The city, the old capital of South Vietnam, is formally known as Ho Chi Minh City but is still referred to as Saigon by most of its residents.
It contains several old French colonial buildings and even older structures. On the whole, however, the city has a much more modern and busier feel to it than Hanoi. The city is located on the Saigon River and that waterway still plays an important role in its economic life.
On both our visits we had several days to wander around the markets and the other sights of the city. On our first visit in 2011 we checked out the old Presidential palace and the relics of the Vietnam War. A year later we ventured south of the city to see the floating markets.
The roof top bar of the old Caravelle hotel in the centre was a fantastic place to hang out in the evening and see the city lit up at night.
Trains To Beyond 