Still fondly referred to as Saigon by the locals, "The Pearl of the Orient" still retains a charm reminiscent of its French-European heritage in the midst of rapid commecialisation.  The city promises an endless fascination for travellers wanting to explore Vietnam's rich 4,000-year history.

Geographical Area of Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam, with an area size of 2,095 square kilometres.  It is located near the delta of the Mekong River. The city center is situated on the Saigon River , 60 kilometres far from the East Sea (the South China Sea as it has been universally called). Ho Chi Minh City is located at 10°45' North, 106°40' East (10.75, 106.667), 1,760 kilometres south of Hanoi.

Climate
The dry season lasts from November to April, the average temperature is 26 ° C.  The rainy season begins in May and ends in October characterized by sudden heavy rains, the average temperature is 29 ° C. In general, the climate of Ho Chi Minh City is tropical, it is hot but mild thanks to the sea.  Humidity is 80%, low when compared with other regions of the country.  Tourism is convenient for all 12 months of the year.

Currency
The unit of money in Vietnam is called China is called Vietnamese Dong (VND) .  The Dong is used throughout the country and there only bank notes in circulation.  The denominations of the Dongs range from VND100 to VND100,000.

People
The population of Ho Chi Minh City is about 6.3 million, equivalent to 7.6% total population of Vietnam; making it the highest population-concentrated city in the country. As an administrative unit, its population is also the largest at the province level.  Ethnically, the majority of the population are ethnic Vietnamese (Kinh) about 87%, ethnic Chinese (Hoa) 11% and other minorities make up the 2% balance. The inhabitants of Ho Chi Minh City are usually known as "Saigonese" in English, "Saigonnais" in French or "dân Sài Gòn" in Vietnamese.

Language
Vietnamese is the official language. Use of English is becoming more common, especially in the larger cities and in the rapidly expanding tourism sector.

Religion
Originally, Vietnam's three main religions were Taoism, Mahayana Buddhism and Confucianism, Buddhism being introduced first.  Although Buddhism and Taoism were popular with the people, Confucianism became the recognized religion.  In modern Vietnam, Mahayana Buddhism has the largest following and Christianity (Catholicism) has it's second largest following for Southeast Asia in Vietnam.