Ho Chi Minh City (still called Saigon by locals) is Vietnam's largest city and economic powerhouse. It's where American helicopters once evacuated the US Embassy, and where today 9 million motorbikes create the world's most chaotic traffic symphony.
Cu Chi Tunnels: The Underground City
The Viet Cong built 250km of tunnels right under American forces - a military engineering miracle:
- 250km of tunnels on 3 levels (hospitals, kitchens, living quarters)
- Started by Viet Minh fighting the French in 1948
- American "Tunnel Rats" were sent in to clear them
- Entrances were sized for Vietnamese bodies only
- Now enlarged 30% so tourists can fit through
9 Million Motorbikes
Saigon is the world capital of motorbike culture - and the traffic defies all logic:
- 9 million motorbikes vs 800,000 cars
- Motorbikes carry entire families (up to 5 people)
- You can transport refrigerators, pigs, or fish tanks on a bike
- Rush hour looks terrifying but has fewer accidents than you'd expect
- Crossing the street: walk slowly and let traffic flow around you
Saigon vs Ho Chi Minh City
The city's name is politically loaded - and locals have their own opinion:
- Renamed Ho Chi Minh City in 1976 after reunification
- Most locals still call it "Saigon" in daily life
- The main post office still says "Saigon"
- District 1 is officially "Saigon District"
- Airport code is SGN (Saigon), not HCM
More HCMC Secrets
The Fall of Saigon Photo
The famous photo of helicopters evacuating people from a rooftop on April 30, 1975 is often mislabeled as the US Embassy. It was actually 22 Gia Long Street, a CIA building. The last helicopter off the Embassy left at 7:53am. The tank that crashed through the Presidential Palace gates is still displayed there.
Fun fact: April 30 is celebrated as Reunification Day - a national holiday!
Coffee Culture Capital
Vietnam is the world's second-largest coffee producer, and Saigon is its coffee capital. "Ca phe sua da" (iced coffee with condensed milk) is the local specialty. The slow drip through a metal phin filter creates an intense, sweet brew. You'll find tiny coffee shops on every corner.
Pho Was Invented in the North
Vietnam's famous soup actually originated in Hanoi around 1900, likely influenced by French beef stews and Chinese noodle soups. Saigon's version is sweeter with more herbs. The North-South pho debate is as passionate as Chicago vs New York pizza.
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