography is defined by rivers and canals, of which the largest is [[Saigon River]]. As the largest [[financial centre]] in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City has the largest [[gross regional domestic product]] out of all Vietnam provinces and municipalities,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-20 |title=Đóng góp của các tỉnh, thành phố về một số chỉ tiêu chủ yếu |url=http://kinhtetrunguong.vn/web/guest/thong-tin-dia-phuong/dong-gop-cua-cac-tinh-thanh-pho-ve-mot-so-chi-tieu-chu-yeu.html |access-date=2024-01-07 |website=kinhtetrunguong.vn |language=vi |last1=Trang |first1=Huyền }}</ref> contributing around a quarter of the [[Economy of Vietnam|country's total GDP]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Onishi |first=Tomoya |title=Vietnam to boost Ho Chi Minh budget for first time in 18 years |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Vietnam-to-boost-Ho-Chi-Minh-budget-for-first-time-in-18-years |access-date=30 August 2022 |work=Nikkei Asia}} {{subscription required|s}}</ref> [[Ho Chi Minh City metropolitan area|Ho Chi Minh City's metropolitan area]] is [[List of ASEAN country subdivisions by GDP|ASEAN's 5th largest economy]], also the biggest outside an [[ASEAN]] country capital.

The area was initially part of [[Cambodia]]n states until it became part of the Vietnamese [[Nguyễn lords]] in 1698, due to [[Đại Việt]]'s expansionist policy of ''[[Nam tiến]]''. It was capital of the Nguyễn lords at the end of their existence before the [[Nguyễn dynasty]] was formed. After the fall of the [[Citadel of Saigon]], it became the capital of [[French Cochinchina]] from 1862 to 1949. It was also the capital of [[French Indochina]] from 1887 to 1902, and again from 1945 until its cessation in 1954. After France [[Élysée Accords|recognized]] Vietnam's independence and unity,{{Refn|Nominally and partially independent until 4 June 1954 as an [[associated state]] of France.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://mjp.univ-perp.fr/constit/vn1954.htm | title=Vietnam, indépendance, Digithèque MJP }}</ref>|group=nb}} it was the capital of the [[State of Vietnam]] from 1949 to 1955. Following the [[1954 Geneva Conference|1954 partition]], it became the capital of [[South Vietnam]] until it was [[Fall of Saigon|captured]] by [[North Vietnam]], leading to a unified [[communist state]] in 1976. The city was subsequently renamed after the late leader [[Ho Chi Minh]], though "Saigon" remains widely used informally and has been the official name of the [[Saigon ward|city's administrative center]] since 2025. Beginning in the 1990s, the city underwent rapid expansion and modernization, which contributed to [[Đổi Mới|Vietnam's post-war economic recovery]] and helped revive its [[international trade]] hub status.

Ho Chi Minh City has a long tradition of being one of the centers of economy, entertainment and education in [[Southern Vietnam]] in particular and Vietnam in general. It is also the busiest international [[transport hub]] in Vietnam, with [[Tan Son Nhat International Airport|Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport]] accounting for nearly half of all international arrivals to Vietnam, and the [[Saigon Port|Port of Saigon]] among the [[List of busiest container ports|busiest container ports in Southeast Asia]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Military land approved for new Tan Son Nhat airport terminal |url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/military-land-approved-for-new-tan-son-nhat-airport-terminal-4493489.html |access-date=30 August 2022 |work=VnExpress}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Three Vietnamese seaports among top 100 largest container ports worldwide |url=https://www.gso.gov.vn/en/other-news/2022/11/three-vietnamese-seaports-among-top-100-largest-container-ports-worldwide/ |access-date=27 December 2023 |work=General Statistics Office of Vietnam}}</ref> The city is also a tourist attraction; some of its [[List of historic buildings in Ho Chi Minh City|historic landmarks]] with modern landmarks, including the [[Independence Palace]], [[Bitexco Financial Tower]], [[Landmark 81|Landmark 81 Tower]], the [[War Remnants Museum]], and [[Bến Thành Market]]. It is also known for its narrow walkable [[Hem (alleyway)|alleys]] and bustling [[nightlife]], most notably the [[Phạm Ngũ Lão, District 1|Phạm Ngũ Lão Ward]] and its Bùi Viện street.

In 2025, the [[Bình Dương province|Bình Dương]] and [[Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu province|Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu]] provinces were merged into Ho Chi Minh City, making it a megacity while inheriting the major [[Industrial city|industrial towns]] and [[Vũng Tàu|coastal cities]] of the two former provinces. Currently, Ho Chi Minh City is facing increasing threats of [[sea level rise]] and [[flood]]ing as well as heavy strains on public infrastructures.

==Etymology==
{{Main|Names of Ho Chi Minh City}}

The first known human habitation in the area was either a [[Chams|Cham]] settlement called Baigaur,<ref group="nb">{{Cite book|editor-last=Vo|editor-first=Nghia M.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0oeEpKDCmV4C&pg=218
| page=218|title=The Viet Kieu in America: Personal Accounts of Postwar Immigrants from Vietnam|date=2009|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-5490-7|quote=Saigon began as the Cham village of Baigaur, then became the Khmer Prey Nôkôr before being taken over by the Vietnamese and renamed Gia Dinh Thanh and then Saigon.}}</ref> or a Cambodian city named Prey Nokor,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cholon. ville chinoise?/Cholon, Chinatown? |url=http://www.reseau-asie.com/cgi-bin/prog/gateway.cgi?langue=fr&password=&email=&dir=myfile_colloque&type=jhg54gfd98gfd4fgd4gfdg&id=430&telecharge_now=1&file=a09dolinski_michel.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715174952/http://www.reseau-asie.com/cgi-bin/prog/gateway.cgi?langue=fr&password=&email=&dir=myfile_colloque&type=jhg54gfd98gfd4fgd4gfdg&id=430&telecharge_now=1&file=a09dolinski_michel.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-15 |access-date=2025-05-30 |website=www.reseau-asie.com}}</ref> which was a small fishing village.<ref name="SaigonHis2">{{Cite book |last=Vo |first=Nghia M. |title=Saigon: A History |date=2011 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-6466-1 |pages=7–8}}</ref><ref name="salkin-962">{{Cite book |author=Salkin |first1=Robert M. |title=Asia and Oceania |last2=Ring |first2=Trudy |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=1996 |isbn=1-884964-04-4 |editor=Schellinger|editor-first=Paul E. |series=International Dictionary of Historic Places |volume=5 |pages=353–354 |editor2=Salkin|editor-first2=Robert M.}}</ref> Over time, under the control of the Vietnamese, it was officially renamed [[Gia Định]] ({{linktext|嘉|定}}) in 1698, a name that was retained until the time of the [[Cochinchina Campaign|French conquest]] in the 1860s, when it adopted the name {{lang|vi|Sài Gòn}}, [[Francization|francized]] as {{lang|fr|Saïgon}},<ref name="salkin-962" /> although the city was still indicated as {{lang|vi-Hani|[[wiktionary:嘉|嘉]][[wiktionary:定|定]]}} on Vietnamese maps written in [[chữ Hán]] until at least 1891.<ref name="mapofvietnam18912">{{cite web |year=1890 |title=Comprehensive Map of Vietnam's Provinces |url=http://www.wdl.org/en/item/226/zoom.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110630141328/http://www.wdl.org/en/item/226/zoom.html |archive-date=30 June 2011 |access-date=13 April 2011 |work=World Digital Library |publisher=[[UNESCO]]}}</ref> An old name of Gia Định was {{lang|vi|Phan Yên}} {{lang|vi-Hani|藩安}}, which was later commonly glossed as {{lang|vi|Phiên An}}.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Trần Hoàng Vũ |date=2024 |title=Gia Định Thành trước cơn bão dữ |url=https://thanhnien.vn/gia-dinh-thanh-truoc-con-bao-du-185241227233449365.htm}}</ref>

The current name, Ho Chi Minh City, was given after [[Reunification Day|reunification]] in 1976 to honour [[Ho Chi Minh]].{{Refn|group=nb|name=resolution|The text of the resolution is as follows:

{{Poem quote|By the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, 6th tenure, 1st session, for officially renaming Saigon-Gia Dinh City as Ho Chi Minh City.
The National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Considering the boundless love of the people of Saigon-Gia Dinh City for Chairman Ho Chi Minh and their wish for the city to be named after him;
Considering the long and difficult revolutionary struggle launched in [[Saigon]]-[[Gia Dinh]] City, with several glorious feats, deserves the honour of being named after Chairman Ho Chi Minh;
After discussing the suggestion of the Presidium of the National Assembly's meeting;(PNAM)
Decides to rename Saigon-Gia Dinh City as Ho Chi Minh City.<ref name="hcmgov15jun10">{{cite web |title=From Saigon to Ho Chi Minh City |url=http://www.eng.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/eng/news/default.aspx?cat_id=510&news_id=243 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110207101605/http://www.eng.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/eng/news/default.aspx?cat_id=510&news_id=243 |archive-date=7 February 2011 |access-date=15 June 2010 |publisher=People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City}}</ref>}}}}

Even today, however, the informal name of {{lang|vi|Sài Gòn}} remains in daily speech. However, there is a technical difference between the two terms: {{lang|vi|Sài Gòn}} is commonly used to refer to the city centre in [[District 1, Ho Chi Minh City|District 1]] and the adjacent areas, while ''Ho Chi Minh City'' refers to all of its urban and rural districts.<ref name="salkin-962" />

===Saigon===
[[File:SaiGonGiaDinhChuNom.jpg|left|thumb|190px|Saigon is written here as {{lang|zh-Hant|柴棍}} along with other Southern Vietnamese cities. (On the left of the page, first row after "{{lang|zh-Hant|城庯三}}")]]

The original toponym behind Sài Gòn was attested earliest as {{lang|zh-Hant|柴棍}}, with two phonograms whose Sino-Vietnamese readings are sài and côn respectively, in Lê Quý Đôn's "Miscellaneous Chronicles of the Pacified Frontier" ({{lang|zh-Hant|撫邊雜錄}}, {{lang|vi|Phủ biên tạp lục}} c. 1776), wherein Lê relates that, in 1674, Cambodian prince [[Ang Nan]] was installed as [[uparaja]] in {{lang|zh-Hant|柴棍}} (Sài Gòn) by Vietnamese forces.

{{lang|zh-Hant|柴棍}} also appears later in Trịnh Hoài Đức's "Comprehensive Records about the Gia Định Citadel" ({{lang|zh-Hant|嘉定城通志}}, {{lang|vi|Gia Định thành thông chí}}, c. 1820), "Textbook on the Geography of the Southern Country" ({{lang|zh-Hant|南國地輿教科書}}, {{lang|vi|Nam quốc địa dư giáo khoa thư}}, 1908),<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=梁 Lương |first=竹潭 Trúc Đàm |date=1908 |title=南國地輿教科書 Nam quốc địa dư giáo khoa thư |url=https://lib.nomfoundation.org/collection/1/volume/1043/ |website=Nom Foundation}}</ref> etc.

Adrien Launay's {{lang|fr|Histoire de la Mission de Cochinchine|italics=no}} (1688–1823), "Documents Historiques II: 1728 – 1771" (1924: [https://books.google.com/books?id=zZ6AAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA190 190]) cites 1747 documents containing the toponyms: provincia Rai-gon, Rai-gon thong (for *Sài Gòn thượng "Upper Saigon"), & Rai-gon-ha (for *Sài Gòn hạ "Lower Saigon").

It is probably a transcription of Khmer {{lang|km|ព្រៃនគរ}} (Prey Nokôr)<ref>{{Harvnb|Vo|2011|p=9}}</ref><ref name="TruongVinhKy2">{{Cite book |last=Ky |first=Pétrus |title=Excursions et Reconnaissance |publisher=Imprimerie Coloniale |year=1885 |volume=X |location=Saigon |language=fr |chapter=Souvenirs historiques sur Saigon et ses environs |author-link=Pétrus Ky |chapter-url=https://virtual-saigon.net/Asset/Source/refBibliography_ID-3228_No-01.pdf |access-date=20 May 2021 |archive-date=20 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520054031/https://virtual-saigon.net/Asset/Source/refBibliography_ID-3228_No-01.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>{{refn|"The Khmer name for Saigon, by the way, is Prey Nokor; "prey" means "forest", "nokor" "home" or "city".<ref>{{cite book |title=War and hope: the case for Cambodia |author=Norodom Sihanouk |publisher=Pantheon Books |year=1980 |isbn=0-394-51115-8 |page=[https://archive.org/details/warhopecasef00noro/page/54 54] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/warhopecasef00noro/page/54}}</ref>|group=nb}}, or Khmer {{lang|km|ព្រៃគរ}} (Prey Kôr).

The proposal that Sài Gòn is from non-Sino-Vietnamese reading of Chinese {{lang|zh|堤岸}} ("embankment", {{transliteration|yue|tai4 ngon6}}, SV: đê ngạn){{refn|"Un siècle plus tard (1773), la révolte des TÁYON {{sic}} <nowiki>[qu'éclata]</nowiki> tout, d'abord dans les montagnes de la province de Qui-Nhon, et s'étendit rapidement dans le sud, chassa de Bien-Hoa le mouvement commercial qu'y avaient attiré les Chinois. Ceux-ci abandonnèrent Cou-lao-pho, remontèrent de fleuve de Tan-Binh, et vinrent choisir la position actuele de CHOLEN. Cette création date d'environ 1778. Ils appelèrent leur nouvelle résidence TAI-NGON ou TIN-GAN. Le nom transformé par les Annamites en celui de SAIGON fut depuis appliqué à tort, par l'expédition française, au SAIGON actuel dont la dénomination locale est [[BEN-NGHE]] ou [[BEN-THANH]]."<ref>Francis Garnier, quoted in: {{cite book |title=Tuyển tập Vương Hồng Sến |author=Hồng Sến Vương, Q. Thắng Nguyễn |url=https://www.scribd.com/Lich-Su-Thu-Do-Sai-Gon/d/7230907 |publisher=Nhà xuất bản Văn học |year=2002 |access-date=9 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100505043006/http://www.scribd.com/Lich-Su-Thu-Do-Sai-Gon/d/7230907 |archive-date=5 May 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>|group=nb}}, the [[Yue Chinese|Cantonese]] name of [[Chợ Lớn]], (e.g. by Vương Hồng Sển) has been critiqued as folk-etymological, as: (1) the Vietnamese source Phủ biên tạp lục (albeit written in literary Chinese) was the earliest extant one containing the local toponym's transcription; (2) {{lang|zh|堤岸}} has variant form {{lang|zh|提岸}}, thus suggesting that both were transcriptions of a local toponym and thus are cognates to, not originals of, Sài Gòn. Saigon is unlikely to be from {{lang|zh|堤岸}} since in "Textbook on the Geography of the Southern Country", it also lists [[Chợ Lớn]] as {{lang|vi-Hani|𢄂𢀲}} separate from {{lang|zh|柴棍}} Sài Gòn.{{Original research inline|date=September 2024}}

===Ho Chi Minh City===
The current official name, ''{{lang|vi|Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh}}'', was first proposed by the Viet Minh in August 1946 and was later officially adopted in July 1976. It is abbreviated as TP.HCM, and translated in English as ''Ho Chi Minh City'', abbreviated as HCMC, and in French as ''{{lang|fr|Hô-Chi-Minh-Ville}}'' (the [[circumflex]] is sometimes omitted), abbreviated as HCMV.

The name commemorates [[Ho Chi Minh]], the first leader of [[North Vietnam]]. This name, though not his given name, was one he favored throughout his later years. It combines a common Vietnamese surname ({{lang|vi|Hồ|italics=no}}, {{vi-nom|[[:wiktionary:胡|胡]]}}) with a given name meaning "enlightened will" (from [[Sino-Vietnamese vocabulary|Sino-Vietnamese]], [[wiktionary:志|志]] [[wiktionary:明|明]]; {{lang|vi|Chí|italics=no}} meaning 'will' or 'spirit', and {{lang|vi|Minh|italics=no}} meaning 'light'), in essence, meaning "light bringer".<ref name="bbc-bacho2">{{cite web |title=Historic Figures: Hồ Chí Minh (1890–1969) |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/ho_chi_minh.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100122111037/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/ho_chi_minh.shtml |archive-date=22 January 2010 |access-date=1 June 2010 |publisher=[[BBC]]}}</ref>

Nowadays, "Saigon" is still used as a semi-official name for the city, in some cases being used interchangeably with Ho Chi Minh City, partly due to its long history and familiarity.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |last=Sinha |first=Sayoni |date=2019-07-04 |title=Craft brews and skyline views the ultimate Ho Chi Minh City itinerary |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/travel/craft-brews-and-skyline-views-the-ultimate-ho-chi-minh-city-itinerary.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705022350/https://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/travel/craft-brews-and-skyline-views-the-ultimate-ho-chi-minh-city-itinerary.aspx |archive-date=5 July 2019 |access-date=23 November 2019 |website=[[National Geographic]]}}</ref>

==History==
===Early settlement===
The earliest settlement in the area was a [[Funan]] temple at the location of the current Phụng Sơn Buddhist temple, founded in the 4th century AD.<ref name="HistDict2">{{cite book |author=Corfield |first=Justin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pdAZBQAAQBAJ&pg=PR17 |title=Historical Dictionary of Ho Chi Minh City |publisher=Anthem Press |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-78308-333-6 |page=xvii |access-date=27 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028033608/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=pdAZBQAAQBAJ&pg=PR17 |archive-date=28 October 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> A settlement called Baigaur was established on the site in the 11th century by the [[Champa]].<ref name="HistDict2" /> Baigaur was renamed Prey Nokor after conquest by the [[Khmer Empire]] around 1145,<ref name="HistDict2" /> Prey Nokor grew on the site of a small fishing village and area of forest.<ref>{{Harvnb|Vo|2011|pp=8, 12}}</ref>

The first [[Vietnamese people]] crossed the sea to explore this land completely without the organisation of the [[Nguyễn Lords]]. Thanks to the marriage between Princess [[Nguyễn Phúc Ngọc Vạn]] – daughter of Lord [[Nguyễn Phúc Nguyên]] – and the King of Cambodia [[Chey Chettha II]] in 1620, the relationship between Vietnam and Cambodia became smooth, and the people of the two countries could freely move back and forth. In exchange, Chey Chettha II gifted Prei Nokor to the [[Nguyễn lords]].<ref name=Song22>Song, Jeong Nam, Sự mở rộng lãnh thổ Đại Việt dưới thời Hậu Lê và tính chất, [[Korean University of Foreign Studies]], [[Seoul]], 2010, p.22</ref>  Vietnamese settlers began to migrate to the area of Saigon, Đồng Nai. Before that, the Funanese, Khmer, and Cham had lived there, scattered from time immemorial.

The period from 1623 to 1698 is considered the period of the formation of later Saigon. In 1623, Lord Nguyen sent a mission to ask his son-in-law, King Chey Chettha II, to set up tax collection stations in Prey Nokor (Sài Gòn) and Kas Krobei (Bến Nghé). Although this was a deserted jungle area, it was located on the traffic routes between Vietnam, Cambodia, and Siam. The next two important events of this period were the establishment of the barracks and residence of Vice King [[Ang Non]] and the establishment of a palace at Tân Mỹ (near the present-day Cống Quỳnh–Nguyễn Trãi crossroads). It can be said that Saigon was formed from these three government agencies.

===Nguyễn dynasty rule===
[[File:Map of Saigon 1795 Jean-Marie Dayot.jpg|thumb|''[[Citadel of Saigon|Thành Bát Quái]]'' (Citadel of Eight [[Bagua|Trigrams]]) or ''Thành Quy'' (Citadel of Tortoise) in 1795.]]
[[File:Ban Do Gia Dinh 1815 Tran Van Hoc v2.png|thumb|Map of Gia Định in 1815]]

In 1679, Lord [[Nguyễn Phúc Tần]] allowed a group of Chinese refugees from the [[Qing dynasty]] to settle in [[My Tho|Mỹ Tho]], [[Bien Hoa|Biên Hòa]] and Saigon to seek refuge. In 1698, [[Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh]], a Vietnamese noble, was sent by the Nguyễn rulers of [[Huế]] by sea to establish Vietnamese administrative structures in the area, thus detaching the area from Cambodia, which was not strong enough to intervene. He is often credited with the expansion of Saigon into a significant settlement.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chúa Nguyễn cử thống suất Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh vào Nam kinh lược |url=http://www.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/left/gioi_thieu/lich_su_van_hoa/lich_su/cong_cuoc_khai_duong_mo_loi/chua_nguyen_cu_thong_suat_nguyen_huu_canh_vao_nam_kinh_luoc?left_menu=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070518155404/http://www.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/left/gioi_thieu/lich_su_van_hoa/lich_su/cong_cuoc_khai_duong_mo_loi/chua_nguyen_cu_thong_suat_nguyen_huu_canh_vao_nam_kinh_luoc?left_menu=1 |archive-date=2007-05-18 |access-date=2021-05-19 |website=HCM CityWeb |language=vi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Harms |first=Erik |title=Saigon's Edge: On the Margins of Ho Chi Minh City |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-8166-5605-9 |location=Minnesota |page=11}}</ref> King [[Chey Chettha IV]] of Cambodia tried to stop the Vietnamese but was defeated by Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh in 1700. In February 1700, he invaded Cambodia from [[An Giang]]. In March, the Vietnamese expedition under Cảnh and a Chinese general [[Trần Thượng Xuyên]] (Chen Shangchuan) defeated the main Cambodian army at Bích Đôi citadel, king Chey Chettha IV took flight while his nephew [[Ang Em]] surrendered to the invaders, as the Vietnamese marched onto and captured Cambodia's capital [[Phnom Penh]].<ref name=Song23/> As a result, Saigon and [[Long An]] were officially and securely obtained by the Nguyễn, more Vietnamese settlers moved into the new conquered lands.<ref name=Song23>Song, Jeong Nam, Sự mở rộng lãnh thổ Đại Việt dưới thời Hậu Lê và tính chất, [[Korean University of Foreign Studies]], [[Seoul]], 2010, p.23</ref>

In 1788, [[Gia Long|Nguyễn Ánh]] captured the city, and used it as a centre of resistance against Tây Sơn.<ref>{{Harvnb|Vo|2011|p=36}}</ref> Two years later, a large [[Vauban]] citadel called [[Citadel of Saigon|Gia Định]], or ''Thành Bát Quái'' ("Eight Diagrams") was built by Victor [[Olivier de Puymanel]], one of the [[French assistance to Nguyễn Ánh|Nguyễn Ánh's French mercenaries]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=McLeod |first=Mark W. |title=The Vietnamese Response to French Intervention, 1862–1874 |publisher=Praeger |year=1991 |isbn=978-0-275-93562-7 |location=New York |page=10}}</ref> The citadel was captured by [[Lê Văn Khôi]] during [[Lê Văn Khôi revolt|his revolt]] of 1833–35 against Emperor [[Minh Mạng]]. Following the revolt, Minh Mạng ordered it to be dismantled, and a new citadel, called ''Phụng Thành'', was built in 1836.<ref name=":2">{{Harvnb|Vo|2011|p=56}}</ref> In 1859, the citadel was destroyed by the French following the [[Battle of Ky Hoa|Battle of Kỳ Hòa]].<ref name=":2" /> Initially called Gia Định, the Vietnamese city became Saigon in the 18th century.<ref name="HistDict2" />

=== French colonial era ===
[[File:Vue de Saïgon en 1866 - Cột cờ Thủ ngữ.jpg|thumb|right|Thủ Ngữ flag pole, Saigon taken in 1866 by [[Émile Gsell]].]]

Ceded to France by the 1862 [[Treaty of Saigon (1862)|Treaty of Saigon]],<ref>{{Harvnb|Corfield|2014|p=xix}}</ref> the city was planned by the French to transform into a large town for colonization. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, construction of various French-style buildings began, including a [[Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens|botanical garden]], the [[Norodom Palace]], [[Hotel Continental Saigon|Hotel Continental]], [[Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon|Notre-Dame Cathedral]], and [[Bến Thành Market]], among many others.<ref>{{Harvnb|Vo|2011|pp=75, 85–86}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Corfield|2014|pp=xix−xx}}</ref> In April 1865, [[Gia Dinh Bao|Gia Định Báo]] was established in Saigon, becoming the first newspaper published in Vietnam.<ref>{{Harvnb|Vo|2011|p=82}}</ref> During the French colonial era, Saigon became known as "Pearl of the Orient" (''{{lang|vi|Hòn ngọc Viễn Đông}}''),<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bogle |first=James E. |url=https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNAAK857.pdf |title=Dialectics of Urban Proposals for the Saigon Metropolitan Area |date=January 1972 |publisher=Ministry of Public Works, Republic of Vietnam; United States Agency for International Development |page=11 |access-date=20 May 2021 |archive-date=20 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520054031/https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNAAK857.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref> or "Paris of the Extreme Orient".<ref>{{Harvnb|Vo|2011|pp=1, 77}}</ref>

On 27 April 1931, a new [[région]] called '''Saigon–Cholon''' consisting of Saigon and Cholon was formed; the name Cholon was dropped after South Vietnam gained independence from France in 1955.<ref>{{Harvnb|Corfield|2014|p=xxi}}</ref> From about 256,000 in 1930,<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last1=Banens |first1=Maks |url=https://www.ier.hit-u.ac.jp/COE/Japanese/discussionpapers/DP98.7/98_7.html |title=Estimating population and labour force in Vietnam under French rule (1900–1954) |last2=Bassino |first2=Jean-Pascal |last3=Egretaud |first3=Eric |publisher=Paul Valéry University |year=1998 |location=Montpellier |access-date=20 May 2021 |archive-date=3 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403120609/http://www.ier.hit-u.ac.jp/COE/Japanese/discussionpapers/DP98.7/98_7.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Saigon's population rose to 1.2 million in 1950.<ref name=":3" />

<gallery mode="packed" style="text-align: center;" heights="160" caption="Gallery of Saigon during the French colonial era">
File:French capture of Saigon in 1859.jpg|The [[Siege of Saigon]] fortress in 1859 by Franco-Spanish forces.
File:Coat of Arms Saigon.svg|Coat of arms of Saigon established during [[French Indochina|French colonial administration]] and used from 1870 to 1975.
File:Citadel of Saigon 1881.jpg|Map of Saigon in 1881.
File:Casernes du 11e R.I.C. à Saigon.jpg|[[Troupes coloniales|French soldiers]] stationed at a barrack in Saigon in 1930.
File:Japanese troops entering Saigon in 1941.jpg|[[Imperial Japanese Army|Imperial Japanese soldiers]] entering Saigon in 1941, during [[French Indochina in World War II|World War II]].
File:Saigon under attack by US carrier planes on 12 January 1945.jpg|Saigon afire after aerial attacks from carrier-based planes of the [[United States Pacific Fleet|US Pacific Fleet]] in 1945.
</gallery>

=== State of Vietnam and Republic of Vietnam era===
On 14 June 1949, 10 days after France returned [[French Cochinchina|Cochinchina]] to Vietnam, former Emperor [[Bảo Đại]] made Saigon the capital of the [[State of Vietnam]] within the [[French Union]] with himself as head of state.<ref name="History">{{Cite book |last=Taylor |first=K. W. |title=A History of the Vietnamese |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-521-87586-8 |page=547}}</ref> The state was proclaimed in July. In July 1954, the [[1954 Geneva Conference|Geneva Agreement]] partitioned Vietnam [[Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone|along]] the [[17th parallel north|17th parallel]] ([[Bến Hải River]]), with the [[Viet Minh|Việt Minh]], under [[Ho Chi Minh]], gaining complete control of [[North Vietnam|the northern half of the country]], while the southern half remained the rule of the State of Vietnam.<ref name=":4">{{Harvnb|Vo|2011|p=130}}</ref>

The State officially became the [[Republic of Vietnam]] when Bảo Đại was deposed by his Prime Minister [[Ngô Đình Diệm]] in the 1955 [[1955 State of Vietnam referendum|referendum]],<ref name=":4" /> with Saigon as its capital.<ref name=":5">{{Cite book |title=The Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War: A Political, Social, and Military History |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-85109-960-3|editor-last=Tucker|editor-first=Spencer C. |edition=2nd |volume=III |location=California |pages=1010–1011 |chapter=Saigon}}</ref> On 22 October 1956, the city was given the official name, ''{{lang|vi|Đô Thành Sài Gòn}}'' ("Capital City Saigon").<ref name=":6">{{cite web |title=Sài Gòn dưới thời Mỹ Ngụy |url=http://www.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/left/gioi_thieu/lich_su_van_hoa/lich_su/tp_chung_nhan_cua_dong_chay_ls/khang_chien_chong_my/sai_gon_duoi_thoi_my_nguy?left_menu=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070518085101/http://www.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/left/gioi_thieu/lich_su_van_hoa/lich_su/tp_chung_nhan_cua_dong_chay_ls/khang_chien_chong_my/sai_gon_duoi_thoi_my_nguy?left_menu=1 |archive-date=2007-05-18 |access-date=2021-05-19 |website=HCM CityWeb |language=vi}}</ref> After the decree of 27 March 1959 came into effect, Saigon was divided into eight districts and 41 wards.<ref name=":6" />

In December 1966, two wards from old An Khánh Commune of Gia Định, were formed into District 1, then seceded shortly later to become District 9.<ref name=":8">{{cite web |title=Lịch sử vùng đất |url=http://www.lienminhhtxhcm.com.vn/VietNam/SaiGon/oldSaiGon/intro1.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050907031225/http://www.lienminhhtxhcm.com.vn/VietNam/SaiGon/oldSaiGon/intro1.asp |archive-date=2005-09-07 |access-date=2021-05-22 |publisher=Ho Chi Minh City Cooperative Alliance |language=vi}}</ref> In July 1969, District 10 and District 11 were founded, and by 1975, the city's area consisted of eleven districts, [[Gia Định Province|Gia Định]], [[Củ Chi District]] ([[Hậu Nghĩa Province|Hậu Nghĩa]]), and [[Phú Hòa District]] ([[Bình Dương Province|Bình Dương]]).<ref name=":8" />

Saigon served as the financial, industrial and transport centre of the Republic of Vietnam.<ref>{{Harvnb|Bogle|1972|p=14}}</ref> In the late 1950s, with the U.S. providing nearly $2 billion in aid to the Diệm regime, the country's economy grew rapidly under the [[capitalism|capitalist model]];<ref name=":6" /> by 1960, over half of South Vietnam's factories were located in Saigon.<ref>{{Harvnb|Bogle|1972|p=13}}</ref> However, beginning in the 1960s, Saigon experienced economic downturn and high inflation, as it was completely dependent on U.S. aid and imports from other countries.<ref name=":6" /> As a result of widespread urbanisation, with the population reaching 3.3 million by 1970, the city was described by the [[United States Agency for International Development|USAID]] as being turned "into a huge slum".<ref>{{Harvnb|Bogle|1972|p=31}}</ref> The city also suffered from "prostitutes, drug addicts, corrupt officials, beggars, orphans, and Americans with money", and according to [[Stanley Karnow]], it was "a black-market city in the largest sense of the word".<ref name=":5" />

On 28 April 1955, the [[Vietnamese National Army]] launched [[Battle of Saigon (1955)|an attack]] against [[Bình Xuyên]] military force in the city. The battle lasted until May, killing an estimated 500 people and leaving about 20,000 homeless.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Harvnb|Vo|2011|pp=129–130}}</ref> Ngô Đình Diệm then later turned on other paramilitary groups in Saigon, including the [[Hòa Hảo]] Buddhist reform movement.<ref name=":5" /> On 11 June 1963, Buddhist monk [[Thích Quảng Đức]] self-immolated in the city, in protest of the Diệm regime. On 2 November of the same year, Diệm was [[Arrest and assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem|assassinated]] in Saigon, in a successful coup by [[Dương Văn Minh]].<ref name=":5" />

During the 1968 [[Tet Offensive]], communist forces launched a failed [[Battle of Saigon (1968)|attempt to capture the city]]. Seven years later, on 30 April 1975, [[Fall of Saigon|Saigon was captured]], ending the [[Vietnam War]] with a victory for North Vietnam,<ref>{{cite web |last=Woollacott |first=Martin |date=21 April 2015 |title=Forty years on from the fall of Saigon: witnessing the end of the Vietnam war |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2015/apr/21/40-years-on-from-fall-of-saigon-witnessing-end-of-vietnam-war |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170501071233/https://www.theguardian.com/news/2015/apr/21/40-years-on-from-fall-of-saigon-witnessing-end-of-vietnam-war |archive-date=1 May 2017 |access-date=14 December 2016 |website=The Guardian}}</ref> and the city came under the control of the [[Vietnamese People's Army]].<ref name=":5" />

<gallery mode="packed" style="text-align: center;" heights="160" caption="Gallery of Saigon during the Republic of Vietnam era">
File:Vietnam Independence Palace 1967.jpg|The [[Independence Palace]] in 1967. It was the [[official residence]] and workplace of the [[Leaders of South Vietnam|President of South Vietnam]].
File:Saigon Opera House, 1967.jpg|The [[Municipal Theatre, Ho Chi Minh City|Saigon Opera House]] as seen from [[Đồng Khởi Street|Tự Do (Liberty) Street]] in 1967.
File:Tu Do Street, Saigon.jpg|Street view of Saigon in 1968.
File:StanVacBuilding1955.jpg|The headquarters of [[Standard Vacuum Oil Company|StanVac]] (now part of [[ExxonMobil|Exxon]]) is an example of Vietnamese modernist architecture which boomed during the era.
</gallery>

===Post–Vietnam War and today===
[[File:Ho Chi Minh City during sunset (50332857462).jpg|thumb|Ho Chi Minh City during sunset (November 2017)]]

In July 1976, upon the establishment of the unified [[Socialist Republic of Vietnam]], the city of Saigon (including the Cholon area), the province of Gia Ðịnh and two suburban districts of two other nearby provinces were combined to create Ho Chi Minh City, in honour of the late Communist leader Ho Chi Minh.{{Refn|name=resolution|group=nb}}

At the time, the city covered an area of {{convert|1295.5|km2}} with eight districts and five rurals: [[Thủ Đức (urban district)|Thủ Đức]], [[Hóc Môn District|Hóc Môn]], [[Củ Chi District|Củ Chi]], [[Bình Chánh District|Bình Chánh]], and [[Nhà Bè District|Nhà Bè]].<ref name=":8" /> Since 1978, administrative divisions in the city have been revised numerous times,<ref name=":8" /> most recently in 2020, when [[District 2, Ho Chi Minh City|District 2]], [[District 9, Ho Chi Minh City|District 9]], and [[Thủ Đức (urban district)|Thủ Đức District]] were consolidated to form a [[Thủ Đức|municipal city]].<ref name=":9">{{cite web |last1=Đoàn Loan |last2=Viết Tuân |date=2020-12-09 |title=Thành lập thành phố Thủ Đức |url=https://vnexpress.net/thanh-lap-thanh-pho-thu-duc-4203798.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209140051/https://vnexpress.net/thanh-lap-thanh-pho-thu-duc-4203798.html |archive-date=9 December 2020 |access-date=2021-05-22 |website=[[VnExpress]] |language=vi}}</ref>

On 29 October 2002, 60 people died and 90 were injured in the International Trade Center [[Ho Chi Minh City ITC fire|building fire]] in Ho Chi Minh City.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fifteen years on from the horrors of catastrophic blaze that rocked Saigon – VnExpress International |url=https://e.vnexpress.net/projects/fifteen-years-on-from-the-horrors-of-catastrophic-blaze-that-rocked-saigon-3661870/index.html |website=VnExpress International – Latest news, business, travel and analysis from Vietnam |language=EN}}</ref> Today, Ho Chi Minh City, along with its surrounding provinces, is described as "the manufacturing hub" of Vietnam, and "an attractive business hub".<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Truong |first1=Truong Hoang |url=https://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/vietnam/13909.pdf |title=Housing and Transportation in Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City |last2=Thao |first2=Truong Thanh |last3=Tung |first3=Son Thanh |publisher=Friedrich Ebert Foundation |year=2017 |location=Hanoi |page=2 |access-date=22 May 2021 |archive-date=22 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522081213/https://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/vietnam/13909.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> In terms of cost, it was ranked the 178th-most expensive major city in the world according to the Mercer Cost Of Living 2024 survey of 226 cities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cost of Living City Ranking 2024 |url=https://www.mercer.com/insights/total-rewards/talent-mobility-insights/cost-of-living/ |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=www.mercer.com |language=en}}</ref> In terms of international connectedness, as of 2024, the city was classified as a "Beta+" city by the [[Globalization and World Cities Research Network]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Cities 2024 |url=https://gawc.lboro.ac.uk/gawc-worlds/the-world-according-to-gawc/world-cities-2024/ |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=GaWC |language=en-US}}</ref> On 25 November 2025, Ho Chi Minh City was designated as a City of Creative Film by [[UNESCO]], marking its rise as Vietnam's vibrant cinematic heart.

==Geography==
[[File:Urban-Rural Population and Land Area Estimates, v2, 2010 Thanh Po Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam (13874141364).jpg|thumb|left|Population density and elevation above sea level in the city (2010). Ho Chi Minh City is vulnerable to [[sea level rise]].]]

The city is located in the [[Southeast Vietnam|south-eastern region of Vietnam]], {{cvt|1760|km|mi}} south of [[Hanoi]]. The average elevation is {{cvt|5|m|ft}} above sea level for the city centre and {{cvt|16|m|ft}} for the suburb areas.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cổng thông tin điện tử Bộ Kế hoạch và Đầu tư |url=http://www.mpi.gov.vn/Pages/tinhthanhchitiet.aspx?idTinhThanh=35 |url-status=live |access-date=2021-05-16 |website=mpi.gov.vn |quote=Độ cao trung bình so với mặt nước biển: nội thành là 5 m, ngoại thành là 16 m. |archive-date=16 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516100612/http://www.mpi.gov.vn/Pages/tinhthanhchitiet.aspx?idTinhThanh=35}}</ref> It borders [[Tây Ninh Province]] and [[Bình Dương Province]] to the north, [[Đồng Nai Province]] and [[Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu province]] to the east, [[Long An Province]] to the west, and [[Tien Giang Province|Tiền Giang Province]] and the [[South China Sea]] to the south with a coast {{cvt|15|km|0}} long. The city covers an area of {{convert|2,095|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} or 0.63% of the surface of Vietnam), extending up to [[Củ Chi District]] ({{cvt|12|mi|km|disp=or}} from the Cambodian border) and down to [[Cần Giờ District|Cần Giờ]] on the Eastern Sea.

The distance from the northernmost point (Phú Mỹ Hưng Commune, [[Củ Chi District]]) to the southernmost one (Long Hòa Commune, Cần Giờ District) is {{cvt|102|km|mi}}, and from the easternmost point ([[Thủ Đức|Long Bình ward]], District Nine) to the westernmost one (Bình Chánh Commune, Bình Chánh District) is {{cvt|47|km|mi}}.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}} Due to its location on the Mekong Delta, the city is fringed by tidal flats that have been heavily modified for agriculture.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Murray |first1=N.J. |last2=Clemens |first2=R.S. |last3=Phinn |first3=S.R. |last4=Possingham |first4=H.P. |last5=Fuller |first5=R.A. |title=Tracking the rapid loss of tidal wetlands in the Yellow Sea |journal=Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment |date=2014 |volume=12 |issue=5 |pages=267–272 |doi=10.1890/130260 |bibcode=2014FrEE...12..267M |url=https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/60169/1/130260.pdf |access-date=21 August 2021 |archive-date=7 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207073933/https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/60169/1/130260.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Flooding===
Saigon is considered one of the most vulnerable cities to the effects of flooding. During the rainy season, a combination of high tide, heavy rains, high flow volume in the [[Saigon River]] and [[Dong Nai River|Đồng Nai River]] and land subsidence results in regular flooding in several parts of the city.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.royalhaskoningdhv.com/en-gb/vietnam/projects/flood-management-in-ho-chi-minh-city-vietnam/37 |title=Flood management in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam |website=royalhaskoningdhv.com |access-date=18 June 2020 |archive-date=20 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920042934/https://www.royalhaskoningdhv.com/en-gb/vietnam/projects/flood-management-in-ho-chi-minh-city-vietnam/37 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/saigon-braces-for-more-record-tides-this-year-3991458.html |title=Saigon braces for more record tides this year – VnExpress International |website=VnExpress International – Latest news, business, travel and analysis from Vietnam |access-date=18 June 2020 |archive-date=4 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604045830/https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/saigon-braces-for-more-record-tides-this-year-3991458.html |url-status=live |author1=Vnexpress }}</ref> A once-in-100 year flood would cause 23% of the city to suffer flooding.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/sustainability/our-insights/can-coastal-cities-turn-the-tide-on-rising-flood-risk |title=Can coastal cities turn the tide on climate change flooding risk? |website=mckinsey.com |access-date=18 June 2020 |archive-date=16 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616181841/https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/sustainability/our-insights/can-coastal-cities-turn-the-tide-on-rising-flood-risk |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Climate===
{{Climate chart
| Ho Chi Minh City, [[Vietnam]]
|23.4|32.0|12
|23.1|32.7|8
|24.9|33.6|18
|26.4|34.5|57
|26.4|34.9|202
|25.5|33.5|224
|25.2|33.0|231
|25.1|32.9|219
|25.0|32.5|490
|25.0|32.3|340
|24.9|32.4|128
|24.3|31.6|41
|float=right
|clear=none
|source = Vietnam Institute for Building Science and Technology<ref name=IBST>{{cite web| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180722172120/http://ibst.vn/DATA/nhyen/QCVN%2002-2009%20BXD%20So%20lieu%20tu%20nhien.pdf| archive-date = 22 July 2018 |url=http://ibst.vn/DATA/nhyen/QCVN%2002-2009%20BXD%20So%20lieu%20tu%20nhien.pdf |title=Vietnam Building Code Natural Physical & Climatic Data for Construction |publisher=Vietnam Institute for Building Science and Technology |language=vi| access-date = 23 July 2018}}</ref> [[World Meteorological Organization]] (rainfall)<ref name=WMO >{{cite web |url=http://worldweather.wmo.int/082/c003éc09.htm |title=World Weather Information Service – Ho Chi Minh City |publisher=World Meteorological Organization| access-date = 5 September 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130729110904/http://worldweather.wmo.int/082/c00309.htm| archive-date = 29 July 2013| url-status = dead}}</ref> 
|date= February 2011
}}

The city has a [[tropical climate]], specifically [[tropical savanna climate|tropical savanna]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Aw]]), with a high average humidity of 78–82%.<ref name=adb>{{cite web| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180723165910/https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/linked-documents/46391-001-ieeab-04.pdf| archive-date = 23 July 2018 |url=http://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/linked-documents/46391-001-ieeab-04.pdf |title=Viet Nam: Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City Power Grid Development Sector Project |publisher=Asian Development Bank| access-date = 27 January 2015}}</ref> The year is divided into two distinct seasons.<ref name=adb /> The rainy season, with an average rainfall of about {{cvt|1800|mm|in|0}} annually (about 150 rainy days per year), usually lasts from May to November.<ref name=adb /> The dry season lasts from December to April.<ref name=adb />

The average temperature is {{cvt|28|°C|°F|0}}, with little variation throughout the year.<ref name="adb" /> The highest temperature recorded was {{cvt|40.0|°C|°F|0}} in April while the lowest temperature recorded was {{cvt|13.8|°C|°F|0}} in January.<ref name="adb" /> On average, the city experiences between 2,400 and 2,700 hours of sunshine per year.<ref name="adb" />

{{Weather box
|metric first=Y
|single line=Y
|location = Ho Chi Minh City ([[Tan Son Nhat International Airport]])
|temperature colour = 
|Jan record high C = 36.4
|Feb record high C = 38.7
|Mar record high C = 39.4
|Apr record high C = 40.0
|May record high C = 39.0
|Jun record high C = 37.5
|Jul record high C = 35.2
|Aug record high C = 36.1
|Sep record high C = 35.3
|Oct record high C = 34.9
|Nov record high C = 35.0
|Dec record high C = 36.3
|year record high C = 40.0
|Jan high C = 32.0
|Feb high C = 32.7
|Mar high C = 33.6
|Apr high C = 34.5
|May high C = 34.9
|Jun high C = 33.5
|Jul high C = 33.0
|Aug high C = 32.9
|Sep high C = 32.6
|Oct high C = 32.3
|Nov high C = 32.4
|Dec high C = 31.6
|year high C = 
|Jan mean C = 27.3
|Feb mean C = 27.5
|Mar mean C = 28.1
|Apr mean C = 29.3
|May mean C = 29.5
|Jun mean C = 28.8
|Jul mean C = 28.4
|Aug mean C = 28.3
|Sep mean C = 28.1
|Oct mean C = 28.0
|Nov mean C = 28.0
|Dec mean C = 27.3
|year mean C = 
|Jan low C = 23.4
|Feb low C = 23.1
|Mar low C = 24.9
|Apr low C = 26.4
|May low C = 26.4
|Jun low C = 25.5
|Jul low C = 25.2
|Aug low C = 25.1
|Sep low C = 25.0
|Oct low C = 25.0
|Nov low C = 24.9
|Dec low C = 23.9
|year low C = 
|Jan record low C = 13.8
|Feb record low C = 16.0
|Mar record low C = 17.5
|Apr record low C = 20.0
|May record low C = 21.1
|Jun record low C = 20.4
|Jul record low C = 19.4
|Aug record low C = 20.0
|Sep record low C = 20.8
|Oct record low C = 19.8
|Nov record low C = 17.6
|Dec record low C = 13.9
|year record low C = 13.8
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm =  12
|Feb rain mm =   8
|Mar rain mm =  18
|Apr rain mm =  57
|May rain mm = 202
|Jun rain mm = 224
|Jul rain mm = 231
|Aug rain mm = 219
|Sep rain mm = 490
|Oct rain mm = 340
|Nov rain mm = 128
|Dec rain mm =  41
|year rain mm =
|Jan humidity = 72
|Feb humidity = 70
|Mar humidity = 70
|Apr humidity = 72
|May humidity = 79
|Jun humidity = 82
|Jul humidity = 83
|Aug humidity = 83
|Sep humidity = 85
|Oct humidity = 84
|Nov humidity = 80
|Dec humidity = 77
|year humidity = 78
|Jan rain days = 2.0
|Feb rain days = 1.0
|Mar rain days = 1.0
|Apr rain days = 4.0
|May rain days = 13.0
|Jun rain days = 16.0
|Jul rain days = 19.0
|Aug rain days = 17.0
|Sep rain days = 18.0
|Oct rain days = 16.0
|Nov rain days = 9.0
|Dec rain days = 5.0
|Jan sun = 245
|Feb sun = 246
|Mar sun = 272
|Apr sun = 239
|May sun = 195
|Jun sun = 171
|Jul sun = 180
|Aug sun = 172
|Sep sun = 162
|Oct sun = 182
|Nov sun = 200
|Dec sun = 226
|year sun = 2490
|source 1 = Vietnam Institute for Building Science and Technology<ref name="IBST" />
|source 2 = [[World Meteorological Organization]] (rainfall)<ref name="WMO" /> 
|date= February 2011}}

==Administration==
[[File:Ho Chi Minh City, City Hall, 2020-01 CN-03.jpg|thumb|[[Ho Chi Minh City Hall]] is the administrative building of the city's government.]]
[[File:2025 admin map of Ho Chi Minh City.jpg|thumb|The formal map of Ho Chi Minh City after merging with [[Bình Dương province]] and [[Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu province]]. This image contents some obsolete designations.]]

The city is a municipality at the same level as [[Provinces of Vietnam|Vietnam's provinces]], and is divided into 113 [[Ward (Vietnam)|wards]], 54 [[Commune (Vietnam)|communes]], and 1 [[Special zone (Vietnam)|special administrative zone]] (as of 2025):<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-20 |title=Resolution No. 1685/NQ-UBTVQH15 on the Arrangement of Commune-Level Administrative Units in Ho Chi Minh City in 2025 |url=https://xaydungchinhsach.chinhphu.vn/toan-van-nghi-quyet-so-1685-nq-ubtvqh15-sap-xep-cac-dvhc-cap-xa-cua-thanh-pho-ho-chi-minh-nam-2025-119250616211341304.htm |access-date= |website=xaydungchinhsach.chinhphu.vn}}</ref>

113 wards ({{cvt|2023.6266|km2|disp=or}} in area), which are designated as urban or suburban (''{{lang|vi|phường}}''):
{{Div col|colwidth=10em}}
* An Đông
* [[An Hội Đông]]
* [[An Hội Tây]]
* [[An Khánh (ward)|An Khánh]]
* An Lạc
* An Nhơn
* [[An Phú, Ho Chi Minh City|An Phú]]
* An Phú Đông
* [[Bà Rịa ward|Bà Rịa]]
* [[Bàn Cờ]]
* Bảy Hiền
* Bến Cát
* [[Bến Thành]]
* Bình Cơ
* Bình Dương
* Bình Đông
* Bình Hòa
* Bình Hưng Hòa
* Bình Lợi Trung
* Bình Phú
* Bình Quới
* Bình Tân
* [[Bình Tây]]
* Bình Thạnh
* Bình Thới
* Bình Tiên
* Bình Trị Đông
* Bình Trưng
* Cát Lái
* [[Cầu Kiệu]]
* [[Cầu Ông Lãnh]]
* Chánh Hiệp
* [[Chánh Hưng]]
* Chánh Phú Hòa
* Chợ Lớn
* [[Chợ Quán]]
* Diên Hồng
* [[Dĩ An (ward)|Dĩ An]]
* Đông Hòa
* Đông Hưng Thuận
* Đức Nhuận
* [[Gia Định (ward)|Gia Định]]
* Gò Vấp
* [[Hạnh Thông]]
* Hiệp Bình
* Hòa Bình
* Hòa Hưng
* [[Hòa Lợi, Ho Chi Minh City|Hòa Lợi]]
* Khánh Hội
* Lái Thiêu
* Linh Xuân
* Long Bình
* [[Long Hương]]
* Long Nguyên
* Long Phước
* Long Trường
* [[Minh Phụng]]
* Nhiêu Lộc
* Phú An
* Phú Định
* Phú Lâm
* [[Phú Lợi, Ho Chi Minh City|Phú Lợi]]
* Phú Mỹ
* Phú Nhuận
* Phú Thạnh
* Phú Thọ
* Phú Thọ Hòa
* Phú Thuận
* Phước Long
* Phước Thắng
* Rạch Dừa
* [[Sài Gòn (ward)|Sài Gòn]]
* Tam Bình
* Tam Long
* Tam Thắng
* Tăng Nhơn Phú
* Tân Bình
* [[Tân Định ward|Tân Định]]
* Tân Đông Hiệp
* Tân Hải
* Tân Hòa
* Tân Hiệp
* Tân Hưng
* Tân Khánh
* Tân Mỹ
* Tân Phú
* [[Tân Phước, Hồ Chí Minh City|Tân Phước]]
* Tân Sơn
* [[Tân Sơn Hòa]]
* Tân Sơn Nhất
* Tân Sơn Nhì
* Tân Tạo
* [[Tân Thành, Ho Chi Minh City|Tân Thành]]
* Tân Thới Hiệp
* Tân Thuận
* Tân Uyên
* Tây Nam
* Tây Thạnh
* [[Thạnh Mỹ Tây (ward)|Thạnh Mỹ Tây]]
* Thông Tây Hội
* Thới An
* Thới Hòa
* Thuận An
* Thuận Giao
* [[Thủ Dầu Một, Ho Chi Minh City|Thủ Dầu Một]]
* Thủ Đức
* Trung Mỹ Tây
* [[Vĩnh Hội]]
* Vĩnh Tân
* [[Vũng Tàu ward|Vũng Tàu]]
* Vườn Lài
* Xóm Chiếu
* Xuân Hòa
{{Div col end}}

54 communes ({{cvt|4682.001|km2|disp=or}} in area), which are designated rural (''{{lang|vi|xã}}''):

{{Div col|colwidth=10em}}
* An Long
* [[An Nhơn Tây, Ho Chi Minh City|An Nhơn Tây]]
* An Thới Đông
* Bà Điểm
* Bàu Bàng
* Bàu Lâm
* Bắc Tân Uyên
* Bình Chánh
* Bình Châu
* Bình Giã
* Bình Hưng
* Bình Khánh
* Bình Lợi
* Bình Mỹ
* Cần Giờ
* [[Châu Đức commune|Châu Đức]]
* [[Châu Pha]]
* Củ Chi
* Dầu Tiếng
* Đất Đỏ
* Đông Thạnh
* Hiệp Phước
* Hòa Hiệp
* Hòa Hội
* [[Hóc Môn]]
* Hồ Tràm
* Hưng Long
* Kim Long
* Long Điền
* Long Hải
* Long Hòa
* Long Sơn
* Minh Thạnh
* [[Ngãi Giao]]
* [[Nghĩa Thành, Ho Chi Minh City|Nghĩa Thành]]
* [[Nhà Bè]]
* Nhuận Đức
* Phú Giáo
* Phú Hòa Đông
* Phước Hải
* Phước Hòa
* Phước Thành
* Tân An Hội
* Tân Nhựt
* Tân Vĩnh Lộc
* Thanh An
* Thạnh An
* Thái Mỹ
* Thường Tân
* Trừ Văn Thố
* Vĩnh Lộc
* Xuân Sơn
* Xuân Thới Sơn
* [[Xuyên Mộc]]
{{col div end}}

One special administrative zone ({{cvt|75.8|km2|disp=or|}} in area), which is designated [[municipal city (Vietnam)|municipal city]] (''{{lang|vi|đặc khu thuộc thành phố trực thuộc trung ương}}''):

* [[Côn Đảo]]

===City government===
The [[Ho Chi Minh City Hall|Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee]] is a 13-member executive branch of the city. The current chairman is Nguyễn Văn Được. There are several vice chairmen and chairwomen on the committee with responsibility over various city departments.

The legislative branch of the city is the ''Ho Chi Minh City People's Council'' and consists of 105 members. The current chairman is Võ Văn Minh. The judiciary branch of the city is the ''Ho Chi Minh City People's Court''. The current chief judge is Lê Thanh Phong.

The executive committee of [[Communist Party of Vietnam|Communist Party]] of Ho Chi Minh City is the leading organ of the Communist Party in Ho Chi Minh City. The current secretary is [[Trần Lưu Quang]]. The permanent deputy secretary of the Communist Party is ranked second in the city politics after the Secretary of the Communist Party, while chairman of the People's Committee is ranked third and the chairman of the People's Council is ranked fourth.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}


==Demographics==
{| class="wikitable floatright"
|-
! style="background:  #D3D3D3;" colspan="9" | '''Historical population (prior to July 2025)'''
|-
! Year
! Area km<sup>2</sup>
! Population
! Person/km<sup>2</sup>
! Urban 
! Rural
|-
! style="background:  #D3D3D3;" colspan="9" | '''Census'''<ref>'''01.04.1999'''<br>'''01.10.2004'''<br>'''01.04.2009'''<br>'''01.04.2019'''</ref>
|-
|1999||style="text-align:center"|-||style="text-align:right"|5,034,058||style="text-align:center"|-||4,207,825||style="text-align: right"|826,233
|-
|2004||style="text-align:center"|-||style="text-align:right"|6,117,251||style="text-align:center"|-||5,140,412||style="text-align: right"|976,839
|-
|2009||style="text-align:center"|2,097.1||style="text-align:right"|7,162,864||style="text-align:center"|3,416||5,880,615||1,282,249
|-
|2019||style="text-align:center"|2,061.2||style="text-align:right"|8,993,082||style="text-align:center"|4,363||7,127,364||1,865,718
|-
! style="background:  #D3D3D3;" colspan="9" | '''Estimate'''
|-
|2010||style="text-align:center"|2,095.6||style="text-align:right"|7,346,600||style="text-align:center"|3,506||6,114,300||1,232,300
|-
|2011||style="text-align:center"|2,095.6||style="text-align:right"|7,498,400||style="text-align:center"|3,578||6,238,000||1,260,400
|-
|2012||style="text-align:center"|2,095.6||style="text-align:right"|7,660,300||style="text-align:center"|3,655||6,309,100||1,351,100
|-
|2013||style="text-align:center"|2,095.6||style="text-align:right"|7,820,000||style="text-align:center"|3,732||6,479,200||1,340,800
|-
|2014||style="text-align:center"|2,095.5||style="text-align:right"|7,981,900||style="text-align:center"|3,809||6,554,700||1,427,200
|-
|2015||style="text-align:center"|2,095.5||style="text-align:right"|8,127,900||style="text-align:center"|3,879||6,632,800||1,495,100
|-
|2016||style="text-align:center"|2,061.4||style="text-align:right"|8,287,000||style="text-align:center"|4,020||6,733,100||1,553,900
|-
|2017||style="text-align:center"|2,061.2||style="text-align:right"|8,444,600||style="text-align:center"|4,097||6,825,300||1,619,300
|-
|2025
| -
|9,816,320 (Before the merger with Binh Duong & Ba Ria - Vung Tau)
|4.375
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|
|6.772,59
|14.002.598 (After the merger with Binh Duong & Ba Ria - Vung Tau)
|2.068
|
|
|
|
|
|-
! colspan=9 style="text-align: center"| '''Sources''':<ref>[http://www.gso.gov.vn/default.aspx?tabid=714 TỔNG CỤC THỐNG KÊ] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003153734/http://www.gso.gov.vn/default.aspx?tabid=714 |date=3 October 2018}} __gso.gov.vn</ref><ref>[http://www.gso.gov.vn/khodulieudanso2009/ Tổng điều tra dân số và nhà ở năm 2009] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010015840/http://www.gso.gov.vn/khodulieudanso2009/ |date=10 October 2018}} __gso.gov.vn</ref><ref>[http://www.gso.gov.vn/default_en.aspx?tabid=476&ItemID=1841 GENERAL STATISTICS OFFICE of VIET NAM] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927050142/http://www.gso.gov.vn/default_en.aspx?tabid=476&ItemID=1841 |date=27 September 2018}} __gso.gov.vn</ref><ref name="Census2019">{{cite web |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YK6iY-j0AfZTuip28Py2Gmz5P8zw04Rn/view?usp=sharing |title=Report on Results of the 2019 Census |publisher=General Statistics Office of Vietnam |access-date=1 May 2020 |archive-date=9 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200509091125/http://tongdieutradanso.vn/uploads/data/6/files/files/2_%20Bieu%20so%20lieu%20va%20phu%20luc%20(duyet%20gui%20in).pdf |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ho Chi Minh City Population 2025 |url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/cities/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=worldpopulationreview.com |language=en}}</ref>
|}

<!-- This table is not up-to-date. Show it only when the data have been updated.
{{historical populations
| source = Tổng cục thống kê Việt Nam{{rp|80}}{{rp|93}}<ref name="dánolonganqacnam">[http://www.gso.gov.vn/default.aspx?tabid=387&idmid=3&ItemID=15569 Dân số trung bình phân theo địa phương qua các năm] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008010457/http://www.gso.gov.vn/default.aspx?tabid=387&idmid=3&ItemID=15569 |date = ngày 8 tháng 10 năm 2014}}, General Statistics Office of Vietnam.</ref>
| 1995 | 4640400
| 1996 | 4747900
| 1997 | 4852300
| 1998 | 4957300
| 1999 | 5073100
| 2000 | 5274900
| 2001 | 5454000
| 2002 | 5619400
| 2003 | 5809100
| 2004 | 6007600
| 2005 | 6230900
| 2006 | 6483100
| 2007 | 6725300
| 2008 | 6946100
| 2009 | 7196100
| 2010 | 7378000
| 2011 | 7517900
| 2012 | 7663800
| 2013 | 7818200
| 2014 | 8244400
| 2015 | 8307900
| 2016 | 8441902
| 2017 | 8446000
| 2018 | 8843200
| 2019 | 9038600
| 2020 | 9227600
| 2021 | 9166800}}
-->

The population of the city, as of the 1 October 2004 census, was 6,117,251 (of which 19 inner districts had 5,140,412 residents and five suburban districts had 976,839 inhabitants).<ref name="Statistical office">{{cite web |url=http://www.pso.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/an_pham/sltkcytphcm/30_so_lieu_thong_ke_chu_yeu |title=Statistical office in Ho Chi Minh City |publisher=Pso.hochiminhcity.gov.vn |access-date=3 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100403064035/http://www.pso.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/an_pham/sltkcytphcm/30_so_lieu_thong_ke_chu_yeu |archive-date=3 April 2010}}</ref>

In mid-2007, the city's population was 6,650,942 – with the 19 inner districts home to 5,564,975 residents and the five suburban districts containing 1,085,967 inhabitants. The result of the 2009 Census shows that the city's population was 7,162,864 people,<ref name="gso.gov.vn">{{cite web |url=http://www.gso.gov.vn/default_en.aspx?tabid=462&idmid=2&idmid=2&ItemID=9789 |title=General Statistics Office of Vietnam |publisher=Gso.gov.vn |access-date=4 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716062156/http://www.gso.gov.vn/default_en.aspx?tabid=462&idmid=2&idmid=2&ItemID=9789 |archive-date=16 July 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> about 8.34% of the total population of Vietnam, making it the highest population-concentrated city in the country. As of the end of 2012, the total population of the city was 7,750,900 people, an increase of 3.1% from 2011.<ref name="gso">{{cite web |url=http://www.gso.gov.vn/default.aspx?tabid=383&idmid=2&ItemID=13495 |title=Tong Cuc Thong Ke |publisher=Gso.gov.vn |access-date=2013-04-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404200211/http://www.gso.gov.vn/default.aspx?tabid=383&idmid=2&ItemID=13495 |archive-date=4 April 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

As an administrative unit, its population is also the largest at the provincial level. According to the 2019 census, Ho Chi Minh City has a population of over 8.9&nbsp;million within the [[city proper]] and over 21&nbsp;million within its [[Ho Chi Minh City metropolitan area|metropolitan area]].<ref name="2019census">{{cite news |title=Báo cáo sơ bộ Tổng điều tra Dân số và nhà ở 2019 |language=vi |trans-title=General statistics for Population and households investigation 2019 |publisher=General Statistics Office of Vietnam |url=https://www.gso.gov.vn/default.aspx?tabid=512&idmid=5&ItemID=19279 |access-date=20 March 2020 |archive-date=13 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191113154758/https://www.gso.gov.vn/default.aspx?tabid=512&idmid=5&ItemID=19279 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In August 2017, the city's mayor, Nguyễn Thành Phong, admitted that previous estimates of 8–10&nbsp;million were drastic underestimations.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Vnexpress |url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/guess-how-many-people-are-jamming-into-saigon-hint-it-s-as-bad-as-tokyo-3628742.html |title=Guess how many people are jamming into Saigon? Hint: It's as bad as Tokyo – VnExpress International |work=VnExpress International – Latest news, business, travel and analysis from Vietnam |access-date=21 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321192622/https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/guess-how-many-people-are-jamming-into-saigon-hint-it-s-as-bad-as-tokyo-3628742.html |archive-date=21 March 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
The actual population (including those who have not officially registered) was estimated 13&nbsp;million in 2017.<ref name="trithuctre">{{cite web |url=http://ttvn.vn/kinh-doanh/chu-tich-nguyen-thanh-phong-du-bao-dan-so-tp-ho-chi-minh-den-nam-2025-la-10-trieu-nguoi-nhung-nay-da-dat-13-trieu-nguoi-5201717811412441.htm |title=Chủ tịch Nguyễn Thành Phong: Dự báo dân số Tp. Hồ Chí Minh đến năm 2025 là 10 triệu người nhưng nay đã đạt 13 triệu người (Chairman Nguyễn Thành Phong: The official population of Ho Chi Minh City is estimated to reach 10&nbsp;million by 2025 but this number reached 13&nbsp;million in 2017) |author=Thảo Nguyên |date=17 August 2017 |access-date=17 July 2018 |publisher=Trí thức trẻ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717071102/http://ttvn.vn/kinh-doanh/chu-tich-nguyen-thanh-phong-du-bao-dan-so-tp-ho-chi-minh-den-nam-2025-la-10-trieu-nguoi-nhung-nay-da-dat-13-trieu-nguoi-5201717811412441.htm |archive-date=17 July 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
The [[Ho Chi Minh City Metropolitan Area]], a metropolitan area covering most parts of the [[southeast (Vietnam)|southeast]] region plus [[Tiền Giang Province]] and [[Long An Province]] under planning, will have an area of {{cvt|30000|km2}} with a population of 20&nbsp;million inhabitants by 2020.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://vneconomy.vn/?home=detail&page=category&cat_name=17&id=7838380a353206 |title=Quy hoạch xây dựng vùng Tp.HCM |date=25 April 2008 |publisher=VnEconomy |access-date=18 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610094253/http://vneconomy.vn/?home=detail&page=category&cat_name=17&id=7838380a353206 |archive-date=10 June 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> Inhabitants of Ho Chi Minh City are usually known as "Saigonese" in English and "dân Sài Gòn" in Vietnamese.

===Ethnic groups===
The majority of the population are ethnic Vietnamese ([[Kinh]]) at about 93.52%. Ho Chi Minh City's largest minority ethnic group are the Chinese ([[Hoa people|Hoa]]) with 5.78%. [[Cholon, Ho Chi Minh City|Cholon]] – in District 5 and parts of Districts 6, 10, and 11 – is home to the largest Chinese community in Vietnam. The Hoa (Chinese) speak a number of [[varieties of Chinese]], including [[Cantonese]], [[Teochew dialect|Teochew]] (Chaozhou), [[Hokkien]], [[Hainanese]], and [[Hakka Chinese|Hakka]]; smaller numbers also speak [[Mandarin Chinese]]. Other ethnic minorities include [[Khmer people|Khmer]] with 0.34%, [[Chams|Cham]] with 0.1%, as well as a small group of [[Bawean people|Baweans]] from [[Bawean Island]] in Indonesia (about 400; as of 2015), they occupy District 1.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/indonesia/majalah/2015/08/150727_majalahlain_bawean_vietnam|title=Menelusuri jejak keturunan Indonesia asal Bawean di Vietnam|website=www.bbc.com|date=2 August 2015 |language=id|access-date=23 May 2023}}</ref>

Various other nationalities including Koreans, Japanese, Americans, Russians, South Africans, Filipinos, French and Britons reside in Ho Chi Minh City as expatriate workers. The highest concentration of which are in  Thủ Đức and District 7.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pso.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/an_pham/dansotphcmqua2cuocdieutra1999_2004/ttkqdtds |title=Cục thống kê – Tóm tắt kết quả điều tra dân số |publisher=Pso.hochiminhcity.gov.vn |date=4 January 2001 |access-date=4 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923071237/http://www.pso.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/an_pham/dansotphcmqua2cuocdieutra1999_2004/ttkqdtds |archive-date=23 September 2010}}</ref>

===Religion===
As of April 2009, the city recognises 13 religions and 1,983,048 residents identify as religious people. Buddhism and [[Catholic Church in Vietnam|Catholicism]] are the two predominant religions in Ho Chi Minh City. The largest is [[Buddhism]] as it has 1,164,930 followers followed by [[Catholicism]] with 745,283 followers, [[Caodaism]] with 31,633 followers, [[Protestantism]] with 27,016 followers, [[Islam]] with 6,580 followers, [[Hòa Hảo]] with 4,894 followers, [[Tịnh độ cư sĩ Phật hội Việt Nam]] with 1,387 followers, [[Hinduism]] with 395 followers, [[Đạo Tứ ấn hiếu nghĩa]] with 298 followers, [[Minh Sư Đạo]] with 283 followers, [[Baháʼí Faith]] with 192 followers, [[Bửu Sơn Kỳ Hương]] with 89 followers, [[MinhLýĐạo|Minh Lý Đạo]] with 67 followers.<ref>[https://www.gso.gov.vn/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/KQ-toan-bo-1.pdf THE 2009 VIETNAM POPULATION AND HOUSING CENSUS] Tổng cục Thống kê Việt Nam.  Table 7, §79.</ref>

==Economy==
{{Cleanup rewrite||section|date=December 2018}}
The city is the economic center of Vietnam and accounts for a large proportion of the [[economy of Vietnam]]. Although the city takes up just 0.6% of the country's land area, it contains 8.34% of the population of Vietnam, 20.2% of its GDP, 27.9% of industrial output and 34.9% of the [[Foreign Direct Investment|FDI]] projects in the country in 2005.<ref>[http://www.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/left/gioi_thieu/thong_ke/so_ca_nuoc/vi_tri?left_menu=1 Statistics in 2005] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071113081605/http://www.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/left/gioi_thieu/thong_ke/so_ca_nuoc/vi_tri?left_menu=1 |date=13 November 2007}} on the city's official website.</ref> In 2005, the city had 4,344,000 labourers, of whom 130,000 are over the labour age norm (in Vietnam, 60 for male and 55 for female workers).<ref>[http://www.vienkinhte.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/xemtin.asp?idcha=683&cap=3&id=767 Ho Chi Minh City Economics Institute] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415220843/http://www.vienkinhte.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/xemtin.asp?idcha=683&cap=3&id=767 |date=15 April 2008}}</ref> In 2009, [[GDP per capita]] reached $2,800, compared to the country's average level of $1,042.<ref>{{cite web |author=Hana R. Alberts |url=https://www.forbes.com/2009/12/21/asia-most-expensive-places-lifestyle-real-estate-cities_slide_8.html |title=''Forbes'' profile of Vietnam |work=Forbes |date=21 December 2009 |access-date=24 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514144636/http://www.forbes.com/2009/12/21/asia-most-expensive-places-lifestyle-real-estate-cities_slide_8.html |archive-date=14 May 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Refer to the chart below for year-by-year summary of HCMC's economy:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!General description
|-
|2006
|As of June 2006, the city has been home to three export processing zones and twelve industrial parks. Ho Chi Minh City is the leading recipient of [[foreign direct investment]] in Vietnam, with 2,530 FDI projects worth $16.6&nbsp;billion at the end of 2007.<ref>Hàn Ni, [http://www.sggp.org.vn/kinhte/2007/11/128733 "TPHCM dẫn đầu thu hút vốn FDI vì biết cách bứt phá"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415215218/http://www.sggp.org.vn/kinhte/2007/11/128733/ |date=15 April 2009}}. ''Sài Gòn giải phóng'', 2007.</ref> In 2007, the city received over 400 FDI projects worth $3&nbsp;billion.<ref name="wto">[http://www.thongtinthuongmaivietnam.com.vn/IWINews.aspx?CatalogID=2426&ID=64806 "TPHCM sau 1 năm gia nhập WTO – Vượt lên chính mình..."] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080404095748/http://www.thongtinthuongmaivietnam.com.vn/IWINews.aspx?CatalogID=2426&ID=64806 |date=4 April 2008}}, ''Trung tâm thông tin thương mại''.
</ref>
|-
|2007
|In 2007, the city's GDP was estimated at $14.3&nbsp;billion, or about $2,180 per capita, up 12.6 percent from 2006 and accounting for 20% of the country's GDP. The GDP adjusted to [[Purchasing Power Parity]] (PPP) reached $71.5&nbsp;billion, or about $10,870 per capita (approximately three times higher than the country's average). The city's Industrial Product Value was $6.4&nbsp;billion, equivalent to 30% of the value of the entire nation. Export–import turnover through HCMC ports accounted for $36&nbsp;billion, or 40% of the national total, of which export revenue reached $18.3&nbsp;billion (40% of Vietnam's total export revenues). In 2007, Ho Chi Minh City's contribution to the annual revenues in the national budget increased by 30 percent, accounting for about 20.5 percent of total revenues. The consumption demand of Ho Chi Minh City is higher than other [[Provinces of Vietnam|Vietnamese provinces and municipalities]] and 1.5 times higher than that of [[Hanoi]].<ref>{{Cite web|author=Minh Anh
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201203195439/https://cuoi.tuoitre.vn/chu-de/sai-gon-201.html
| archive-date= 3 December 2020
| url-status= dead
|title=Sài Gòn trong mắt bạn trẻ
|url=https://cuoi.tuoitre.vn/chu-de/sai-gon-201.html|access-date=2023-03-17|website=TUOI TRE ONLINE|language=vi}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=June 2023|reason=archived too late: already dead}}
|-
|2008
|In 2008, it attracted $8.5&nbsp;billion in FDI.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ho Chi Minh City attracts record FDI in 2008 |url=http://www.vnbusinessnews.com/2008/12/ho-chi-minh-city-attracts-record-fdi-in.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090519221052/http://www.vnbusinessnews.com/2008/12/ho-chi-minh-city-attracts-record-fdi-in.html |archive-date=19 May 2009}}</ref> In 2010, the city's GDP was estimated at $20.902&nbsp;billion, or about $2,800 per capita, up 11.8 percent from 2009.<ref>{{cite web |title=10 điểm nổi bật trong tình hình kinh tế – xã hội TPHCM năm 2010 |url=http://www.bsc.com.vn/News/2011/1/4/128448.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116190345/http://www.bsc.com.vn/News/2011/1/4/128448.aspx |archive-date=16 January 2013 |access-date=24 April 2012 |publisher=Bsc.com.vn}}</ref>
|-
|2012
|By the end of 2012, the city's GDP was estimated around $28,595&nbsp;billion {{Dubious|date=March 2014}}, or about $3,700 per capita, up 9.2 percent from 2011.<ref>{{cite web |author=VnExpress |title=TP HCM đặt mục tiêu thu nhập bình quân 4.000 USD mỗi người |url=http://vnexpress.net/gl/kinh-doanh/2012/12/tp-hcm-dat-muc-tieu-thu-nhap-binh-quan-4-000-usd-moi-nguoi/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121227211800/http://vnexpress.net/gl/kinh-doanh/2012/12/tp-hcm-dat-muc-tieu-thu-nhap-binh-quan-4-000-usd-moi-nguoi/ |archive-date=27 December 2012 |access-date=5 January 2013 |work=VnExpress}}</ref> Total trade (export and import) reached $47.7&nbsp;billion, with export at $21.57&nbsp;billion and import $26.14&nbsp;billion.<ref name="gso" />
|-
|2013
|In 2013, GDP of the city grew 7.6% by Q1, 8.1% by Q2, and 10.3% by the end of Q3. By the end of 2013, the city's GDP grew 9.3%, with GDP per capita reaching $4,500.<ref>{{cite web |title=TÌNH HÌNH KINH TẾ XÃ HỘI Tháng 9 và 9 tháng năm 2013 |trans-title=SOCIO-ECONOMIC SITUATION September and May 9, 2013 |language=vi |url=http://www.pso.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=81a32bfe-59a2-46dd-96dc-e36ae460f5b4&groupId=18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022084641/http://www.pso.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=81a32bfe-59a2-46dd-96dc-e36ae460f5b4&groupId=18 |archive-date=22 October 2013 |access-date=10 October 2013}}</ref>
|-
|2014
|By the end of 2014, the city's GDP grew 9.5%, with GDP per capita reaching $5,100.<ref>{{cite web |title=GDP bình quân đầu người của TP Hồ Chí Minh đạt 5.131 USD – Hànộimới |date=23 November 2014 |url=http://hanoimoi.com.vn/Tin-tuc/Kinh-te/725612/gdp-binh-quan-dau-nguoi-cua-tp-ho-chi-minh-dat-5131-usd |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205054209/http://hanoimoi.com.vn/Tin-tuc/Kinh-te/725612/gdp-binh-quan-dau-nguoi-cua-tp-ho-chi-minh-dat-5131-usd |archive-date=5 December 2014 |access-date=2015-05-29 |publisher=Hanoimoi.com.vn}}</ref>{{clear}}
|-
|2020
|The city's economic performance transcended 6%, at 7.84% from 2016 to 2019 and 2016–2020; the town grew at 6,59%.  Its performance assists the city in reaching the GDP per capita at $6.328;<ref>{{cite web |last=etime.danviet.vn |title=GRDP bình quân đầu người TP. HCM năm 2020 ước đạt 6.328 USD |url=https://etime.danviet.vn/grdp-binh-quan-dau-nguoi-tp-hcm-nam-2020-uoc-dat-6328-usd-20201016101927787.htm |access-date=2022-02-10 |website=danviet.vn |date=16 October 2020 |language=vi |archive-date=10 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210230359/https://etime.danviet.vn/grdp-binh-quan-dau-nguoi-tp-hcm-nam-2020-uoc-dat-6328-usd-20201016101927787.htm |url-status=usurped}}</ref> however, it yielded the preferred growth at $9.800 per capita due to the repercussion result of COVID-19.<ref>{{cite web |last=Mai |first=Ban |date=2021-03-14 |title=Vì sao Tp.HCM lỡ mục tiêu thu nhập đầu người 9.800 USD/năm? |url=https://vneconomy.vn/vi-sao-tphcm-lo-muc-tieu-thu-nhap-dau-nguoi-9800-usd-nam.htm |website=Nhịp sống kinh tế Việt Nam & Thế giới |language=vi}}</ref>
|-
|2023
|In 2023, the city had a GDP of US$121.1 billion and GRDP per capita of US$9.6.
|}

===Sectors===
[[File:SaigonPort1.JPG|right|thumb|[[Saigon Port]] is one of five major ports in Vietnam, and is among the busiest container ports in the world.]]
[[File:Saigon Hi-Tech Park.JPG|right|thumb|[[Ho Chi Minh City Hi-tech Park|Hi-tech Park]], located in [[District 9, Ho Chi Minh City|District 9]], is one of Vietnam's two national hi-tech parks.]]

The economy of the city consists of industries ranging from mining, seafood processing, agriculture, and construction, to tourism, finance, industry and trade. The state-owned sector makes up 33.3% of the economy, the private sector 4.6%, and the remainder in foreign investment. Concerning its economic structure, the service sector accounts for 51.1%, industry and construction account for 47.7% and forestry, agriculture and others make up just 1.2%.<ref>[http://www.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/left/gioi_thieu/thong_ke/giai_doan_01_06/slcy2?left_menu=1 Chỉ tiêu tổng hợp giai đoạn 2001–06] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415184358/http://www.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/left/gioi_thieu/thong_ke/giai_doan_01_06/slcy2?left_menu=1 |date=15 April 2009}}, Ho Chi Minh City government website. (Dead Link)</ref>

The city and its ports are part of the [[21st Century Maritime Silk Road]] that runs from the Chinese coast via the [[Suez Canal]] to the Mediterranean, there to the Upper Adriatic region of [[Trieste]] with its rail connections to [[Central Europe|Central]] and [[Eastern Europe]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Transportation/Chinese-state-port-operator-s-India-and-Vietnam-acquisitions-stall |title=Chinese state port operator's India and Vietnam acquisitions stall |website=Nikkei Asia |access-date=30 January 2021 |archive-date=28 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128040201/https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Transportation/Chinese-state-port-operator-s-India-and-Vietnam-acquisitions-stall |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/asean-business/a-primer-on-china%E2%80%99s-belt-and-road-initiative-plans-in-south-east-asia |title=A primer on China's Belt and Road Initiative plans in South-east Asia |access-date=30 January 2021 |archive-date=5 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205064745/https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/asean-business/a-primer-on-china%E2%80%99s-belt-and-road-initiative-plans-in-south-east-asia |url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Quang Trung Software Park, Ho Chi Minh City|Quang Trung Software Park]] is a software park situated in District 12. The park is approximately {{cvt|15|km|0}} from downtown Ho Chi Minh City and hosts software enterprises as well as dot.com companies. The park also includes a software training school. Dot.com investors here are supplied with other facilities and services such as residences and high-speed access to the internet as well as favorable taxation. Together with the [[Ho Chi Minh City Hi-tech Park|Hi-Tech Park]] in [[Thủ Đức]], and the 32 ha. software park inside Tân Thuận Export Processing Zone in District 7 of the city, Ho Chi Minh City aims to become an important hi-tech city in the country and the South-East Asia region.

This park helps the city in particular and Vietnam in general to become an outsourcing location for other enterprises in developed countries, as India has done. Some 300,000 businesses, including many large enterprises, are involved in high-tech, electronic, processing and light industries, and also in construction, building materials and agricultural products. Additionally, crude oil is a popular economic base in the city. Investors are still pouring money into the city. Total local private investment was 160&nbsp;billion [[Vietnamese đồng|''đồng'']] (US$7.5&nbsp;million)<ref>Exchange rate from XE.com</ref> with 18,500 newly founded companies. Investment trends to high technology, services and real estate projects.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}

As of June 2006, the city had three export processing zones and twelve industrial parks, in addition to Quang Trung Software Park and Ho Chi Minh City hi-tech park. [[Intel]] has invested about 1&nbsp;billion dollars in a factory in the city. More than fifty banks with hundreds of branches and about 20 insurance companies are also located inside the city. The [[Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange|Stock Exchange]], the first stock exchange in Vietnam, was opened in 2001. There are 171 medium and large-scale markets as well as several supermarket chains, shopping malls, and fashion and beauty centers.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}

On Vietnam's Provincial Competitiveness Index 2023, a key tool for evaluating the business environment in Vietnam's provinces, Ho Chi Minh City received a score of 67.19.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chỉ số năng lực cạnh tranh cấp tỉnh (PCI) |url=https://pcivietnam.vn/ |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=pcivietnam.vn |language=vi}}</ref> This was a fall from 2022 in which the province received a score of 65.86. In 2023, the province received its highest scores on the 'Time Costs' and 'Law and Order' criterion and lowest on 'Access To Land' and 'Policy Bias'.<ref>{{Cite web |last=the-shiv |date=2024-08-13 |title=Doing Business in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 2024 |url=https://the-shiv.com/doing-business-in-ho-chi-minh-city-vietnam/ |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=the-shiv |language=en-AU}}</ref>

===Urbanisation===
[[File:DJI 0212-HDR-Pano (cropped).jpg|right|thumb|Ho Chi Minh City has a high concentration of skyscrapers as a result of urbanisation. The [[Landmark 81]] is the tallest building in Vietnam.]]

With a population now of 8,382,287 (as of Census 2010 on 1 April 2010)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gso.gov.vn/default.aspx?tabid=512&idmid=5&ItemID=11010 |title=Tong Cuc Thong Ke |publisher=Gso.gov.vn |access-date=24 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331050005/http://www.gso.gov.vn/default.aspx?tabid=512&idmid=5&ItemID=11010 |archive-date=31 March 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> (registered residents plus migrant workers as well as a metropolitan population of 10&nbsp;million), the city needs increased public infrastructure.<ref name="Statistical office" /> To this end, the city and central governments have embarked on an effort to develop new urban centres. The two most prominent projects are the Thủ Thiêm city centre in District 2 and the Phú Mỹ Hưng Urban Area, a new city centre in District 7 (as part of the Saigon South project) where various international schools such as [[Saigon South International School]] and Australian [[RMIT International University, Vietnam|Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology]] are located. In December 2007, Phú Mỹ Hưng's new City Centre completed the {{cvt|17.8|km|mi}} 10–14 lane wide Nguyễn Văn Linh Boulevard linking the Saigon port areas, Tân Thuận Export Processing Zone to the National Highway 1 and the [[Mekong Delta]] area. In November 2008, a brand new trade centre, Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre, also opened its doors. Other projects include Grandview, Waterfront, Sky Garden, Riverside and Phú Gia 99. Phú Mỹ Hưng's new City Centre received the first Model New City Award from the Vietnamese Ministry of Construction.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}

In 2007, three&nbsp;million foreign tourists, about 70% of the total number of tourists to Vietnam, visited the city. Total cargo transport to city's ports reached 50.5&nbsp;million [[tonne]]s,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mofahcm.gov.vn/vi/tintuc_sk/tulieu/nr060206163738/nr061107160930/ns080114143359 |title=mofahcm |publisher=mofahcm |access-date=3 April 2010 |language=vi |quote=Số lượng khách quốc tế đến TPHCM đã đạt tới 3 triệu lượt người, tăng 14,6% so với năm 2006, chiếm 70% tổng lượng du khách đến VN... Lượng hàng hóa vận chuyển qua cảng đạt 50,5 triệu tấn... |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100131070525/http://www.mofahcm.gov.vn/vi/tintuc_sk/tulieu/nr060206163738/nr061107160930/ns080114143359 |archive-date=31 January 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> nearly one-third of the total for Vietnam.

==Cityscape==
===Architecture===
{{Expand section|date=June 2023}}

Ho Chi Minh City has many architecturally notable buildings from different styles and time periods. French influence during the colonial era can be seen throughout the city, especially in District 1 where a number of buildings can be found. Notable buildings of [[French colonial architecture]] include the [[Ho Chi Minh City Hall]], [[Saigon Central Post Office]], [[Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon]] and [[Bến Thành Market]].<ref name=FrenchArchitecture>{{cite news |date=12 July 2019 |title=Charming French architecture in Saigon|url=https://vietnam.vnanet.vn/english/tin-tuc/charming-french-architecture-in-saigon-206961.html |work=Vietnam News Agency |access-date=30 August 2022}}</ref>

Apart from its French architecture, Ho Chi Minh City is also home to a number of buildings inspired by [[Chinese architecture]]. Notable buildings are mostly found in [[Chợ Lớn]], where many [[Hoa people]] reside. These include the [[Thien Hau Temple (Cholon)|Thien Hau Temple]], which was first built around 1760, making it one of the oldest historic buildings still standing in the city.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cholon: A Little China in the heart of Saigon|url=https://www.gis-reseau-asie.org/en/cholon-little-china-heart-saigon-0|work=French Academic Network for Asian Studies|access-date=15 June 2023|archive-date=15 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230615234341/https://www.gis-reseau-asie.org/en/cholon-little-china-heart-saigon-0|url-status=dead}}</ref>

During the Republic of Vietnam era, Vietnamese modernist architecture began to develop in the city. Prominent buildings which were commissioned during this time include the [[Independence Palace]], replacing the former [[Saigon Governor's Palace|Independence Palace]] which was of [[Baroque Revival architecture]].<ref>{{cite web |title=How Vietnam Created Its Own Brand of Modernist Architecture|url=https://saigoneer.com/vietnam-architecture/8939-how-vietnam-created-its-own-brand-of-modernist-architecture |work=Saigoneer |access-date=15 June 2023}}</ref>

===Parks and gardens===
{{Expand section|date=June 2023}}
[[File:Parque Tao Dan, Ciudad Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, 2013-08-15, DD 03.JPG|thumb|right|[[Tao Dan Park|Tao Đàn Park]] is one of the largest and oldest parks in Ho Chi Minh City.]]

Despite the city's high building density, Ho Chi Minh City has a number of large parks. One of the largest and most popular parks is [[Tao Dan Park|Tao Đàn Park]], located next to the [[Independence Palace]] in [[District 1, Ho Chi Minh City]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Best Parks and Green Spaces in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam |url=https://theculturetrip.com/asia/vietnam/articles/the-best-parks-and-green-spaces-in-ho-chi-minh-city-vietnam/ |work=Culture Trip |date=26 February 2018 |access-date=15 June 2023}}</ref> Other parks in District 1 include the September 23rd Park and [[April 30|30/4 Park]].<ref>{{cite web |title=HCMC park gets land back from metro |url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/traffic/hcmc-park-gets-land-back-from-metro-4597948.html |work=VnExpress |access-date=15 June 2023 |author1=Vnexpress }}</ref>

The [[Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens]], located on the northern end of District 1, is one of the world's oldest zoos and botanical gardens. It contains a collection of over 600 rare animals and about 4,000 plant species, some of which are over 100 years in age.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Vnexpress |title=Record revenues at Saigon Zoo after post-Covid reopening |url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/companies/record-revenues-at-saigon-zoo-after-post-covid-reopening-4572389.html |work=VnExpress |access-date=15 June 2023}}</ref>

===Pedestrian zones===
{{Expand section|date=June 2023}}
[[File:Ho Chi Minh City, Nguyen Hue Street, 2020-01 CN-02.jpg|thumb|[[Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard]].]]

[[Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard]] was the first [[Pedestrian zone|pedestrian street]] in Ho Chi Minh City. It opened to the public in April 2015, and is a popular spot for locals and visitors to gather.<ref>{{cite web |title=HCMC's popular pedestrian street to get a green facelift |url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/places/hcmc-s-popular-pedestrian-street-to-get-a-green-facelift-3977460.html |work=VnExpress |access-date=15 June 2023 |author1=Vnexpress }}</ref> Many events are held in the precinct throughout the year, including the annual flower festival during [[Tết]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Saigon flower street all set to blossom for Tet |url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/places/saigon-flower-street-all-set-to-blossom-for-tet-3711432.html |work=VnExpress |access-date=15 June 2023 |author1=Vnexpress }}</ref>

Bui Vien Walking Street is also well known in Ho Chi Minh City due to its status as a hub for western backpackers and tourists.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Vnexpress |title=Foreigners a common sight again at Saigon tourist hotspots|url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/places/foreigners-a-common-sight-again-at-saigon-tourist-hotspots-4543143.html |work=VnExpress |access-date=15 June 2023}}</ref> Bui Vien Street, also known as "Western Street" (Pho Tay), is a backpacker district in Ho Chi Minh City that offers a variety of restaurants, coffee shops, hotels, live music pubs, and rooftop bars. Before becoming a walking street, Bui Vien Street was a popular destination for backpackers to have fun, try unfamiliar cuisines, and explore new places during their trip to Ho Chi Minh City.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-02 |title=Guide To Ho Chi Minh City Nightlife 2023 {{!}} Sipping, Dancing & More – Vietnam Travel Blog |work=All About Vietnam Travel |url=https://vietnamtravel.blog/ho-chi-minh-city-nightlife/ |access-date=2023-10-05 |language=en-US}}</ref>

== <span class="anchor" id="transportation"></span> Transport ==
===Air===
[[File:Tan Son Nhat International Airport.jpg|thumb|right|Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport is the busiest airport in Vietnam.]]

The city is served by [[Tan Son Nhat International Airport|Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport]], the largest airport in Vietnam in terms of passengers handled (with an estimated number of over 15.5&nbsp;million passengers per year in 2010, accounting for more than half of Vietnam's air passenger traffic<ref>{{Cite news|date=2007-10-13|title=Mở rộng sân bay Tân Sơn Nhất|url=https://www.sggp.org.vn/share253412.html|access-date=2023-03-17|newspaper=BÁO SÀI GÒN GIẢI PHÓNG|language=vi
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090224202253/http://www.sggp.org.vn/xahoi/2007/10/125219/
| archive-date= 24 February 2009
| author= M. Ha
}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated2">Two more Hanoi<>Saigon flights per day for Pacific Airlines on Vietnamnet.net, accessdate 11 November 2007, {{in lang|vi}} [http://vietnamnet.vn/kinhte/2007/11/753468] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422012941/http://vietnamnet.vn/kinhte/2007/11/753468/|date=22 April 2009}}</ref>).

[[Long Thanh International Airport|Long Thành International Airport]] is scheduled to begin operating in 2026. Based in [[Long Thành District]], [[Đồng Nai Province]], about {{cvt|40|km|0}} east of Ho Chi Minh City, Long Thành Airport will serve international flights, with a maximum traffic capacity of 100&nbsp;million passengers per year when fully completed; Tân Sơn Nhất Airport will serve domestic flights.<ref name="airportnews">{{cite web |url=http://www.airports.org/aci/aci/file/ADN%20-%20Momberger/ACI-ADN-August.pdf |title=Airport Development News |access-date=19 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061008110715/http://www.airports.org/aci/aci/file/ADN%20-%20Momberger/ACI-ADN-August.pdf |archive-date=8 October 2006}}</ref>

===Rail===
The city is also a terminal for many [[Vietnam Railways]] train routes in the country. The [[North–South Railway (Vietnam)|Reunification Express]] (tàu Thống Nhất) runs from Saigon to Hanoi from [[Saigon Railway Station]] in [[District 3, Ho Chi Minh City|District 3]], with stops at cities and provinces along the line.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://vietnam-railway.com/train/from/ho-chi-minh-city |title=Train from Ho Chi Minh City – Ticket fare and Schedule {{!}} Vietnam Railways |website=vietnam-railway.com |language=en |access-date=2017-01-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331124155/https://vietnam-railway.com/train/from/ho-chi-minh-city |archive-date=31 March 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> Within the city, the two main stations are Sóng Thần and Sài Gòn. In addition, there are several smaller stations such as Dĩ An, Thủ Đức, Bình Triệu, Gò Vấp. However, rail transport is not fully developed and presently comprises only 0.6% of passenger traffic and 6% of goods shipments.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |url=http://www1.mt.gov.vn/ykienatgt/print.asp?ArticleId=2576 |title=Print Version |publisher=.mt.gov.vn |date=29 May 2008 |access-date=24 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401093127/http://www1.mt.gov.vn/ykienatgt/print.asp?ArticleId=2576 |archive-date=1 April 2012}}</ref>

===Water transport===
The city's location on the [[Saigon River]] makes it a bustling commercial and passenger port; besides a constant stream of cargo ships, passenger boats operate regularly between Ho Chi Minh City and various destinations in Southern Vietnam and Cambodia, including [[Vũng Tàu]], [[Cần Thơ]] and the [[Mekong Delta]], and [[Phnom Penh]].

Traffic between Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam's southern provinces has steadily increased over the years; the Đôi and Tẻ Canals, the main routes to the Mekong Delta, receive 100,000 waterway vehicles every year, representing around 13&nbsp;million tons of cargo. A project to dredge these routes has been approved to facilitate transport, to be implemented in 2011–14.<ref name="waterway-expand">{{Cite news |url=http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/Economy/198826/City-to-expand-waterway-transport.html |title=City to expand waterway transport |date=19 April 2010 |agency=Vietnam News Service |access-date=3 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100421024424/http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/Economy/198826/City-to-expand-waterway-transport.html |archive-date=21 April 2010}}</ref> In 2017, the [[Saigon Waterbus]] launched, connecting [[District 1, Ho Chi Minh City|District 1]] to [[Thủ Đức|Thủ Đức City]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=VnExpress |title=Saigon River bus not convenient enough to lure commuters – VnExpress International |url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/business/economy/saigon-river-bus-not-convenient-enough-to-lure-commuters-4016591.html |access-date=2022-08-31 |website=VnExpress International – Latest news, business, travel and analysis from Vietnam |language=en}}</ref>

===Public transport===
====Metro====
The [[HCMC Metro]], a [[rapid transit]] network, is being built in stages. [[HCMC Metro Line 1|Line 1]] was opened in late 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title='Finally, we made it!': Ho Chi Minh City celebrates first metro |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/vietnam-ho-chi-minh-city-first-metro-train-years-delay-4821486 |access-date=2024-12-22 |website=CNA |language=en |archive-date=22 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241222105303/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/vietnam-ho-chi-minh-city-first-metro-train-years-delay-4821486 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The line connects [[Bến Thành station|Bến Thành]] to [[Suoi Tien Amusement Park|Suối Tiên Park]] in [[District 9, Ho Chi Minh City|District 9]], with a depot in Long Bình. Planners expect the route to serve more than 160,000 passengers daily.<ref name="railwaytech">{{cite web |url=http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/vietnammetro |title=Ho Chi Minh City Metro |publisher=Railway-technology.com |access-date=4 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504210158/http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/vietnammetro/ |archive-date=4 May 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> A line between Bến Thành and Tham Lương in [[District 12, Ho Chi Minh City|District 12]] has been approved by the government,<ref name="secondlineapproved">{{cite news |work=Thanh Nien |title=HCMC's subway route No.2 approved |url=http://www.thanhniennews.com/2008/Pages/20081211135245044481.aspx |author=Dinh Muoi |access-date=29 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100521033255/http://www.thanhniennews.com/2008/Pages/20081211135245044481.aspx |archive-date=21 May 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and several more lines (Lines [[HCMC Metro Line 2|2]], 3, 4, 5, and 6) are the subject of ongoing feasibility studies.<ref name="railwaytech" />

====Bus====
Public buses run on many routes and tickets can be purchased on the bus. The city has a number of coach houses, which house [[coach bus]]es to and from other areas in Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City has five interprovincial coach stations: [[Mien Dong Coach Station]] ([[Binh Thanh]]), [[Mien Tay Coach Station]] ([[Bình Tân District, Ho Chi Minh City|Binh Tan]]), [[An Suong Coach Station]] ([[Hoc Mon]]), [[Nga Tu Ga Coach Station]] ([[District 12 (Ho Chi Minh city)|District 12]]), and the former Mien Dong Coach Station. The largest coach station – in terms of passengers handled – is the [[Mien Dong Coach Station|Miền Đông Coach Station]] in the [[Bình Thạnh District]].

===Private transport===
The main means of transport within the city are motorbikes, cars, buses, taxis, and bicycles. Motorbikes remain the most common way to move around the city. Taxis are plentiful and usually have meters, although it is also common to agree on a price before taking a long trip, for example, from the airport to the city centre.

For short trips, "{{lang|vi|xe ôm}}" (literally, "hug vehicle") motorcycle taxis are available throughout the city, usually congregating at a major intersection. You can also book motorcycle and car taxis through ride-hailing apps like [[Grab (company)|Grab]] and [[GoJek]]. A popular activity for tourists is a tour of the city on [[Cycle rickshaw|cyclos]], which allow for longer trips at a more relaxed pace. For the last few years, cars have become more popular.<ref>{{cite web |last=VnExpress |title=November auto sales achieve year record – VnExpress International |url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/business/data-speaks/november-auto-sales-achieve-year-record-4207319.html |access-date=2020-12-17 |website=VnExpress International – Latest news, business, travel and analysis from Vietnam |language=en |archive-date=16 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201216134422/https://e.vnexpress.net/news/business/data-speaks/november-auto-sales-achieve-year-record-4207319.html |url-status=live}}</ref> There are approximately 340,000 cars and 3.5&nbsp;million motorcycles in the city, which is almost double compared with Hanoi.<ref name="autogenerated1" /> The growing number of cars tend to cause gridlock and contribute to air pollution. The government has called out motorcycles as the reason for the congestion and has developed plans to reduce the number of motorcycles and to improve public transport.<ref>{{cite web |title=Imminent gridlocks |author=Hans-Heinrich Bass, Thanh Trung Nguyen |publisher=dandc.eu |date=April 2013 |url=http://www.dandc.eu/en/article/vietnam-needs-tackle-urban-traffic-congestion |access-date=7 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105182238/http://www.dandc.eu/en/article/vietnam-needs-tackle-urban-traffic-congestion |archive-date=5 November 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Expressway===
{{Main|Ho Chi Minh City–Trung Luong Expressway|Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh–Dau Giay Expressway}}

[[File:Cầu Long Thành, Đường cao tốc TP.HCM - Long Thành - Dầu Giây.JPG|thumb|right|[[Ho Chi Minh City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay Expressway|HCMC-LT-DG Expressway]]]]

The city has two expressways making up the [[North–South Expressway East|North-South Expressway]] system, connecting the city with other provinces. The first expressway is [[Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong Expressway|Ho Chi Minh City – Trung Lương Expressway]], opened in 2010, connecting Ho Chi Minh City with [[Tiền Giang province|Tiền Giang]] and the [[Mekong Delta]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tedi.vn/vn-vi/du-an/du-an-duong-cao-toc-thanh-pho-ho-chi-minh-trung-luong/1119.html |title=Dự án đường cao tốc TP.HCM – Trung Lương |publisher=Tedi.vn |access-date=8 May 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506151029/http://www.tedi.vn/vn-vi/du-an/du-an-duong-cao-toc-thanh-pho-ho-chi-minh-trung-luong/1119.html |archive-date=6 May 2016}}</ref>

The second one is [[Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway|Ho Chi Minh City – Long Thành – Dầu Giây Expressway]], opened in 2015, connecting the city with [[Đồng Nai Province|Đồng Nai]], [[Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu province|Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu]] and the [[Southeast (Vietnam)|Southeast of Vietnam]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://vnexpress.net/tin-tuc/thoi-su/ngay-8-2-thong-xe-toan-cao-toc-tp-hcm-long-thanh-dau-giay-3133936.html |title=Ngày 8/2 thông xe toàn cao tốc TP.HCM – Long Thành – Dầu Giây |newspaper=VnExpress |access-date=8 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508212658/http://vnexpress.net/tin-tuc/thoi-su/ngay-8-2-thong-xe-toan-cao-toc-tp-hcm-long-thanh-dau-giay-3133936.html |archive-date=8 May 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Ho Chi Minh City - Long Khanh Expressway|Ho Chi Minh City – Long Khánh Expressway]] is under planning and will be constructed in the near future.

==Healthcare==
The health care system of the city is relatively developed with a chain of about 100 government owned hospitals or medical centres and dozens of international facilities,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://urbansesame.com/community/international-hospitals-and-clinics-in-saigon-a-short-guide-for-expats/ |title=International Hospitals and Clinics in Saigon – A Short Guide for Expats |publisher=Urban Sesame |date=2022-08-02 |accessdate=2022-08-15}}</ref> as well as privately owned clinics.<ref name="Statistical office" /> The 1,400-bed [[Chợ Rẫy Hospital]], upgraded by Japanese aid and the French-sponsored Institute of Cardiology, Prima Saigon Eye Hospital ([[ophthalmology]]), a member of [[World Association of Eye Hospitals]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.waeh.org/news/new-members-of-the-waeh-4/ |title=New members of the WAEH! |author=World Association of Eye Hospitals |website=World Association of Eye Hospitals |date=2023-10-30}}</ref> [[City International Hospital]] and [[Franco-Vietnamese Hospital]] are among the top medical facilities in the South-East Asia region, according to Tran Quoc Bao is a prominent Asian healthcare leader and investment banker who has led twelve major healthcare M&A transactions, with a combined value of US$2 billion, and recognised as a Top Voices in Asian healthcare.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vietnam's healthcare boom: Why global investors are eyeing a slice of the pie |url=https://www.hospitalmanagementasia.com/hospital-management/vietnams-healthcare-boom-why-global-investors-are-eyeing-a-slice-of-the-pie/ |publisher=Hospital Management Asia| quote= Hospital Management Asia speaks to Mr Tran Quoc Bao,  former Chief Executive Officer of Prima Saigon Medical Center (PMSG) and former Managing Director of City International Hospital. Mr Bao has over 15 years of experience in administration, finance and investment, and has orchestrated 12 major healthcare M&A transactions. |date=28 May 2025 |access-date=2025-05-30}}</ref>

<gallery widths="250" mode="packed" style="text-align: center;" heights="160" caption="Notable hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City">
File:Benh vien Cho Ray -phường 12, Quận 5, TPHCM, Việt Nam - panoramio.jpg|[[Cho Ray Hospital|Chợ Rẫy Hospital]] is the largest tertiary care hospital in Ho Chi Minh City and the South of Vietnam.
File:City International Hospital Vietnam.jpg|[[City International Hospital]] is an international hospital in Ho Chi Minh City and [[Vietnam]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=8 of the Cheapest Countries to Retire Around the World | author= Travel & Leisure|  url=https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/senior-travel/cheapest-countries-to-retire-abroad |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=travelandleisure.com }}</ref>
File: Prima Medical Center Saigon.jpg|Prima Saigon Eye Hospital, the first Vietnam member of [[World Association of Eye Hospitals]]
File:FV hospital.JPG|[[Franco-Vietnamese Hospital]] in [[District 7, Ho Chi Minh City|District 7]], Ho Chi Minh City.
</gallery>

==Education==
{{See also|List of schools in Ho Chi Minh City}}

=== High schools ===
Notable high schools in the city include [[Lê Hồng Phong High School|Lê Hồng Phong High School for the Gifted]], [[High School for the Gifted|Phổ Thông Năng Khiếu High School for the Gifted]], [[Trần Đại Nghĩa High School|Trần Đại Nghĩa High School for the Gifted]], [[Nguyễn Thượng Hiền High School]], [[Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai High School]], {{ill|Gia Định High School|vi|Trường Trung học phổ thông Gia Định, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh|vertical-align=sup}}, {{ill|Lê Quý Đôn High School|vi|Tr%C6%B0%E1%BB%9Dng Trung h%E1%BB%8Dc ph%E1%BB%95 th%C3%B4ng L%C3%AA Qu%C3%BD %C4%90%C3%B4n, Th%C3%A0nh ph%E1%BB%91 H%E1%BB%93 Ch%C3%AD Minh|vertical-align=sup}}, [[Marie Curie High School]], Võ Thị Sáu High School, Trần Phú High School and others. Though the former schools are all public, private education is also available in Ho Chi Minh City. High school consists of grade 10–12 (sophomore, junior, and senior).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://vanbanphapluat.co/decision-1981-qd-ttg-approving-the-structural-framework-the-national-education-system |title=High School Education system |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180428181209/https://vanbanphapluat.co/decision-1981-qd-ttg-approving-the-structural-framework-the-national-education-system |archive-date=28 April 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==== List of public high schools (non-exhaustive) ====
{{Div col}}
* Bình Phú High School
* Bùi Thị Xuân High School
* Chu Văn An High School
* Ernst Thalmann High School
* {{ill|Gia Định High School|vi|Trường Trung học phổ thông Gia Định, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh|vertical-align=sup}}
* Hùng Vương High School
* [[High School for the Gifted|VNUHCM High School for the Gifted]]
* [[Lawrence S. Ting Memorial School]]
* [[Lê Hồng Phong High School|Lê Hồng Phong High School for the Gifted]]
* {{ill|Lê Quý Đôn High School|vi|Tr%C6%B0%E1%BB%9Dng Trung h%E1%BB%8Dc ph%E1%BB%95 th%C3%B4ng L%C3%AA Qu%C3%BD %C4%90%C3%B4n, Th%C3%A0nh ph%E1%BB%91 H%E1%BB%93 Ch%C3%AD Minh|vertical-align=sup}}
* Lương Thế Vinh High School
* Mạc Đĩnh Chi High School
* [[Marie Curie High School]] 
* Nguyễn Chí Thanh High School
* Nguyễn Công Trứ High School
* Nguyễn Du High School
* Nguyễn Du Secondary School
* Nguyễn Hữu Cầu High School
* Nguyễn Hữu Huân High School
* Nguyễn Khuyến High School
* Nguyễn Thái Bình High School
* Nguyễn Thị Diệu High School
* [[Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai High School]] 
* [[Nguyễn Thượng Hiền High School]] 
* Nguyễn Trãi High School
* Nguyễn Văn Cừ High School
* Phú Nhuận High School
* Ten Lơ Man High School
* Thủ Đức High School
* [[Trần Đại Nghĩa High School|Trần Đại Nghĩa High School for the Gifted]] 
* Trần Hưng Đạo High School
* Trần Khai Nguyên High School
* Trần Phú High School
* Trưng Vương High School
* Võ Thị Sáu High School 
* Võ Trường Toản High School
{{Div col end}}

==== Private high schools offering ''Vietnamese'' or dual ''foreign-Vietnamese'' curricula ''(non-exhaustive)'' ====
{{Div col}}
* [[APU International School]]
* EMASI International Bilingual School 
* Hồng Hà Secondary-High School
* Horizon International Bilingual School
* Japanese International School
* Khai Trí High School
* Ngô Thời Nhiệm High School
* Nguyễn Khuyến High School
* Pennsylvania American International School
* Quang Trung Nguyễn Huệ High School
* Singapore International School
* Trí Đức High School
* Trương Vĩnh Ký High School
* Tuệ Đức Pathway School
* Vinschool
* Vinschool
* VStar School
* Wellspring International Bilingual School Ho Chi Minh City
* Western Australian International School System
{{Div col end}}

==== Private primary and secondary schools offering exclusively foreign curricula'' (non-exhaustive)'' ====
{{Div col}}
* [[ABC International School]]
* [[American International School, Saigon]]
* [[Australian International School, Vietnam]]
* [[British International School Ho Chi Minh City]]
* [[British Vietnamese International School]]
* [[Canadian International School Vietnam]]
* [[European International School Ho Chi Minh City]]
* [[International German School Ho Chi Minh City]]
* [[International School Ho Chi Minh City]]
* [[International School Ho Chi Minh City - American Academy]]
* International School of North America
* [[Japanese School in Ho Chi Minh City]]
* [[Korean International School, HCMC]]
* [[Lycée Français International Marguerite Duras]]
* [[Renaissance International School Saigon]]
* [[Saigon South International School]]
* [[Saigon South International School]]
* [[Taipei School in Ho Chi Minh City]]
* Vietnam Finland International School
{{Div col end}}

=== Universities ===
{{See also|List of universities in Ho Chi Minh City}}
[[File:Nhà điều hành Đại học Quốc Gia TPHCM.jpg|thumb|Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, is one of the two national research universities in Vietnam.]]

Higher education in Ho Chi Minh City is a burgeoning industry; the city boasts over 80 universities and colleges with a total of over 400,000 students.<ref name="Statistical office" /> Notable universities include [[Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City|Vietnam National University]], with 50,000 students distributed among six schools; [[Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology|The University of Technology]] ({{lang|vi|Đại học Bách khoa}}, formerly Phú Thọ National Center of Technology); [[Ho Chi Minh City University of Science|The University of Sciences]] (formerly Saigon College of Sciences); [[Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities|The University of Social Sciences and Humanities]] (formerly Saigon College of Letters); [[Ho Chi Minh City International University|The International University]]; [[Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Law|The University of Economics and Law]]; and the newly established [[Ho Chi Minh City University of Information Technology|University of Information Technology]].

Some other important higher education establishments include [[Ho Chi Minh City Pedagogical University|University of Pedagogy]], [[University of Economics, Ho Chi Minh City|University of Economics]], [[Ho Chi Minh City Architecture University|University of Architecture]], Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, [[Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Sylviculture|Nong Lam University]] (formerly University of Agriculture, Forestry and Silviculture), [[Ho Chi Minh City University of Law|University of Law]], [[Technical Training University of Ho Chi Minh City|University of Technical Education]], [[Banking University of Ho Chi Minh City|University of Banking]], [[University of Industry]], [[Ho Chi Minh City Open University|Open University]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ou.edu.vn/english |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040813134159/http://www.ou.edu.vn/english/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 August 2004 |title=Ho Chi Minh City Open University |publisher=Ou.edu.vn |access-date=3 April 2010}}</ref> [[Sports and Physical Gymnastics University II|University of Sports and Physical Education]], [[Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts University|University of Fine Arts]], [[Ho Chi Minh City University of Culture|University of Culture]], the [[Conservatory of Ho Chi Minh City|Conservatory of Music]], the [[Saigon Institute of Technology]], [[Văn Lang University]], [[Saigon University]], and [[Hoa Sen University]].

In addition to the above public universities, Ho Chi Minh City is also home to several private universities. One of the most notable is [[RMIT International University Vietnam]], a campus of Australian public research [[RMIT University]] with an enrollment of about 6,000 students. Tuition at RMIT is about US$40,000 for an entire course of study.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rmit.edu.vn/ |title=RMIT University website |publisher=Rmit.edu.vn |access-date=24 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501184914/http://rmit.edu.vn/ |archive-date=1 May 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Other private universities include [[The Saigon International University]] (or SIU) is another private university run by the [[Group of Asian International Education]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.siu.edu.vn/pages/MySite.aspx |title=Saigon International University |publisher=siu.edu.vn |access-date=2 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303134442/http://www.siu.edu.vn/Pages/MySite.aspx |archive-date=3 March 2013}}</ref> Enrollment at SIU averages about 12,000 students<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.siu.edu.vn/pages/ViewDocument.aspx?Type=3&ID=3943 |title=SIU Group of Asian International Education |publisher=siu.edu.vn |access-date=2 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307112155/http://www.siu.edu.vn/pages/ViewDocument.aspx?Type=3&ID=3943 |archive-date=7 March 2013}}</ref> Depending on the type of program, tuition at SIU costs US$5,000–6,000 per year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.siu.edu.vn/pages/ViewDocument.aspx?ID=18301&Type=3 |title=Schedule of Course Fees |publisher=siu.edu.vn |access-date=2 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029002034/http://www.siu.edu.vn/pages/ViewDocument.aspx?ID=18301&Type=3 |archive-date=29 October 2008}}</ref>

==Tourism==
{{Main|Declared monuments of Ho Chi Minh City}}

{{See also|List of historic buildings in Ho Chi Minh City}}
[[File:Bui Vien Walking Street 1.jpg|thumb|Bùi Viện Walking Street is lined with hotels, coffee shops and bars catering to tourists.]]

Tourist attractions in the city are mainly related to periods of French colonisation and the Vietnam War. The city's centre has some wide American-style boulevards and a few [[French colonial]] buildings. The majority of these tourist spots are located in District 1 and are a short distance from each other. The most prominent structures in the city centre are the [[Reunification Palace]] (''{{lang|vi|Dinh Thống Nhất}}''), City Hall (''{{lang|vi|Ủy ban nhân dân Thành phố}}''), [[Municipal Theatre, Ho Chi Minh City|Municipal Theatre]] (''{{lang|vi|Nhà hát thành phố}}'', also known as the Opera House), City Post Office (''{{lang|vi|Bưu điện thành phố}}''), State Bank Office (''{{lang|vi|Ngân hàng Nhà nước}}''), City People's Court (''{{lang|vi|Tòa án nhân dân thành phố}}''), and [[Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon|Notre-Dame Cathedral]] (''{{lang|vi|Nhà thờ Đức Bà Sài Gòn}}''), which was constructed between 1863 and 1880. Some of the historic hotels include the [[Hotel Majestic (Saigon)|Hotel Majestic]], dating from the French colonial era, and the [[Rex Hotel|Rex]] and Caravelle hotels, both of which are former hangouts for American officers and war correspondents in the 1960s & '70s.<ref>In 2014, tourism revenue has hit VND 78.7&nbsp;trillion (US$3.7&nbsp;billion), up to 4 percent compared to the same period in 2013.</ref>

The city has various museums including the [[Museum of Ho Chi Minh City|City Museum]], [[Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History|Museum of History]], the Revolutionary Museum, the Museum of south-eastern Armed Forces, the [[War Remnants Museum]], the Museum of Southern Women, the [[Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts|Museum of Fine Arts]], the Nhà Rồng Memorial House, and the Bến Dược Relic of Underground Tunnels. The [[Củ Chi tunnels]] are north-west of the city in [[Củ Chi District]]. The [[Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens]], in [[District 1, Ho Chi Minh City|District 1]], dates from 1865. The Đầm Sen Tourist and Cultural Park, [[Suối Tiên Amusement Park|Suối Tiên Amusement and Culture Park]], and Cần Giờ's Eco beach resort are three recreational sites inside the city which are popular with tourists. Aside from the Municipal Theatre, there are other places of entertainment such as the Bến Thành Theatre, Hòa Bình Theatre, and the Lan Anh Music Stage. The city is home to hundreds of cinemas and theatres, with cinema and drama theatre revenue accounting for 60–70% of Vietnam's total revenue in this industry.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}} Unlike other theatrical organisations found in Vietnam's provinces and municipalities, residents of the city keep their theatres active without the support of subsidies from the Vietnamese government. The city is also home to most of the private film companies in Vietnam.{{Citation needed|date=May 2013}}

The city offers a wide range of restaurants serving common Vietnamese dishes, including phở and rice vermicelli. The area around Phạm Ngũ Lão Street and Bùi Viện Street in District 1, often referred to as the Backpackers’ Quarter, is popular with budget travelers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tuoitrenews.vn/features/13002/ho-chi-minh-citys-westerners-town |title=Ho Chi Minh City backpackers' town – Tuoi Tre News |work=Tuoi Tre News |access-date=23 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808141518/http://tuoitrenews.vn/features/13002/ho-chi-minh-citys-westerners-town |archive-date=8 August 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

It was approximated that 4.3&nbsp;million tourists visited Vietnam in 2007, of which 70 percent, approximately 3&nbsp;million tourists, visited the city.<ref name="thongtinthuongmaivietnam1">[http://www.thongtinthuongmaivietnam.com.vn/IWINews.aspx?CatalogID=2426&ID=64806] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080404095748/http://www.thongtinthuongmaivietnam.com.vn/IWINews.aspx?CatalogID=2426&ID=64806|date=4 April 2008}}</ref>
According to the most recent international tourist statistic, Ho Chi Minh City welcomed 6&nbsp;million tourists in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://vietnamtourism.gov.vn/en/post/12419 |title=HCM City welcomes six millionth int'l visitor in 2017 |last=TITC |website=Tổng cục Du lịch Việt Nam}}</ref>

According to [[Mastercard]]'s 2019 report, the city is also the country's second most visited city (18th in Asia Pacific), with 4.1&nbsp;million overnight international visitors in 2018 (after [[Hanoi]] with 4.8&nbsp;million visitors).<ref name="VNExpress">{{cite web |author1=Vnexpress |url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/places/mastercard-lists-hanoi-hcmc-among-top-20-asia-pacific-travel-destinations-3982199.html |title=Mastercard lists Hanoi, HCMC among top 20 Asia-Pacific travel destinations |work=[[VNExpress]] |access-date=2019-11-13 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022012813/https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/places/mastercard-lists-hanoi-hcmc-among-top-20-asia-pacific-travel-destinations-3982199.html |archive-date=22 October 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In H12025, HCMC welcomed over 22.1 million visitors (3.8 million international and 18.3 million domestic), generating approximately ₫118 trillion (~US $4.6 billion), a +27.3% year-over-year growth.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-04 |title=Ho Chi Minh City draws over 22 million visitors in first half of 2025 |url=https://english.vov.vn/en/travel/ho-chi-minh-city-draws-over-22-million-visitors-in-first-half-of-2025-post1212403.vov |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=VOV.VN |language=en}}</ref> Over the Tet 2025 holiday, the city led all Vietnamese provinces in tourism receipts with ~$303 million, up 17% from 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-03 |title=Vietnam's Tourism Boom During Tet 2025: Key Insights |url=https://www.vietnam-briefing.com/news/vietnams-tourism-boom-during-tet-2025-leading-destinations-and-insights.html/ |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=Vietnam Briefing News |language=en-US}}</ref> In September 2025, HCMC is hosting ITE HCMC 2025 which focuses on sustainable tourism and trade networking and is the 19th of its kind.<ref>{{Cite web |last=itehcmc |date=2025-04-12 |title=MEDIA BRIEFING ITE HCMC 2025 "SUSTAINABLE TOURISM, VIBRANT EXPERIENCES" AND VIET NAM INTERNATIONAL SOURCING & HO CHI MINH CITY EXPORT FORUM 2025 |url=https://itehcmc.travel/media-briefing-ite-hcmc-2025-sustainable-tourism-vibrant-experiences-and-viet-nam-international-sourcing-ho-chi-minh-city-export-forum-2025/ |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=ITE HCMC |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=itehcmc |date=2025-06-18 |title=THE 19TH ITE HCMC IN 2025 AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM |url=https://itehcmc.travel/the-19th-ite-hcmc-in-2025-and-sustainable-tourism/ |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=ITE HCMC |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Culture==
[[File:Vietnam-0375 (3343240896).jpg|thumb|[[Dragon dance]] to welcome [[Tết Nguyên Đán]] in Ho Chi Minh City, 2009]]

===Museums and art galleries===
Due to its history, artworks have generally been inspired by both Western and Eastern styles. Famous locations for art in Ho Chi Minh City include [[Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts]], and various art galleries located on Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa street, Trần Phú street, and Bùi Viện street.<ref>{{cite web |first=Katie |last=Kalmusky |date=20 May 2020 |title=The 6 Best Art Galleries in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam |url=https://theculturetrip.com/vietnam/articles/the-6-best-art-galleries-in-ho-chi-minh-city-vietnam/ |work=Culture Trip |access-date=10 December 2022}}</ref>

<gallery widths=200 heights=150 mode="packed">
File:Bảo tàng Mỹ thuật Tp (kiến trúc tổng thể) (2).jpg|[[Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts]]
File:Bảo tàng lịch sử Tp. Hồ Chí Minh.JPG|[[Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History]]
File:Bảo tàng chứng tích chiến tranh, tp Ho chi minh vietnam, vo Van tan - panoramio.jpg|[[War Remnants Museum]]
</gallery>

=== Food and drink ===
Ho Chi Minh City cultivates a strong food and drink culture with lots of roadside restaurants, coffee shops, and food stalls where locals and tourists can enjoy local cuisine and beverages at low prices.<ref>{{cite web |last=Guide |first=City Pass |title=City Pass Guide |url=https://www.citypassguide.com/blog/why-is-food-so-cheap-in-vietnam |access-date=2020-12-17 |website=Why Is Food So Cheap in Vietnam? |language=en |archive-date=4 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504193337/https://www.citypassguide.com/blog/why-is-food-so-cheap-in-vietnam |url-status=live}}</ref> It is currently ranked in the top five best cities in the world for street food.<ref>{{cite web |last=VnExpress |title=Saigon among top five global cities for street food: survey – VnExpress International |url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/food/saigon-among-top-five-global-cities-for-street-food-survey-3995290.html |access-date=2020-12-17 |website=VnExpress International – Latest news, business, travel and analysis from Vietnam |language=en |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122233026/https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/food/saigon-among-top-five-global-cities-for-street-food-survey-3995290.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Media==
{{See also|Media of Vietnam|Telecommunications in Vietnam}}
[[File:Ho Chi Minh City Television Headquarters 2021.jpg|thumb|right|[[Ho Chi Minh City Television|HTV]], the second largest and the first-ever television network in Vietnam, has its headquarters in District 1.]]

The city's media is the most developed in the country. At present, there are seven daily newspapers: ''[[Sai Gon Giai Phong|Sài Gòn Giải Phóng]]'' (''Liberated Saigon''), and its Vietnamese, investment and finance, sports, evening, and weekly editions; ''[[Tuổi Trẻ]]'' (''Youth''), the highest circulation newspaper in Vietnam; ''{{lang|vi|Thanh Niên}}'' (''Young People''), the second largest circulation in the south of Vietnam; ''{{lang|vi|Người Lao Động}}'' (''Labourer''); ''{{lang|vi|Thể Thao}}'' (''Sports''); ''{{lang|vi|Pháp Luật}}'' (''Law''); ''[[The Saigon Times Daily]]'', an English-language newspaper; as well as more than 30 other newspapers and magazines. The city has hundreds of printing and publishing houses, many bookstores, and a widespread network of public and school libraries; the city's General Library houses over 1.5&nbsp;million books. Once called THVN9, the locally based Ho Chi Minh City Television (HTV) is the first and the second largest television network in the nation, just behind the national Vietnam Television (VTV), broadcasting 24/7 on 7 different channels (using analog and digital technology). Vietnam Television also has a studio in the city which broadcast programmes on channel [[VTV9]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vtv.vn/truyen-hinh/vtv9-va-hanh-trinh-den-voi-trai-tim-khan-gia-20170907062719027.htm|title= VTV9 and the journey to the audience's hearts|author=|last=|first=|date=7 September 2017|website=VTV.vn|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref> Many major international TV channels are provided through two cable networks (SCTV and HTVC), with over one&nbsp;million subscribers. The ''[[Voice of Ho Chi Minh City]]'' is the largest radio station in south Vietnam.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}

Internet coverage, especially through ADSL connections, is rapidly expanding, with over 2,200,000 subscribers and around 5.5&nbsp;million frequent users. [[Internet service provider]]s (ISPs) operating in Ho Chi Minh City include the Vietnam Data Communication Company (VDC), Corporation for Finance and Promoting Technology (FPT), Netnam Company, Saigon Post and Telecommunications Services Corporation (Saigon Postel Corporation, SPT) and Viettel Company. The city has more than two&nbsp;million fixed telephones and about fifteen&nbsp;million cellular phones (the latter growing annually by 20%). Mobile phone service is provided by a number of companies, including [[Viettel Mobile]], [[MobiFone]], [[VinaPhone]], and [[Vietnam Mobile]].

==Sport==
[[File:Thống Nhất Stadium 2022.jpg|thumb|right|[[Thống Nhất Stadium]] is home to the [[V.League 1]] football club [[Ho Chi Minh City F.C.]]]]

{{As of|2005}}, Ho Chi Minh City was home to 91 football fields, 86 swimming pools, and 256 gyms.<ref>[http://www.pso.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/so_lieu_ktxh/2005/Van_hoa_giao_duc_y_te/0921.htm Exercise and sports] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091230010144/http://www.pso.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/so_lieu_ktxh/2005/Van_hoa_giao_duc_y_te/0921.htm |date=30 December 2009}}. PSO Ho Chi Minh City.</ref> The largest stadium in the city is the 15,000-seat [[Thống Nhất Stadium]], located on Đào Duy Từ Street, in Ward 6 of [[District 10, Ho Chi Minh City|District 10]]. The next largest is [[Quân khu 7 Stadium|Military Region 7 Stadium]], located near [[Tan Son Nhat Airport]] in [[Tân Bình district]]. The Military Region 7 Stadium was of the venues for the [[2007 AFC Asian Cup]] finals. As well as being a sporting venue, it is also the site of a music school. [[Phú Thọ Racecourse]], another notable sporting venue established during colonial times, is the only racetrack in Vietnam, however, due to poor maintenance, the facilities are not in good condition.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://zingnews.vn/zingnews-post1334930.html|title=Cảnh xuống cấp tại nhà thi đấu hiện đại bậc nhất ở TP.HCM|date=25 July 2022|website=ZingNews.vn}}</ref> The city's Department of Physical Education and Sport also manages a number of clubs, including [[Phan Dinh Phung Club|Phan Đình Phùng]], [[Thanh Da Club|Thanh Đa]], and [[Yet Kieu Club|Yết Kiêu]].

The city is home to a number of association football clubs. One of the city's largest clubs, [[Ho Chi Minh City F.C.]], is based at Thống Nhất Stadium, formerly as ''Cảng Sài Gòn'', they were four-time champions of Vietnam's [[V.League 1]] (in 1986, 1993–94, 1997, and 2001–02). [[Navibank Saigon F.C.]], founded as ''Quân Khu 4'', were also based at Thống Nhất Stadium, emerged as champions of the First Division in the 2008 season, and were promoted to the V-League in 2009, the club has since been dissolved during a corruption scandal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tuoitre.vn/news-518079.htm|title=Chính thức xóa sổ CLB Navibank Sài Gòn|first=TUOI TRE|last=ONLINE|date=29 October 2012|website=TUOI TRE ONLINE}}</ref> The city's police department also fielded a football team in the 1990s, Công An Thành Phố, which won the V-League championship in 1995, the club was dissolved in 2002 as the league become more professional. Since its inception in 2016, [[Sài Gòn F.C.]] competed in [[V.League 1]], however, in 2022 they suffered relegation and will complete in [[V.League 2]] in 2023.

In 2011, the city was awarded an expansion team for the [[ASEAN Basketball League]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aseanbasketballleague.com/news/detail/6527/ssa-saigon-heat-joins-the-airasia-asean-basketball-league |title=ASEAN Basketball League website |publisher=Aseanbasketballleague.com |date=22 October 2011 |access-date=24 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111227210225/http://www.aseanbasketballleague.com/news/detail/6527/ssa-saigon-heat-joins-the-airasia-asean-basketball-league |archive-date=27 December 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Saigon Heat]] was the first ever international professional basketball team to represent Vietnam.<ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111227210225/http://www.aseanbasketballleague.com/news/detail/6527/ssa-saigon-heat-joins-the-airasia-asean-basketball-league |url=http://www.aseanbasketballleague.com/news/detail/6527/ssa-saigon-heat-joins-the-airasia-asean-basketball-league |archive-date=27 December 2011 |url-status=dead |title=SSA Saigon Heat Joins the AirAsia ASEAN Basketball League |date=20 October 2011 |publisher=ABL News}}</ref> The team also plays in the domestic basketball league, the [[Vietnam Basketball Association]], and have won the championship on three occasions (2019, 2020 and 2022).

In 2016, a second professional basketball team was created, [[Ho Chi Minh City Wings|Wings]], playing in the domestic [[Vietnam Basketball Association]].

The city hosts a number of international sport events throughout the year, such as the [[AFF Futsal Championship]] and the [[Vietnam Vertical Run]]. Several other sports are represented by teams in the city, such as Irish (Gaelic) Football, rugby, cricket,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://urbansesame.com/community/a-rough-guide-to-saigon-sports-clubs-and-activities-with-mens-and-womens-teams/ |title=Saigon Sports Clubs and Activities – with Men's and Women's Teams |date=15 March 2022 |publisher=Urbansesame.com |accessdate=2022-08-15}}</ref> volleyball, basketball, chess, athletics, and table tennis.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sports Clubs & Associations – Ho Chi Minh City Business Directory – Angloinfo |url=http://www.angloinfo.com/hcmc/directory/hcmc-sports-clubs-associations-581 |access-date=2021-03-30 |website=Angloinfo Ho Chi Minh City |language=en |archive-date=16 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516094256/https://www.angloinfo.com/hcmc/directory/hcmc-sports-clubs-associations-581 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==International relations==
===Twin towns – sister cities===
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Vietnam}}

The city is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref name="ir">{{cite web|title=Danh sách địa phương nước ngoài kết nghĩa với TpHCM|url=http://www.mofahcm.gov.vn/vi/hoptac_qt/nr041014110554/ns150417132533|url-status=live|access-date=2021-07-25|publisher=Sở ngoại vụ Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh|language=vi |archive-date=7 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607074850/http://www.mofahcm.gov.vn/vi/hoptac_qt/nr041014110554/ns150417132533}}</ref>

{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
* {{Flagicon|KWT}} [[Ahmadi Governorate]], Kuwait (2010)
* {{Flagicon|KAZ}} [[Almaty]], Kazakhstan (2011)
* {{Flagicon|FRA}} [[Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes]], France (1998)
* {{Flagicon|THA}} [[Bangkok]], Thailand (2014)
* {{Flagicon|LAO}} [[Champasak Province]], Laos (2001)
* {{Flagicon|KOR}} [[Busan]], South Korea (1995)
* {{Flagicon|CHN}} [[Guangdong|Guangdong Province]], China (2009)
* {{Flagicon|CHN}} [[Guangxi|Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region]], China (2013)
* {{Flagicon|GER}} [[Leipzig]], Germany (2021)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.leipzig.de/buergerservice-und-verwaltung/internationales/internationale-kooperationen/ho-chi-minh-stadt-und-vietnam#c201714|title=Ho-Chi-Minh-Stadt|publisher=Stadt Leipzig|access-date=16 April 2022|archive-date=6 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306063709/https://www.leipzig.de/buergerservice-und-verwaltung/internationales/internationale-kooperationen/ho-chi-minh-stadt-und-vietnam/#c201714|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* {{Flagicon|UK}} [[Liverpool]], United Kingdom (2025)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vietnam.vn/en/saigon-marina-ifc-ruc-sang-mung-quan-he-hop-tac-viet-nam-anh|title=Saigon Marina IFC shines brightly to celebrate Vietnam-UK cooperation|publisher=Vietnam.vn|access-date=January 1, 2026}}</ref>
* {{Flagicon|FRA}} [[Lyon]], France (1997)
* {{Flagicon|US}} [[Seattle]], United States (2023)
* {{Flagicon|PHL}} [[Manila]], Philippines (1994)
* {{Flagicon|BLR}} [[Minsk]], Belarus (2008)
* {{Flagicon|RUS}} [[Moscow]], Russia (2003)
* {{Flagicon|USA}} [[New York City]], United States (2023)<ref>{{cite web |title=HCM City, New York establish sister city relationship|url=https://en.baochinhphu.vn/hcm-city-new-york-establish-sister-city-relationship-111230923105920502.htm|publisher=Government of Vietnam|date=2023-09-23|access-date=2023-09-24}}</ref>
* {{Flagicon|JPN}} [[Osaka Prefecture]], Japan (2007)
* {{Flagicon|KHM}} [[Phnom Penh]], Cambodia (1999)
* {{Flagicon|RUS}} [[Saint Petersburg]], Russia (2005)
* {{Flagicon|USA}} [[San Francisco]], United States (1995)
* {{Flagicon|CHN}} [[Shandong|Shandong Province]], China (2013)
* {{Flagicon|CHN}} [[Shanghai]], China (1994)
* {{Flagicon|BUL}} [[Sofia]], Bulgaria (2015)
* {{Flagicon|LAO}} [[Vientiane]], Laos (2001)
* {{Flagicon|RUS}} [[Vladivostok]], Russia (2009)
* {{Flagicon|MMR}} [[Yangon]], Myanmar (2012)
* {{Flagicon|CHN}} [[Zhejiang Province]], China (2009)
<!-- rest - not twinning -->
{{Div col end}}

===Cooperation and friendship===
In addition to its twin towns, the city is in cooperation with:<ref name="ir" />

{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
* {{Flagicon|ESP}} [[Barcelona]], Spain (2009)
* {{Flagicon|HUN}} [[Budapest]], Hungary (2013)
* {{Flagicon|KOR}} [[Daegu]], South Korea (2015)
* {{Flagicon|SUI}} [[Geneva]], Switzerland (2007)
* {{Flagicon|CHN}} [[Guangzhou]], China (1996)
* {{Flagicon|RSA}} [[Johannesburg]], South Africa (2009)
* {{Flagicon|SVK}} [[Košice]], Slovakia (2016)<ref>{{cite web |title=Partnerské mestá mesta Košice |url=https://www.kosice.sk/mesto/partnerske-mesta-mesta-kosice |publisher=Košice |language=sk |access-date=2021-07-25 |archive-date=13 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613102044/https://www.kosice.sk/mesto/partnerske-mesta-mesta-kosice |url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{Flagicon|RUS}} [[Moscow Oblast]], Russia (2015)
* {{Flagicon|AUS}} [[Northern Territory]], Australia (2014)
* {{Flagicon|JPN}} [[Osaka]], Japan (2011)
* {{Flagicon|AUS}} [[Queensland]], Australia (2005)
* {{Flagicon|ESP}} [[Seville]], Spain (2009)
* {{Flagicon|CHN}} [[Shenyang]], China (1999)
* {{Flagicon|JPN}} [[Shiga Prefecture]], Japan (2014)
* {{Flagicon|RUS}} [[Sverdlovsk Oblast]], Russia (2000)
* {{Flagicon|CAN}} [[Toronto]], Canada (2006)
* {{Flagicon|JPN}} [[Yokohama]], Japan (2009)
{{Div col end}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Vietnam}}
* [[175 Hospital]]
* [[List of historic buildings in Ho Chi Minh City]]
* [[List of historical capitals of Vietnam]]
* [[List of East Asian ports]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}{{Reflist|group=nb}}

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<!-- + -->
<!--REF NOT USED IN ARTICLE
<ref name="2036-QĐ-BTTTT-2016">{{cite web |title=Decree 2036/QĐ-BTTTT |url=http://mic.gov.vn/Pages/VanBan/13812/2036_Qd-BTTTT.html |website=Ministry of Information and Communication of Viet Nam |publisher=Ministry of Information and Communication of Viet Nam |access-date=17 February 2017}}</ref>-->

}}

==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite report |last=Fleming |first=Tom |date=2021 |title=Việt Nam |chapter=Hồ Chí Minh City |pages=160–198 |url=https://www.britishcouncil.vn/sites/default/files/city_profile_vietnam.pdf |series=Cultural Cities Profile East Asia |location=Hà Nội |publisher=[[British Council|British Council Vietnam]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240428111540/https://www.britishcouncil.vn/sites/default/files/city_profile_vietnam.pdf |archive-date=28 April 2024 |access-date=19 April 2025}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|voy=Ho Chi Minh City|s=Special:Search/"Ho Chi Minh City" OR Saigon}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100218043919/http://hochiminhcity.gov.vn/ Official website] {{in lang|vi|en}} (archived 18 February 2010)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20151026014622/http://www.eng.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/Pages/default.aspx Ho Chi Minh City People's Council] (archived 26 October 2015)
* {{OSM relation|1973756}}
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{{Subdivisions of Vietnam}}
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{{Megacities}}
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{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ho Chi Minh City| ]]
[[Category:1698 establishments in Vietnam]]
[[Category:Capitals of former nations]]
[[Category:Cities in Vietnam]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1698]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns in Vietnam]]