Ho Chi Minh City is a new land. Only 300 years ago, the name Saigon was mentioned in history books. In early 1698, Governor Nguyen Gui Kang established the Zhang Dinh District and Saigon District. Much later, Ho Chi Minh City will become a huge urban area in Vietnam. In 1859, the colonial era of the area began: the French colonialists invaded and occupied the South, destroying the citadel of Zha Dinh. Since the beginning of French rule, the city of Ho Chi Minh has grown rapidly - many new buildings have appeared, some of which are pleasing to the eye to this day. Due to its favorable geographical location, land and climatic conditions, Ho Chi Minh City soon became a point of focus for merchants around the world. In 1862, the Saigon Seaport was founded. On March 15, 1874, the French President signed a decree officially establishing the city of Saigon. At the beginning of the twentieth century, Tylon (Chinatown) joined Saigon, forming the largest urban area in Indochina.
Later, this historic land became the cradle of the anti-colonial movement. It was at this point that the Vietnamese gained independence with the end of Ho Chi Minh's campaign on April 30, 1975. On July 2, 1976, Saigon was officially renamed Ho Chi Minh City.
After a difficult three hundred years of formation and development, the city of Ho Chi Minh has preserved many ancient monuments of architecture, famous historical sites and beautiful corners of nature. The blending of national traditions, elements of Chinese and Western European cultures creates the unique color that the city streets imbue. The bizarre combination of urban elements and the atmosphere of the eastern city make the visit to Ho Chi Minh one of the most memorable travel experiences.
Ho Chi Minh: worth a visit
Weather in Vinh Ngem. The Vinh Ngiem Pagoda was built between 1964 and the nine hundred and seventy-one years ago by architect Nguyen Ba Lang.
Pagoda by Jacques Vienne. Originally a simple hut with a thatched roof designed to worship the goddess Bodhisattvas, it was transformed into a pacific by Jacques Vien by master Kwang-ying in 1850. This functioning pagoda is a unique museum, with more than 150 statues and engravings in its walls, most of which date from the late 19th - early 20th centuries.
Notre Dame Cathedral. Another colonial-style building - Notre Dame Cathedral is located on Paris Square in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. The construction of this landmark building was uncommonly fast: the French priest laid the first brick in October 1877 and the last brick in April 1880.
Ho Chi Minh City Historical Museum. The Ho Chi Minh City Historical Museum was built in 1929 and was originally called the Blanchard de la Bosse Museum until 1956. During this period, the museum hosted several different exhibitions of ancient Asian art. In 1956, the museum was officially renamed the Saigon National Museum and finally in 1975, after its reconstruction and expansion, it became the Ho Chi Minh City Historical Museum. The museum exhibits are divided into themes, each of which corresponds to a specific time period of the state's development - from primitive times (about three thousand years ago) to the end of the last royal Nguyen dynasty, dating from the middle of the XX century. The second half of the museum presents the typical features of the southern region of Vietnam, including the. such as the Ok Eo culture, the ancient Mekong Delta culture, the art of the yam, Ben NGE Saigon art, Vietnamese ethnic minority art, and ancient pottery from other Asian countries.
Pier House of the Dragon. The Dragon House Pier is part of Ho Chi Minh's personal history, located at the confluence of the Ben NGE Canal with the Saigon River. It was from this place at the age of 21 that "Uncle Ho" went on a French ship in June 1911. At that time, the Dragon House pier was called NHA Rong and was a French shipping company built back in 1863. In September 1979, the People's Committee of the City selected Nha Rong as the location of the Ho Chi Minh Museum. The name was taken from two symbols with the outline of a dragon adorning the building. About one million visitors, Vietnamese and foreign, have visited this place. In addition, there are such important events as various festivals, as well as the admission of new members to the Youth Union and the Communist Party of Vietnam. The museum has an exhibition of photographs and objects related to the former president
Museum of Military History. A very instructive reminder of the country's bloody era - the Museum of Military History was founded in September 1975. It presents a wealth of facts, photographs and paintings that document the not-so-heroic activities of the US Army in Vietnam. Terrifying exhibits illustrate the massacres of civilians, the dispersal of toxic defoliants, the torture of prisoners and the aftermath of the war in northern Vietnam. Airplanes, tanks, bombs and helicopters are also on display. Over the past 20 years, the museum has been visited by over six million visitors. Of these, nearly one million are overseas tourists, including Americans. The Thong Nhat Conference Hall, which was built in 1868 and has undergone repeated changes in political regimes, has repeatedly become an arena for fighting and political action. Nowadays the palace is a historical and cultural relic that attracts both its and foreign tourists.

Kuta Tunnels. Another reminder of the war is the Kuta tunnels located about 70 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City in the administrative district of Kuti. The area is widely known throughout the country as the base on which the Vietnamese prepared their operations for the Tet Offensive in 1968. The tunnels consist of underground passages over 200 km long. The main axis has a system of branches that connect with underground shelters and entrances to other tunnels. The width of the aisles from 0.5 to 1 m is sufficient to push a person of small constitution. Part of the tunnels has been further refined and expanded to accommodate guests. The top layer of the earth is 3 - 4 m and can withstand a 50-ton tank and burst shells of light weapons and bombs. The underground network of tunnels included rooms for rest and sleep, for meetings, hospitals and other living quarters. Visiting the Quti Tunnels provides a better understanding of the nature of the spirit of such long-standing resistance to the Vietnamese people, as well as the tenacity and wisdom of the Vietnamese nation.
Municipal Theater. Located on Dong Hoi Street, the Municipal Theater is located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, close to the Caravel and Continental hotels. It was built in the late nineteenth century and later, in the 1940s of the twentieth century underwent reconstruction. The three-story building accommodates thousands of eight hundred spectators. The theater is built in the French colonial style, with space ventilation and modern sound and lighting systems. It features performances by the Kai Luongo Theater, South Vietnamese traditional folk song festivals, ballet and opera performances by various foreign and Vietnamese artists.
Ho Chi Minh Zoo and Botanical Garden. The zoo and Botanical Garden of Ho Chi Minh City opened in 1865 on an area of 20 hectares, thanks to the contribution of the famous French botanist JB Louise Pierre. The zoo contains more than 520 animals representing 120 species. The Botanical Garden has up to 1830 trees and plants, some of them reaching 100 years old. Twenty species of orchids, 32 species of cacti and 34 species of dwarf ornamental trees grow here to the delight of millions of tourists. The Zoo and Botanical Garden of Ho Chi Minh City are members of the Zoological Association of Southeast Asia.
Dam Shen Sheng (Lotus Lake Park). The largest cultural and entertaining center of the city is able to offer rest for every taste: the park's infrastructure, divided into 30 sites, includes dozens of types of entertainment establishments, restaurants and shows. Places to visit include a smaller copy of the Jacques Vienne Pagoda, a float restaurant "Tgi Ta", a lake such as West Lake in Hanoi, a puppet show, a bird garden, a water park, a sports center and the Nam Tu Royal Garden.
Ki Hoa Tourist Rest Area. The Ki Hoa Recreation Area, located in the center of Ho Chi Minh City, covers a large area of 14 hectares. In Ki Hoa you can find a park, a market, modern hotels and a wide selection of restaurants. This includes the city's largest Hoa Binh Theater. Ki Hoa is divided into two parts, which are connected by a picturesque bridge. There are lots of fun and leisure activities here, including yachting, train rides around the lake, visiting a small zoo and aquarium, video game lounge and roller skating. Most recently, the Doi Hoa Vang Auditorium was built at more than 1,000 seating locations near the lake, hosting various cultural events, international dance festivals and fashion shows.