Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City?
With Vietnam well on its way to star status in the modern world, its citizens seem to be reconnecting with their colorful history and embracing the many positive aspects of the country’s past. Perhaps that is why the original name of its largest city has slowly crept back into general usage, with ‘Saigon’ now preferred by many, particularly in the younger generation, to ‘Ho Chi Minh City’. A tourist destination as well as a gateway city to Southeast Asia, Saigon is an eclectic mix of old and new. This became readily apparent to me after I checked into an upper floor of my hotel not far from the architecturally stunning Bitexco Financial Tower and could hear a rooster crowing!
Sights of the City
For someone who’s walked the cities of Paris, Budapest and Moscow, hoofing it around Saigon was a walk in the park. Beginning my walking tour in the late afternoon and continuing into the dusk and evening I covered the major sights, including the Independence Palace, the Parisian-style People’s Committee Hall, the Revolutionary Museum and the Opera House. I got an unexpected treat while checking out the War Remnants Museum when I ran into the visiting Austrian president’s motorcade. And who would have thought that the Central Post Office would be an architectural wonder or that there would be a beautiful Notre-Dame Cathedral in Saigon!
Friendly Folks in a Vibrant City!
Everywhere on my wanderings around this beautiful city I ran into friendly people. At one point a group of four young men approached me and explained that they were college students and wanted to interview me for a school project. We had a very friendly encounter that left a great impression on me and deepened my respect and admiration for the people of Vietnam. As darkness fell, the lights of the city really brought it to life. There seemed to be motor scooters everywhere, loaded with people, sometimes even a family of four, out enjoying the evening. On my way back to the hotel I had fun watching the fishermen along the Saigon River and got a spectacular view of the Bitexco Financial Tower all lit up. But there was one more stop to make. What visit to any city would be complete without taking in the market scene.
The Thanh Lien Hotel
To save time, I had taken the one hour flight on Vietnam Airlines from Da Nang Airport to Saigon, after visiting nearby Hoi An. At the airport I was able to book a room at the Thanh Lien Hotel for $50 and after a quick taxi ride for $11, I was checking into my room by midafternoon. The hotel was ideally located and a nice buffet breakfast was included in the price. I had a clean, modern, well-appointed room with en suite bathroom. The friendly front desk staff members were able to help me book a bus ticket to Siem Reap, Cambodia for the following day. The Thanh Lien Hotel had everything I expect in a hotel, including great location, friendly, helpful staff, reasonable price and a clean, safe environment. I can highly recommend it as an awesome accommodation during your visit to Saigon, Vietnam.
A Photo Tour of Saigon, Vietnam
