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Officially, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), but the locals still call it Saigon, which officially now just means the central district. Before the war, the capital of South Vietnam, and now a large (pop. 8m) and rapidly growing commercial centre. We were only there briefly, but had a very good city tour and formed a favourable impression overall.

28 photographs - click any one to see an enlargement (Please see the note on the home page about popup blockers).

On the way in: presumably a way memorial or victory statue
On the way in: presumably a way memorial or victory...
On the way in: not sure what this is - maybe a sports hall
On the way in: not sure what this is - maybe a sports...
Family shrines in the Giac Lam Pagoda
Family shrines in the Giac Lam Pagoda
[ Giac Lam Pagoda ]
Our tour bus with the happy frog
Our tour bus with the happy frog
Mary sampling the Christmas fare (the black and white was an accident)
Mary sampling the Christmas fare (the black and white...
Inside the same shop
Inside the same shop
The meat department at Binh Tay market, the biggest in Saigon
The meat department at Binh Tay market, the biggest...
The footwear department
The footwear department
Incense of every sort at Thien Hau Chinese Temple
Incense of every sort at Thien Hau...
[ Thien Hau Temple ]
Applying eggshell at the Tay Son lacquer factory
Applying eggshell at the Tay Son...
[ Lacquer Factory ]
Rather odd equestrian statue
Rather odd equestrian statue
Catching up with the diary
Catching up with the diary
Typical Saigon street
Typical Saigon street
We're not sure what this is - possibly the US Naval HQ?
We're not sure what this is - possibly the US Naval HQ?
Can't identify this one either - railway station perhaps?
Can't identify this one either - railway station perhaps?
Down the street towards the French-built Opera
Down the street towards the French-built Opera
The same street with three women cycling
The same street with three women cycling
The Rex Hotel, also built by the French, where foreign correspondents stayed during the war
The Rex Hotel, also built by the French, where...
The boulevard towards City Hall - again, French-built
The boulevard towards City Hall - again, French-built
The statue of Uncle Ho in front of City Hall
The statue of Uncle Ho in front of City Hall
City Hall in all its splendour
City Hall in all its splendour
Two women gardeners in the City Hall park
Two women gardeners in the City Hall park
Inside the magnificent main post office
Inside the magnificent main post office
[ Post Office ]
The Roman Catholic Cathedral, across the road from the post office
The Roman Catholic Cathedral, across the road from...
The army comes to a halt beside the cathedral
The army comes to a halt beside the cathedral
Reunification Palace
Reunification Palace
[ Reunification Palace ]
There are one or two motorbikes in Saigon
There are one or two motorbikes in Saigon
...And one or two more
...And one or two more

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