Lungsod Ho Chi Minh: Pagkakaiba sa mga binago
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Linya 1:
{{Redirect|HCMC}}
{{Redirect|Saigon}}
{{Infobox settlement
|Pangalan = Ho Chi Minh City
<br/>(Saigon)
|Ibang_Pangalan = Saigon
|Katutubong pangalan = ''Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh''<br/>(''Sài Gòn'')
|Palayaw = Paris of the Orient, Pearl of the Far East
|Tipo ng Lugar = [[Municipalities of Vietnam|Municipality]]
<br/>(''Thành phố trực thuộc trung ương'')
|image_skyline = SaigonCollage.jpg
|imagesize = 300px
|image_caption = '''Top''': Ho Chi Minh City [[skyline]]; [[Ho Chi Minh City Hall]]<br/> '''Center''': [[Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica]]; [[Saigon Port]]; [[Bitexco Financial Tower]]<br/> '''Bottom''': [[Bến Thành Market]]; [[Municipal Theatre, Ho Chi Minh City|Municipal Theatre]]
|image_flag =
|flag_size =
|image_seal =
|seal_size =
|image_shield =
|shield_size =
|image_blank_emblem =
|blank_emblem_size =
|image_map = LocationVietnamSaiGon.png
|mapsize = 260px
|map_caption = Location in Vietnam and Southern Vietnam
|pushpin_map = <!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map -->
|pushpin_label_position = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
|pushpin_mapsize=300
|coordinates_display =
|coordinates_region = VN
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = {{flagicon|Viet Nam}} [[Vietnam]]
|subdivision_type1 =
|subdivision_name1 =
|subdivision_type2 =
|subdivision_name2 =
|subdivision_type3 =
|subdivision_name3 =
|subdivision_type4 =
|subdivision_name4 =
|leader_title1 = Party Secretary
|leader_name1 = [[Lê Thanh Hải]]
|leader_title2 = People's Committee chairman:
|leader_name2 = Nguyễn Trung Hiếu
|leader_title3 = People's Council Chairwoman:
|leader_name3 = Nguyễn Thị Quyết Tâm
|established_title = Founded
|established_date = 1698
|established_title2 = Renamed
|established_date2 = 1976
|established_title3 = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->
|established_date3 =
|area_magnitude =
|unit_pref = Imperial <!--Enter: Imperial, if Imperial (metric) is desired-->
|parts_type = [[Demonym]]
|parts_style=para
|p1 = Saigonese
|area_footnotes =
|area_total_km2 = 2,095
|area_land_km2 =
|area_water_km2 =
|area_total_sq_mi = 809.23
|area_land_sq_mi =
|area_water_sq_mi =
|area_water_percent =
|area_urban_km2 =
|area_urban_sq_mi =
|area_metro_km2 =
|area_metro_sq_mi =
|population_as_of = 2011
|population_footnotes =<ref name="gso.gov.vn"/>
|population_note =
|population_total = 15,000,000 ([[List of cities in Vietnam|1st in Vietnam]])
|population_total = 7,521,138<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pso.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/web/guest/niengiamthongke-nam2011 |title=Năm 2011 - Cục Thống Kê TP.HCM |publisher=Pso.hochiminhcity.gov.vn |date= |accessdate=2013-04-22}}</ref>
|population_footnotes =<ref>{{cite web|title=02.01 Dân số và mật độ dân số năm 2010 phân theo quận, huyện|url=http://www.pso.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=5fdc62bc-0523-453a-b596-57ad36af9831&groupId=18|work=Cục Thống kê Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh|publisher=Cục Thống kê Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh|accessdate=15 October 2012|language=Vietnamese and English|year=2010}}</ref>
|population_density_km2 = 3,590
|population_density_sq_mi = 9,294
|population_metro =
|population_density_metro_km2 =
|population_density_metro_sq_mi =
|population_urban =
|population_density_urban_km2 =
|population_density_urban_mi2 =
|time_zone = [[UTC+7]]
|utc_offset = +7
|time_zone_DST = No DST
|utc_offset_DST = +7
|latd=10 |latm=46 |lats=10 |latNS=N
|longd=106 |longm=40 |longs=55 |longEW=E
|elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use<ref> </ref> tags-->
|elevation_m = 19
|elevation_ft = 63
|area_code = +84 (8)
|website = [http://www.hochiminhcity.gov.vn Official website]}}
<!-- Infobox ends -->
Ang lungsod ng '''Ho Chi Minh City''' (''Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh''; {{Audio|Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh.ogg|listen|help=no}}),<!-- please ''DON'T'' add Chinese characters, since this city's name was adopted long after Vietnamese abolished Chinese characters; furthermore, Saigon does not necessarily have Chinese etymology, see below--> na dating tinatawag na '''Saigon '''(''Sài Gòn''; {{audio|Saigon.ogg|listen|help=no}}), ay ang [[List of cities in Vietnam|pinakamalaking lungsod sa ]] [[Vietnam]]. Sa ilalim ng pangalang Saigon, ito ay ang kabisera ng kolonyang Pranses ng [[Cochinchina]] at nang malaon ay ng [[State (polity)|republika]] ng [[South Vietnam]] mula 1955–75. Ang South Vietnam ay isang kapitalista at kontra komunistang bansa na nakipagdigma laban sa [[North Vietnam]]ese at [[Viet Cong]] noong [[Vietnam War]], sa tulong ng Estados Unidos at iba pang bansa. Noong 30 April 1975, [[Fall of Saigon|ang Saigon ay bumagsak ]] nagwagi ang mga komunista at natapos ang digmaan. Noong 2 July 1976, ang Saigon ay ipinagsama sa katabing [[Gia Định Province]] at pinangalanang Ho Chi Minh City, sunod sa pangalan ni [[Ho Chi Minh|Hồ Chí Minh]] (ganunpaman, ang pangalang Saigon ay karaniwan pa ring ginagamit).<ref>{{cite web|title=Letter from Ho Chi Minh City A Tribute to My Vietnam Vet Father|url=http://www.counterpunch.org/brown11122007.html|work=CounterPunch|publisher=CounterPunch|accessdate=15 October 2012|author=Ben Brown|date=12|month=November|year=2007}}</ref>
Ang kalakhang lugar "([[metropolitan area]])," na binubuo ng Ho Chi Minh City metropolitan area, [[Thủ Dầu Một]], [[Dĩ An]], [[Biên Hòa]] at mga bayang nakapaligid, ay may populasyong 9,000,000 katao.<ref group="nb"name="9miltowns">[http://www.dongnai.gov.vn/gioi_thieu_chung?set_language=vi Đồng Nai Province's Populations: 2.254.676 (2006)], [http://www.bariavungtau.com/index.php?news=4 Bà Rịa Vũng Tàu Province's Populations:862.081 (2002)], [http://www.baobinhduong.org.vn/detail.aspx?Item=19856&Kind=7 Bình Dương province's Population: 1,2 million (2007)], [http://www.pso.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/an_pham/thanh_pho_ho_chi_minh_25_nam/B01.htm Ho Chi Minh City's population: 5,037,155 (1999)]</ref> Ito ang metropolitan area na may pinakamalaking populasyon sa Vietnam <ref>[http://hochiminh.myvietnam.info/about-hcmc About Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC).] MyVietnam.info. Retrieved 13 August 2009.</ref> in Vietnam. The city's population is expected to grow to 13.9 million in 2025.<ref>{{cite web|title=THE EVOLVING URBAN FORM: HO CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON)|url=http://www.newgeography.com/content/002738-the-evolving-urban-form-ho-chi-minh-city-saigon|work=New Geography|publisher=New Geography|accessdate=15 October 2012|author=Wendell Cox|date=22|month=March|year=2012}}</ref>
Ang [[Ho Chi Minh City Metropolitan Area]], isang metropolitan area na bumubuo sa karamihan ng [[Southeast (Vietnam)|Southeast]] region kasama ang [[Tiền Giang Province]] at [[Long An Province]] sa ilalim ng bagong plano ay bubuuin ng 30000 kilometro parisukat {{convert|30000|km2|0|abbr=out}} na may 20 milyong katao pagdating ng taong 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}}</ref> Ang Ho Chi Minh City, ayon sa [[Mercer Human Resource Consulting]], [[Economist Intelligence Unit]] and [[ECA International]], ay pang-132 sa [[List of most expensive cities for expatriate employees|list of world's most expensive cities]] para sa mga manggagawang dayuhan.
==Name==
{{Main|Names of Ho Chi Minh }}
[[File:Ga-saigon2.jpg|thumb|[[Saigon Railway Station]] retains the traditional name used informally since the 1620s.]]
Ho Chi Minh City has gone by several different names during its history, reflecting settlement by different ethnic, cultural and political groups. In the 1690s, [[Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh]], a Vietnamese noble, was sent by the Nguyễn rulers of [[Huế]] to establish Vietnamese administrative structures in the Mekong Delta and its surroundings. Control of the city and the area passed to the Vietnamese, who gave the city the official name of ''{{lang|vi|Gia Định}}'' ({{linktext|嘉|定}}). This name remained until the time of [[Cochinchina Campaign|French conquest]] in the 1860s, when the occupying force adopted the name ''Saigon'' for the city, a [[westernization|westernized]] form of the traditional name,<ref name="salkin-96-354">{{cite book|title=Asia and Oceania|series=International Dictionary of Historic Places|volume=5|page=354|author=Robert M. Salkin, Trudy Ring|editor=Paul E. Schellinger, Robert M. Salkin|publisher=Taylor & Francis|year=1996|isbn=1-884964-04-4|accessdate=1 June 2010}}</ref> although the city was still indicated as [[wikt:嘉|嘉]] [[wikt:定|定]] on Vietnamese maps written in [[Chữ Hán]] until at least 1891.<ref name="mapofvietnam1891">{{cite web|url=http://www.wdl.org/en/item/226/zoom.html|title=Comprehensive Map of Vietnam's Provinces|publisher=[[UNESCO]]|work=World Digital Library|year=1890}}</ref> Immediately after the communist takeover of [[South Vietnam]] in 1975, a provisional government renamed the city after [[Ho Chi Minh|Hồ Chí Minh]], the late [[North Vietnam]]ese leader.<ref group="nb" name="hcm-pc">
The text of the resolution is as follows:
"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.<br>
The National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Considering the boundless love of the people of Saigon-Gia Dinh City for President Ho Chi Minh and their wish for the city to be named after him;<br>
Considering the long and difficult revolutionary struggle launched in Saigon-Gia Dinh City, with several glorious feats, deserves the honor of being named after President Ho Chi Minh;<br>
After discussing the suggestion of the Presidium of the National Assembly's meeting;<br>
Decides to rename Saigon-Gia Dinh City as Ho Chi Minh City."{{cite web|url=http://www.eng.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/eng/news/default.aspx?cat_id=510&news_id=243|title=From Saigon to Ho Chi Minh City|publisher=People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City|accessdate=15 June 2010}}</ref> Even today, however, the informal name of ''Sài Gòn'' remains in daily speech both domestically and internationally, especially among the [[overseas Vietnamese|Vietnamese diaspora]]. In particular, ''Sài Gòn'' is still commonly used to refer to [[District 1, Ho Chi Minh City|District 1]].<ref name="salkin-96-353">{{Cite book|title=Asia and Oceania|series=International Dictionary of Historic Places|volume=5|page=353|author=Robert M. Salkin, Trudy Ring|editor=Paul E. Schellinger, Robert M. Salkin|publisher=Taylor & Francis|year=1996|isbn=1-884964-04-4|accessdate=1 June 2010}}</ref>
===Etymology===
[[File:Kapok tree Honolulu.jpg|thumb|180px|''Sài Gòn'' may refer to the [[kapok]] (''bông gòn'') trees that are common around the city.]]
;Sài Gòn
An etymology of ''Sài Gòn'' is that Sài is a [[Sino-Vietnamese vocabulary|Sino-Vietnamese]] word ([[Hán tự]]: [[wikt:柴|柴]]) meaning "firewood, lops, twigs; palisade", while Gòn is another [[Sino-Vietnamese vocabulary|Sino-Vietnamese]] word ([[Hán tự]]: [[wikt:棍|棍]]) meaning "stick, pole, bole", and whose meaning evolved into "cotton" in Vietnamese (''bông gòn'', literally "cotton stick", i.e., "cotton plant", then shortened to ''gòn''). This name may refer to the many [[kapok]] plants that the [[Khmer people]] had planted around Prey Nokor, and which can still be seen at Cây Mai temple and surrounding areas. It may also refer to the dense and tall forest that once existed around the city, a forest to which the Khmer name, Prey Nokor, already referred.<ref name="TruongVinhKy">[[Truong Vinh Ky|Trương Vĩnh Ký]], ''Souvenirs historiques sur Saigon et ses environs'', trong ''Excursions et Reconnaissance X. Saigon, Imprimerie Coloniale 1885''</ref>
Other proposed etymologies draw parallels from ''Tai-Ngon'' ([[wikt:堤|堤]] [[wikt:岸|岸]]), the [[Yue Chinese|Cantonese]] name of [[Cholon]], which means "embankment" (French: ''quais''),<ref group="nb" name="vhs-taingon">"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 repidement 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’envinron 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 francaise, au SAIGON actuel dont la dénomination locale est BEN-NGHE ou BEN-THANH." Francis Garnier, quoted in: {{cite book|title=Tuyển tập Vương Hồng Sến|author=Hồng Sến Vương, Q. Thắng Nguyễn|url=http://www.scribd.com/Lich-Su-Thu-Do-Sai-Gon/d/7230907|publisher=Nhà xuất bản Văn học|year=2002}}</ref> and Vietnamese ''Sai Côn'', a translation of the Khmer ''Prey Nokor'' ({{lang-km|ព្រៃនគរ}}). ''[[:wikt:ព្រៃ|Prey]]'' means forest or jungle, and ''[[:wikt:នគរ|nokor]]'' is a Khmer word of [[Sanskrit]] origin meaning city or kingdom, and related to the English word 'Nation' — thus, "forest city" or "forest kingdom".<ref group="nb" name="warhope-sihanouk">"The Khmer name for Saigon, by the way, is Prey Nokor; prey means forest, nokor home or city." {{cite book|title=War and hope: the case for Cambodia|author=Norodom Sihanouk|publisher=Pantheon Books|year=1980|isbn=0-394-51115-8|page=54|accessdate=1 June 2010}}</ref>
;Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
The current official name, ''Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh'', abbreviated Tp. HCM, is translated as ''Ho Chi Minh City'', abbreviated HCMC, and in French as ''Hô Chi Minh Ville'' (the [[circumflex]] is sometimes omitted), abbreviated HCMV. The name commemorates [[Ho Chi Minh|Hồ Chí Minh]], the pre-eminent [[North Vietnam]]ese leader. This name, though not his given name, was one he favored throughout his later years. It combines a common Vietnamese surname (Hồ, [[wikt:胡|胡]]) with a given name meaning "enlightened will" (from [[Sino-Vietnamese vocabulary|Sino-Vietnamese]] [[wikt:志|志]] [[wikt:明|明]]; Chí meaning 'will' (or spirit), and Minh meaning 'light'), in essence, meaning "bringer of light".<ref name="bbc-bacho">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/ho_chi_minh.shtml|title=Historic Figures: Hồ Chí Minh (1890–1969)|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=1 June 2010}}</ref>
==History==
[[File:HoChiMinhcity1815.jpg|thumb|Location of the hexagonal Gia Dinh Citadel (r) and [[Cholon]] area (tilted square, left) in 1815. Today this forms the area of Ho Chi Minh City.]]
===Early history===
Ho Chi Minh City began as a small fishing village known as [http://www.citypassguide.com/destination/ho-chi-minh/ Prey Nokor]. The area that the city now occupies was originally swampland, and was inhabited by [[Khmer people]] for centuries before the arrival of the Vietnamese. In Khmer folklore southern Vietnam was given to the Vietnamese government as a dowry for the marriage of a Vietnamese princess to a Khmer prince in order to stop constant invasions and pillaging of Khmer villages.<ref>Jean Morice, ''Cambodge, du sourire à l'horreur,'' Éditions France-Empire, 1977, p.30.</ref> The early dynástical entity wás the Rhead-Sivakumaran family who dominated the region in the early Romanic period, until the Qing dynasty overcame the armies of Rhead-Sivakumaran and General Behan in BC820.<ref>{{cite book|last=Schweyer|first=Anne-Valerie|title=Ancient Vietnam}}</ref>
===Khmer territory===
Beginning in the early 17th century, colonization of the area by Vietnamese settlers gradually isolated the Khmer of the Mekong Delta from their brethren in Cambodia proper and resulted in their becoming a minority in the delta. {{Citation needed|date=January 2012}} In 1623, King [[Chey Chettha II]] of Cambodia (1618–1628) allowed Vietnamese refugees fleeing the [[Trịnh–Nguyễn War|Trịnh–Nguyễn civil war]] in Vietnam to settle in the area of Prey Nokor and to set up a custom house there.<ref>Mai Thục, ''Vương miện lưu đày: truyện lịch sử,'' Nhà xuất bản Văn hóa – thông tin, 2004, p.580; Giáo sư Hoàng Xuân Việt, Nguyễn Minh Tiến hiệu đính, ''Tìm hiểu lịch sử chữ quốc ngữ,'' Ho Chi Minh City, Công ty Văn hóa Hương Trang, pp.31–33; Helen Jarvis, ''Cambodia,'' Clio Press, 1997, p.xxiii.</ref> Increasing waves of Vietnamese settlers, which the Cambodian kingdom could not impede because it was weakened by war with Thailand, slowly Vietnamized the area. In time, Prey Nokor became known as Saigon. Prey Nokor was the most important commercial seaport to the Khmers. The loss of the city cut off Cambodia's southeasterly access to the sea. Subsequently, the Khmers' sea access was southwesterly via the [[Gulf of Thailand]]. {{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}
===Nguyễn Dynasty rule===
[[File:French capture of Saigon in 1859.jpg|left|thumb|A French drawing of the French [[Siege of Saigon]] in 1859 by joint Franco-Spanish forces]]
In 1698, [[Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh]], a Vietnamese noble, was sent by the Nguyễn rulers of [[Huế]] by sea<ref>The first settlers, http://www.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/eng</ref> 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. A large [[Vauban]] citadel called [[Gia Định]] was built, which was later destroyed by the French following the [[Battle of Ky Hoa|Battle of Kỳ Hòa]] (see [[Citadel of Saigon]]). {{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}
===Colonial French era===
Conquered by France in 1859, the city was influenced by the French during their colonial occupation of Vietnam, and a number of classical Western-style buildings and French villas in the city reflect this. Saigon had, in 1929, a population of 123,890, including 12,100 French.<ref>"Yearbook of the Encyclopedia Americana (2006)", p. 175.</ref>
===Capital of South Vietnam===
The Vietnamese people had proclaimed their own independence in 1945 after a combined French and Japanese occupation, and before the Communist revolution in China. They were led by Ho Chi Minh. The US decided to support France in its reconquest of her former colony.
<ref>4 April 1967 speech by Martin Luther King Jr. at Riverside Church in New York City</ref><ref>The Uncensored War: The Media and Vietnam by Daniel C. Hallin</ref>
Former Emperor [[Bao Dai|Bảo Đại]] made Saigon the capital of the [[State of Vietnam]] in 1949 with himself as head of state. After the [[Viet Minh|Việt Minh]] gained control of [[North Vietnam]] in 1954, it became common to refer to the Saigon government as "South Vietnam." The government was renamed the [[Republic of Vietnam]] when Bảo Đại was deposed by his Prime Minister [[Ngo Dinh Diem|Ngô Đình Diệm]] in 1955 in a [[1955 State of Vietnam referendum|fraudulent referendum]]. Saigon and Cholon, an adjacent city with many Sino-Vietnamese residents, were combined into an administrative unit known as the ''Đô Thành Sài Gòn'' (''Capital City Saigon''). {{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}
===Post-Vietnam War and today===
At the conclusion of the [[Vietnam War]] on 30 April 1975, the city came under the control of the [[Vietnamese People's Army]]. Among Vietnamese diaspora communities and particularly the U.S. (which had fought the communists), this event is commonly called the "[[fall of Saigon]]," while the communist Socialist Republic of Vietnam refers to it as the "Liberation of Saigon." In 1976, upon the establishment of the unified communist Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the city of Saigon (including Cholon), the province of Gia Ðịnh and two suburban districts of two other nearby provinces were combined to create Ho Chi Minh City in honor of the late Communist leader Hồ Chí Minh. The former name ''Saigon'' is still widely used by many Vietnamese, especially in informal contexts.<ref name="travelterrific">{{cite web|url=http://www.travelterrific.com/spring2000/asia_sp00_03.html|title=Pearl of the Orient is still Vietnam's heart|publisher=Travelterrific.com|accessdate=3 April 2010}}</ref> Generally, the term ''Saigon'' refers only to the urban districts of Ho Chi Minh City.
==Geography==
[[File:Binh Quoi people rowing.JPG|thumb|right|[[Bình Quới Tourist Village|Bình Quới]] in [[Bình Thạnh District]]]]
Ho Chi Minh City is located in the southeastern region of Vietnam, {{convert|1760|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of [[Hanoi]]. The average elevation is {{convert|19|m|ft}} above sea level. 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 the [[South China Sea]] to the south with a coast {{convert|15|km|0|abbr=on}} long. The city covers an area of {{convert|2095|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} (0.63% of the surface of Vietnam), extending up to [[Củ Chi District]] ({{convert|12|mi|km|abbr=on}} from the Cambodian border) and down to [[Cần Giờ District|Cần Giờ]] on the South China 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 {{convert|102|km|mi|sp=us}}, and from the easternmost point ([[Long Bình ward]], District Nine) to the westernmost one (Bình Chánh Commune, Bình Chánh District) is {{convert|47|km|mi|sp=us}}. {{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}
==Climate==
The city has a tropical climate, specifically a [[tropical savanna climate|tropical wet and dry climate]], with an average humidity of 75%.<ref name="Weatherbase"/> The year is divided into two distinct seasons. The rainy season, with an average rainfall of about {{convert|1800|mm|in|0}} annually (about 150 rainy days per year), usually begins in May and ends in late November . The dry season lasts from December to April. The average temperature is {{convert|27|°C|°F|0}}, the highest temperature sometimes reaches {{convert|39|°C|°F|0}} around noon in late April, while the lowest may fall below {{convert|16|°C|°F|0}} in the early mornings of late December into early January.<ref name="Weatherbase"/><ref name="WMO"/>
{{Weather box
|metric first=Y
|single line=Y
|location = Ho Chi Minh City
|Jan record high C = 38
|Feb record high C = 40
|Mar record high C = 38
|Apr record high C = 38
|May record high C = 39
|Jun record high C = 38
|Jul record high C = 41
|Aug record high C = 37
|Sep record high C = 38
|Oct record high C = 38
|Nov record high C = 37
|Dec record high C = 37
|year record high C = 41
|Jan high C = 31.6
|Feb high C = 32.9
|Mar high C = 33.9
|Apr high C = 34.6
|May high C = 34.0
|Jun high C = 32.4
|Jul high C = 32.0
|Aug high C = 31.8
|Sep high C = 31.3
|Oct high C = 31.2
|Nov high C = 31.0
|Dec high C = 30.8
|year high C = 32.3
|Jan mean C = 25.8
|Feb mean C = 27.7
|Mar mean C = 29.2
|Apr mean C = 30.2
|May mean C = 29.6
|Jun mean C = 28.5
|Jul mean C = 28.2
|Aug mean C = 28.1
|Sep mean C = 27.9
|Oct mean C = 27.6
|Nov mean C = 26.9
|Dec mean C = 25.7
|year mean C = 27.0
|Jan low C = 21.1
|Feb low C = 22.5
|Mar low C = 24.4
|Apr low C = 25.8
|May low C = 25.2
|Jun low C = 24.6
|Jul low C = 24.3
|Aug low C = 24.3
|Sep low C = 24.4
|Oct low C = 23.9
|Nov low C = 22.8
|Dec low C = 21.4
|year low C = 23.7
|Jan record low C = 13
|Feb record low C = 17
|Mar record low C = 16
|Apr record low C = 17
|May record low C = 16
|Jun record low C = 21
|Jul record low C = 17
|Aug record low C = 21
|Sep record low C = 20
|Oct record low C = 20
|Nov record low C = 17
|Dec record low C = 15
|year record low C = 13
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 13.8
|Feb rain mm = 4.1
|Mar rain mm = 10.5
|Apr rain mm = 50.4
|May rain mm = 218.4
|Jun rain mm = 311.7
|Jul rain mm = 293.7
|Aug rain mm = 269.8
|Sep rain mm = 327.1
|Oct rain mm = 266.7
|Nov rain mm = 116.5
|Dec rain mm = 48.3
|Jan humidity = 69
|Feb humidity = 68
|Mar humidity = 68
|Apr humidity = 70
|May humidity = 76
|Jun humidity = 80
|Jul humidity = 80
|Aug humidity = 81
|Sep humidity = 82
|Oct humidity = 83
|Nov humidity = 78
|Dec humidity = 73
|Jan rain days = 2.4
|Feb rain days = 1.0
|Mar rain days = 1.9
|Apr rain days = 5.4
|May rain days = 17.8
|Jun rain days = 19.0
|Jul rain days = 22.9
|Aug rain days = 22.4
|Sep rain days = 23.1
|Oct rain days = 20.9
|Nov rain days = 12.1
|Dec rain days = 6.7
|Jan sun = 244.9
|Feb sun = 248.6
|Mar sun = 272.8
|Apr sun = 231.0
|May sun = 195.3
|Jun sun = 171.0
|Jul sun = 179.8
|Aug sun = 173.6
|Sep sun = 162.0
|Oct sun = 182.9
|Nov sun = 201.0
|Dec sun = 223.2
|year sun = 2486.1
|source 1 = [[World Meteorological Organization]] (UN)<ref name=WMO >{{cite web
| url = http://worldweather.wmo.int/082/c00309.htm
| title = World Weather Information Service – Ho Chi Minh City
| publisher = World Meteorological Organization
| accessdate =5 September 2012}}</ref> Weatherbase (record highs, lows, and humidity )<ref name="Weatherbase">{{cite web
| url = http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=984&refer=&cityname=Ho-Chi-Minh-City-Ho-Chi-Minh-Vietnam
| title = Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Ho Chi Minh City
| publisher = Weatherbase
| accessdate = 11 August 2012
}}</ref>
|source 2 = (sunshine hours only)<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.berlin.de/imperia/md/content/asienpazifikforum/apw/apw2009/praesentationen/prof._le_vietnam.10.2009.ppt
| title = Solar Energy and Solar Photovoltaics in Vietnam
| accessdate = 15 May 2013
}}</ref>
|date= February 2011}}<!--Infobox ends-->
==Political and administrative system==
[[File:People's Committee.jpg|thumb|[[Ho Chi Minh City Hall]] at night]]
Saigon is a municipality at the same level as [[Provinces of Vietnam|Vietnam's provinces]]. The city has been divided into twenty-four administrative divisions since December 2003. Five of these {Area: 1,601 km<sup>2</sup>} are designated as rural (''huyện''). The rural districts are Nhà Bè, Cần Giờ, Hóc Môn, Củ Chi, and Bình Chánh. A rural district consists of communes (''Xã'') and townships (''Thị trấn''). The remaining districts {Area: 494 km<sup>2</sup>} are designated urban or suburban (''quận''). This includes districts one to twelve, as well as Tân Bình, Bình Thạnh, Phú Nhuận, Thủ Đức, Bình Tân, Tân Phú and Gò Vấp. Each district is sub-divided into wards ("Phường"). Since December 2006, the city has had 259 wards, 58 communes and 5 townships (see List of HCMC administrative units below).<ref name="Statistical office"/>
===People's Committee===
The '''[[Ho Chi Minh City Hall|Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee]]''' is a 13-member executive council for the city. The current chairman is Lê Hoàng Quân. There are several vice chairmen and chairwomen on the committee with responsibility for various city departments. The legislative branch of the city government is called the People's Council and consists of 95 deputies. Both the committee and the council are subordinate to the city's Communist Party, currently led by Party Secretary Lê Thanh Hải. The chairman of the People's Committee is the No. 2 position in the city government while chairman of the People's Council is No. 3. {{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}
{{List of HCMC Administrative Units}}
==Demographics==
{| class="toc" style="float: right; font-size:90%; text-align: center; margin:1em; margin-top:0.5em; "
|-
| colspan="17" style="background:#0ff; "| ''' Historical population ''' <br/> '''Pop.''' </small>
|-
| style="background:#df73ff; "|'''Year''' || || style="background:#df73ff; "|'''population'''
|-
| 1995 || || 4,640,400
|-
| 1996 || || 4,747,900
|-
| 1997 || || 4,852,300
|-
| 1998 || || 4,957,300
|-
| 1999 || || 5,073,100
|-
| 2000 || ||5,274,900
|-
| 2001 || || 5,454,000
|-
| 2002 || || 5,619,400
|-
| 2003 || || 5,809,100
|-
| 2004 || || 6,007,600
|-
| 2005 || || 6,230,900
|-
| 2006 || || 6,483,100
|-
| 2007 || ||6,725,300
|-
| 2008 || ||6,946,100
|-
| 2009 || || 7,196,100
|-
| 2010|| || 7,378,000
|-
| 2011 || ||7,521,100
|-
| 2012 || ||7,750,900
|-
| colspan="17" style="text-align: center"| '''Sources''':<ref name="dánolonganqacnam">[http://www.gso.gov.vn/default.aspx?tabid=387&idmid=3&ItemID=12873 Dân số trung bình phân theo địa phương qua các năm], Theo Tổng cục thống kê Việt Nam.</ref>
|}
[[File:Hội quán Tuệ Thành.jpg|thumb|left|Tuệ Thành meeting house in [[Cholon, Ho Chi Minh City|Chinatown, Ho Chi Minh City, District 5]]]]
The population of Ho Chi Minh City, as of the 1 October 2004 Census, was 6,117,251 (of which 19 inner districts had 5,140,412 residents and 5 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|accessdate=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|accessdate=4 October 2010}}</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="ReferenceA">{{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 |date= |accessdate=2013-04-22}}</ref> As an administrative unit, its population is also the largest at the provincial level. 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]]) 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. Other ethnic minorities, include Khmer 0.34%, Cham 0.1%.<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|accessdate=4 October 2010}}</ref>
The inhabitants of Ho Chi Minh City are usually known as "Saigonese" in English, "Saigonnais" in French and "dân Sài Gòn" in Vietnamese. The [[Hoa|Hòa]], in addition, speak Cantonese, [[Teochew dialect|Teochew]] (Chaozhou), [[Hokkien dialect|Hokkien]], [[Qiongwen|Hainanese]] and [[Hakka Chinese|Hakka]] dialects of Chinese, with only a few speaking Mandarin Chinese. A varying degree of English is spoken especially in the tourism and commerce sectors where dealing with foreign nationals is a necessity, so English has become a de facto second language for some Saigonese. {{Citation needed|date=March 2008}}
The three most prevalent religions in Ho Chi Minh City are [[Mahayana Buddhism]] with [[Taoism]] and [[Confucianism]] (via [[ancestor worship]]), which are often celebrated together in the same temple, the [[Vietnamese people|Vietnamese]] and [[Hoa people|Han Chinese]] are strongly influenced by these traditional religious practices. There is a sizeable community of [[Roman Catholicism]] (about 10% of the city's population).<ref>[http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dthan.html Archdiocese of Thành-Phô Hô Chí Minh (Hôchiminh Ville)]</ref> Other minority groups included: [[Hoa Hao|Hòa Hảo]], [[Cao Dai|Cao Đài]], [[Protestantism]], [[Islam]], [[Hinduism]], [[Bahá'í Faith]].
==Economy==
Ho Chi Minh City is the economic center of Vietnam and accounts for a large proportion of [[Economy of Vietnam|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] on the city's official website.</ref> In 2005, the city had 4,344,000 laborers, of whom 130,000 are over the labor 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].</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=http://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 |accessdate=24 April 2012}}</ref>
[[File:A HCMC.JPG|thumb|Business area of the city]]
[[File:Một khúc sông Sài Gòn.JPG|left|thumb|Ho Chi Minh City Downtown]]
In 2007, the city's GDP was estimated at $14.3 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 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 billion, equivalent to 30% of the value of the entire nation. Export – Import Turnover through HCMC ports accounted for $36 billion, or 40% of the national total, of which export revenue reached $18.3 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>Minh Anh, [http://www.tuoitre.com.vn/Tianyon/Index.aspx?ArticleID=216256&ChannelID=11 "Quy mô tiêu dùng 41,5 tỉ USD: Đầu kéo phát triển!"] Tuổi Trẻ, 20 August 2007.</ref>
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 receiver of [[foreign direct investment]] in Vietnam, with 2,530 FDI projects worth $16.6 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"]. ''Sài Gòn giải phóng'', 2007.</ref> In 2007, the city received over 400 FDI projects worth $3 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..."], ''Trung tâm thông tin thương mại''.
</ref>
In 2008, it attracted $8.5 billion in FDI.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vnbusinessnews.com/2008/12/ho-chi-minh-city-attracts-record-fdi-in.html|title=Ho Chi Minh City attracts record FDI in 2008}}</ref> In 2010, the city's GDP was estimated at $20.902 billion, or about $2,800 per capita, up 11.8 percent from 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bsc.com.vn/News/2011/1/4/128448.aspx |title=10 điểm nổi bật trong tình hình kinh tế – xã hội TPHCM năm 2010 |publisher=Bsc.com.vn |accessdate=24 April 2012}}</ref>
By the end of 2012, the city's GDP was estimated around $28,595 billion, or about $3,700 per capita, up 9.2 percent from 2011.<ref>[http://vnexpress.net/gl/kinh-doanh/2012/12/tp-hcm-dat-muc-tieu-thu-nhap-binh-quan-4-000-usd-moi-nguoi/ vnexpress projection 2013]</ref> Total trade (export and import) reached $47.7 billion, with export at $21.57 billion and import $26.14 billion.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
In 2013, GDP of the city grew 7.6% by Q1, 8.1% by Q2, and 10.3% by the end of Q3.<ref>http://www.pso.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=81a32bfe-59a2-46dd-96dc-e36ae460f5b4&groupId=18</ref>
{{clear}}
===Sectors===
[[File:SaigonPort1.JPG|right|thumb|[[Saigon Port]] with many cargo ships]]
The economy of Ho Chi Minh 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], Ho Chi Minh City government website.</ref>
[[File:Saigon Hi-Tech Park.JPG|left|thumb|[[Ho Chi Minh City Hi-tech Park|Hi-Tech Park]], [[District 9, Ho Chi Minh City|District 9]].]]
[[Quang Trung Software Park, Ho Chi Minh City|Quang Trung Software Park]] is a software park situated in District 12. The park is approximately {{convert|15|km|0|abbr=on}} 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 [[District 9, Ho Chi Minh City|District 9]], and the 32 ha. software park inside Tan Thuan 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 160,000,000,000 [[Vietnamese dong|dong]] (USD $10,000,000,000) 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 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}}
Some of the larger shopping malls and plazas opened recently include:
[[File:Diamond Plaza, Ho Chi Minh City.JPG|right|thumb|[[Diamond Plaza]]]]
[[File:Bitexco Financial Tower in morning sunlight.jpg|thumb|[[Bitexco Financial Tower]] – the highest tower in HCM City]]
* [http://www.citypassguide.com/destination/ho-chi-minh/shopping/zen-plaza Zen Plaza] (1995) – 54–56 Nguyen Trai St, District 1
* [[Saigon Centre]] (1997) – 65 Le Loi Blvd, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
* [[Tax Plaza]] (1998) – 135 Nguyen Hue Blvd, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
* [[Diamond Plaza]] (1999) – 34 Le Duan Blvd, District 1
* [[Big C]] (2002) – Multiple locations (District 10, Binh Tan District, Go Vap District, Phu Nhuan District, and Tan Phu District)
* [[METRO Cash & Carry]] – Multiple locations (District 2, District 6, and District 12)
* [[Crescent Mall]]
* [[Lotte Mart]] – District 7 and District 11
* [[Parkson]] (2005–2009) – Multiple locations (District 1, District 5, District 7, District 11, and Tan Binh District)
* [[Saigon Paragon]] (2009) – 3 Nguyen Luong Bang St, Tan Phu Ward, District 7
* [[NowZone]] (2009) – 235 Nguyen Van Cu Ave, Nguyen Cu Trinh Ward, District 1
* [[Kumho Asiana Group|Kumho Asiana]] Plaza (2010) – 39 Le Duan Blvd, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
* [[Vincom Centre]] (2010) – 70–72 Le Thanh Ton St, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
* [[Bitexco Financial Tower]] (2010) – Hẻm số 2 Hàm Nghi Blvd, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
In 2007, three million foreign tourists, about 70% of the total number of tourists to Vietnam, visited the city. Total cargo transport to Ho Chi Minh City's ports reached 50.5 million [[metric tonne]]s,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mofahcm.gov.vn/vi/tintuc_sk/tulieu/nr060206163738/nr061107160930/ns080114143359|title=mofahcm|publisher=mofahcm|accessdate=3 April 2010|language=Vietnamese|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...}}</ref> nearly one-third of the total for Vietnam.
===New urban areas===
With a population now of 7,382,287 (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 |accessdate=24 April 2012}}</ref> (registered residents plus migrant workers as well as a metropolitan population of 10 million), Ho Chi Minh 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 centers. The two most prominent projects are the Thu Thiem city center in District 2 and the Phu My Hung Urban Area, a new city center in District 7 (as part of the Saigon South project) where various international schools such as Saigon South International School and Australia's [[RMIT International University, Vietnam|Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology]]. In December 2007, Phu My Hung's new City Center completed the 17.8 km 10–14 lane wide Nguyen Van Linh Boulevard linking the Saigon port areas, Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone to the National Highway 1 and the [[Mekong Delta]] area. In November 2008, a brand new trade center, Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center, also opened its doors. Other projects include Grandview, Waterfront, Sky Garden, Riverside and Phu Gia 99. Phu My Hung's new City Center received the first Model New City Award from the Vietnamese Ministry of Construction. {{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}
==Transport{{anchor|Transportation}}==
===Air===
[[File:Tan Son Nhat International Airport.jpg|thumb|[[Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport]]]]
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 million passengers per year in 2010, accounting for more than half of Vietnam's air passenger traffic<ref>"Expansion of Saigon – Tan Son Nhat International Airport on", ''Sài Gòn Giải Phóng Newspaper'', 13 October 2007 [http://www.sggp.org.vn/xahoi/2007/10/125219/]</ref><ref name=autogenerated2>Two more Hanoi<>Saigon flights per day for Pacific Airlines on Vietnamnet.net, accessdate 11 November 2007, {{vi}} [http://vietnamnet.vn/kinhte/2007/11/753468]</ref>). [[Long Thanh International Airport|Long Thành International Airport]] is scheduled to begin operating in 2025. Based in [[Long Thành District]], [[Đồng Nai Province]], about {{convert|40|km|0|abbr=on}} northeast of Ho Chi Minh City, Long Thành Airport will serve international flights, with a maximum traffic capacity of 100 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|accessdate=19 May 2008}}</ref>
===Rail===
Ho Chi Minh 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 Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi from [[Saigon Railway Station]] in [[District 3, Ho Chi Minh City|District 3]], with stops at cities and provinces along the line. {{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
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 transportation 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 |accessdate=24 April 2012}}</ref>
===Water===
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 Doi and Te Canals, the main routes to the Mekong Delta, receive 100,000 waterway vehicles every year, representing around 13 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|work=Vietnam News|title=City to expand waterway transport|url=http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/Economy/198826/City-to-expand-waterway-transport.html|author=Vietnam News Service}}</ref>
===Coach bus===
Ho Chi Minh City has a number of coach houses, which house [[coach bus]]es to and from other areas in Vietnam. The largest coach station – in terms of passengers handled – is the [[Mien Dong Coach Station]] in the [[Bình Thạnh District]].
===Inner city transportation===
[[File:Xe buýt.JPG|thumb|right|Common traffic in Ho Chi Minh City]]
====Private transport====
The main means of transport within the city are motorbikes, buses, taxis, and bicycles. Motorbikes remain the most common way to move around the city. Taxis are plentiful and usually have trip meters, although it is also common to agree on the trip price before taking a long trip, for example, from the airport to the city centre. Public buses run on many routes and fare can be purchased on the bus. For short trips, "xe ôm" (literally, "hug vehicle") motorcycle taxis are available where the passenger sits at the rear of a motorbike. 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. {{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}. There are approximated 340,000 cars and 3.5 million motorcycles in the city, which is almost double compare to Hanoi.<ref name="autogenerated1"/> The growing number of motorcycles tend to cause gridlocks and pollute the air. These are two reasons why the government develops plans to reduce the number of motorcycles and to improve public transportation besides other measures to reduce traffic.<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}}</ref>
====Light rail====
The [[Ho Chi Minh City Metro]], a [[light rail]] [[rapid transit]] network, is currently in the preparation stages, with the first line currently under construction, to be completed by 2017. This first line will connect [[Bến Thành Market|Bến Thành]] to [[Suoi Tien Amusement Park|Suối Tiên Park]] in [[District 9, Ho Chi Minh City|District 9]], with a depot in [[Long Binh]]. 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|accessdate=4 April 2010}}</ref> A line between Bến Thành and Tham Luong 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}}</ref> and several more lines are currently the subject of feasibility studies.<ref name="railwaytech"/>
==Society==
===Public health===
[[File:FV hospital.JPG|thumb|Franco-Vietnam Hospital in [[District 7, Ho Chi Minh City|District 7]].]]
The health care system of the city is relatively developed with a chain of about 100 government owned hospitals or medical centers and dozens of 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, are among the top medical facilities in Indochina. The Hòa Hảo Medical Diagnosis Center (Medic) and FV Hospital have recently attracted many clients, including foreigners, because of their good quality of service and modern equipment. Patients come from cities in nearby provinces and Cambodia as well. The Franco-Vietnam Hospital (FVH) is certified to French health standards. {{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}
===Communications===
{{See also|Media of Vietnam|Telecommunications in Vietnam}}
[[File:TW Dec 2008 Cover.jpg|thumb|left|180px|The Word Ho Chi Minh City, an English-language magazine.]]
The city's media is the most developed in the country. At present, there are seven daily newspapers: ''[[Sai Gon Giai Phong]]'' (''Liberated Saigon''), and its Vietnamese, investment and finance, sports, evening and weekly editions; ''[[Tuoi Tre]]'' (''Youth''), the highest circulation newspaper in Vietnam; ''Thanh Nien'' (''Young Men''), the second largest circulation in the south of Vietnam; ''Nguoi Lao Dong'' (''Labourer''); ''The Thao'' (''Sports''); ''Phap Luat'' (''Law'') and the ''Saigon Times Daily'', the 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 mìllion books. Locally-based Ho Chi Minh City Television (HTV) is 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). Many major international TV channels are provided through two cable networks (SCTV and HTVC), with over one million subscribers. The ''[[Voice of Ho Chi Minh City]]'' is the largest radio station in southern 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 million frequent users. Internet service providers (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. As in all of Vietnam, Internet access is regulated; websites containing sensitive political or religious content are routinely blocked,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/newsroom/opennet_vietnam|title=OpenNet Initiative Vietnam Report: University Research Team Finds an Increase in Internet Censorship in Vietnam|publisher=Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University|date=5 August 2006|accessdate=15 July 2008}}</ref> and certain websites such as Facebook have been blocked, though government officials deny that this is intentional. The city has more than two million fixed telephones and about fifteen 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 [[S-Fone]].
===Education===
[[File:HCMC Uni Drawing Class 01.JPG|thumb|Students in a drawing class at the [[Ho Chi Minh City Architecture University|University of Architecture]].]]
Notable high schools in Ho Chi Minh City include [[Le Hong 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]], [[Tran Dai Nghia High School for the Gifted|Trần Đại Nghĩa High School for the Gifted]], [[Nguyen Thuong Hien High School|Nguyễn Thượng Hiền High School]], [[Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai High School]], and [[Gia Dinh High School|Gia Định High School]], Lê Quý Đôn High School,<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Quy_Don</ref> among 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).{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}
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]] (Vietnamese: Đại học Bách khoa, formerly Phu Tho 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]].
[[File:GD&HT tai SIU.JPG|thumb|left|Students at [[Saigon International University]].]]
Some other important higher education establishments include [[Ho Chi Minh City Pedagogical University|HCMC University of Pedagogy]], [[University of Economics, Ho Chi Minh City|University of Economics]], [[Ho Chi Minh City Architecture University|University of Architecture]], [[Ho Chi Minh City Medicine and Pharmacy University|University of Medicine and Pharmacy]], [[Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Sylviculture|Nong Lam University]] (formerly University of Agriculture and Forestry), [[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|title=Ho Chi Minh City Open University|publisher=Ou.edu.vn|accessdate=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]], [[Van 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|RMIT]] University, an Australian university with an enrollment of about 6,000 students. Tuition at RMIT is about USD $20,000 for an entire course of study.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rmit.edu.vn/ |title=RMIT University website |publisher=Rmit.edu.vn |accessdate=24 April 2012}}</ref> Other private universities include [[The Saigon International University]] (or SIU), which is 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 |accessdate=2 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 |accessdate=2 March 2013}}</ref> Depending on the type of program, tuition at SIU costs between USD $5,000 and $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 |accessdate=2 March 2013}}</ref>
==Tourism==
[[File:HCMC Reunification Palace.jpg|thumb|[[Reunification Palace]],
[[District 1, Ho Chi Minh City|District 1]].]]
Today, the city's core is still adorned with wide elegant boulevards and historic French colonial buildings. The majority of these tourist spots are located in District 1 and are a short leisurely distance from each other. The most prominent structures in the city center are the [[Reunification Palace]] (''Dinh Thống Nhất''), City Hall (''Ủy ban nhân dân Thành phố''), [[Municipal Theatre, Ho Chi Minh City|Municipal Theatre]] (''Nhà hát thành phố'', also known as the Opera House), City Post Office (''Bưu điện thành phố''), State Bank Office (''Ngân hàng nhà nước''), City People's Court (''Tòa án nhân dân thành phố'') and [[Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica|Notre-Dame Cathedral]] (''Nhà thờ Đức Bà''). Some of the historic hotels are the [[Hotel Majestic (Saigon)|Hotel Majestic]], dating from the French colonial era, and the [[Rex Hotel|Rex]] and Caravelle hotels are former hangouts for American officers and war correspondents in the 1960s/70s.
It was approximated that 4.3 million tourists visited Vietnam in 2007, of which 70 percent, approximately 3 million tourists, visited Ho Chi Minh City.<ref name="thongtinthuongmaivietnam1">[http://www.thongtinthuongmaivietnam.com.vn/IWINews.aspx?CatalogID=2426&ID=64806 ]{{dead link|date=April 2012}}</ref> In 2007, the number of tourists increased by 12 percent compared to 2006, and tourism revenue increased to 19,500 billion Vietnamese dong, up 20 percent.<ref name="thongtinthuongmaivietnam1"/>
[[File:CuChiTunnelEntrance.JPG|thumb|left|A tour guide demonstrates a secret entrance at the [[Củ Chi tunnels]].]]
The city has various museums including the [[Ho Chi Minh City Museum]], [[Museum of Vietnamese History]], the Revolutionary Museum, the Museum of Southeastern Armed Forces, the [[War Remnants Museum]], the Museum of Southern Women, the Museum of Fine Art, the Nha Rong Memorial House, and the Ben Duoc Relic of Underground Tunnels. The [[Củ Chi tunnels]] are northwest 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. Ho Chi Minh 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 organizations found in Vietnam's provinces and municipalities, residents of Ho Chi Minh City keep their theatres active without the support of subsidies from the Vietnamese government. The city is also home to most of the private movie companies in Vietnam. {{Citation needed|date=May 2013}}
Like many of Vietnam's smaller cities, the city boasts a multitude of restaurants serving typical Vietnamese dishes such as [[phở]] or [[rice vermicelli]]. Backpacking travelers most often frequent the "Western Quarter" on [[Phạm Ngũ Lão Street]], District 1. {{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}
==Sports and recreation==
[[File:Thống Nhất Stadium.JPG|thumb|[[Thong Nhat Stadium]].]]
As of 2005, Ho Chi Minh City was home to 91 football fields, 86 swimming pools, 256 gyms.<ref>[http://www.pso.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/so_lieu_ktxh/2005/Van_hoa_giao_duc_y_te/0921.htm Exercise and sports]. PSO Ho Chi Minh City.</ref> The largest stadium in the city is the 25,000-seat [[Thong Nhat Stadium]], located on Đào Duy Từ Street, in Ward 6 of [[District 10, Ho Chi Minh City|District 10]]. The next largest is [[Army Stadium (Vietnam)|Army Stadium]], located near [[Tan Son Nhat Airport|Tân Sơn Nhất Airport]] in [[Tân Bình district, Ho Chi Minh City|Tân Bình district]]. Army 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. The city's Department of Physical Education and Sports also manages a number of clubs, including [[Phan Dinh Phung Club|Phan Dinh Phung]], [[Thanh Da Club|Thanh Da]], and [[Yet Kieu Club|Yet Kieu]].
Ho Chi Minh 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 Thong Nhat Stadium. As ''Cảng Sài Gòn'', they were four-time champions of Vietnam's [[Vietnamese Super League|V-League]] (in 1986, 1993–94, 1997, and 2001–02). The team currently plays in Vietnam's [[Vietnamese First Division|First Division]]. [[Navibank Saigon F.C.]], founded as ''Quân Khu 4'', also based at Thong Nhat Stadium, emerged as champions of the First Division in the 2008 season, and were promoted to the V-League in 2009. 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. Celebrated striker [[Lê Huỳnh Đức]], now manager of [[SHB Ðà Nẵng F.C.]], played for the Police F.C. from 1995–2000, setting a league record of 25 goals in the 1996 season. In 2011, Ho Chi Minh 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 |accessdate=24 April 2012}}</ref>
[[SSA Saigon Heat]] is the first ever international professional basketball team to represent Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City hosts a number of international sports 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 volleyball, basketball, chess, athletics, and table tennis. {{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}
==Sister cities==
There are 25 sister cities/regions of Ho Chi Minh City:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mofahcm.gov.vn/vi/hoptac_qt/nr041014110554/#2O2JGVsVDHhB|title=CÁC ĐỊA PHƯƠNG NƯỚC NGOÀI ĐÃ THIẾT LẬP QUAN HỆ HỮU NGHỊ HỢP TÁC VỚI TPHCM|publisher=mofahcm.gov.vn|date=9 October 2010|accessdate=8 January 2011}}</ref>
{| style="background:#f5f5f5; padding:0 1em;"
|-
!width=65%| City
!width=25%| From
|-
| {{flagicon|PRC}} Shanghai, People's Republic of China || 14 May 1994
|-
| {{flagicon|PHI}} [[Manila]], Philippines || 27 June 1994
|-
| {{flagicon|USA}} San Francisco, USA || 10 April 1995
|-
| {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Osaka]], Japan || 13 June 1995
|-
| {{flagicon|ROK}} [[Busan]], Republic of Korea || 3 November 1995
|-
| {{flagicon|PRC}} [[Guangzhou]], People's Republic of China || 1 April 1996
|-
| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Lyon]], France || 17 January 1997
|-
| {{flagicon|PRC}} [[Shenyang]], People's Republic of China || 21 April 1999
|-
| {{flagicon|RUS}} [[Sverdlovsk Oblast]], Russia || 5 September 2000
|-
| {{flagicon|LAO}} [[Champasak Province]], Laos || 28 August 2001
|-
| {{flagicon|LAO}} [[Vientiane]], Laos || 1 September 2001
|-
| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Rhône-Alpes]] (region), France || 8 November 2001
|-
| {{flagicon|CAM}} [[Phnom Penh]], Cambodia || June 2002
|-
| {{flagicon|RUS}} Moscow, Russia || 31 October 2003
|-
| {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Toronto]], Canada || 13 February 2006
|-
| {{flagicon|SWI}} [[Geneva]], Switzerland || 13 April 2007
|-
| {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Yokohama]], Japan || 23 July 2007
|-
| {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Hyōgo Prefecture]], Japan || 27 October 2007
|-
| {{flagicon|PRC}} [[Guangdong]], People's Republic of China || 10 September 2008
|-
| {{flagicon|BLR}} [[Minsk]], Belarus || 4 November 2008<ref name="Minsk">{{cite web|url=http://minsk.gov.by/ru/city/|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20130502075333/http://minsk.gov.by/ru/city/|title=Twin towns and Sister cities of Minsk ''[via WaybackMachine.com]''|publisher=The department of protocol and international relations of Minsk City Executive Committee|archivedate=2 May 2013|accessdate=2013-07-21|language=Russian}}</ref>
|-
| {{flagicon|RUS}} [[Vladivostok]], Russia || 21 May 2009
|-
| {{flagicon|ESP}} [[Barcelona]], Spain || 29 May 2009
|-
| {{flagicon|ESP}} [[Seville]], Spain || 29 May 2009
|-
| {{flagicon|RSA}} [[Johannesburg]], Republic of South Africa || 10 November 2009
|-
| {{flagicon|IRN}} [[Tabriz]], Islamic Republic of Iran|| date unclear
|}
==See also==
{{Portal|Vietnam}}
*[[North–South Railway (Vietnam)]]
*[[List of East Asian ports]]
*[[List of historical capitals of Vietnam]]
*[[List of tallest buildings in Vietnam]]
==References==
===Footnotes===
{{Reflist|group=nb|colwidth=30em}}
===Notes===
{{Reflist|30em}}
==External links==
{{Sister project links|voy=Ho Chi Minh City}}
* [http://www.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/ Official website] (in Vietnamese and English)
* [http://www.eng.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/eng/news/default.aspx?cat_id=533&news_id=8917#content Ho Chi Minh City People's Council]
* [http://www.eng.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/eng/news/default.aspx?cat_id=533&news_id=9963#content Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee]
* [http://www.vietscape.com/travel/saigon/index.html History of Ho Chi Minh City]
{{Geographic location
|Centre = Ho Chi Minh City
|North = [[Bình Dương Province]]
|Northeast =
|East = [[Đồng Nai Province]]
|Southeast =
|South = [[Tiền Giang Province]]
|Southwest =
|West = [[Long An Province]]
|Northwest = [[Tây Ninh Province]]
}}
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{{Cities in Viet Nam}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2013}}
[[Category:Ho Chi Minh City]]
[[Category:Cities in Vietnam]]
[[Category:District capitals in Vietnam]]
[[Category:Southeast (Vietnam)]]
[[Category:Populated places in Ho Chi Minh City]]
[[Category:Port cities in Vietnam]]
[[Category:Capitals of former nations]]
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