Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, is Vietnam's largest city and its modern business capital, known for skyscrapers, shopping and lively markets. In District 1, French landmarks such as the Central Post Office, City Hall and the Opera House stand beside new towers on the Saigon river.

Ben Thanh Market, whose building dates from 1914, is the city's best-known market for shopping and food, and the Nguyen Hue pedestrian boulevard is the city's evening square. On Dong Du street stands the Central Mosque, built in 1935, with halal restaurants around it.

Saigon is the starting point for the Mekong Delta, with its canals, orchards and floating markets, the best known at Cai Rang in Can Tho. The historic Cu Chi tunnels lie about 70 km away.

The south is hot all year; the driest months are December to April.