Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by most locals, is Vietnam’s commercial engine and its most restless city. The official name reflects the post-war era, but “Saigon” survives in daily speech, signage, food culture, and attitude, signaling a place that moves forward fast without fully letting go of its past. French colonial architecture sits beside glass towers, temples sit down alleys behind cafés, and history is never abstract here—it’s visible, documented, and still openly discussed.

Life in Saigon runs loud, hot, and outward-facing. Motorbikes dominate the streets, meals spill onto sidewalks, and the city’s social life is built around food, coffee, and late nights rather than formal schedules. People eat often and cheaply, meet casually, and stay out late, whether that means plastic stools and beer, rooftop views, or clubs that don’t really get going until after midnight. The pace can feel overwhelming at first, but it’s also forgiving; there’s always another café to duck into, another park or river walk to slow things down.

For travelers and long-term visitors alike, Saigon rewards curiosity more than checklists, so heed this guide as more of a jumping-off point than a fixed itinerary. It’s not a city of singular landmarks so much as overlapping routines: morning coffee culture, afternoon heat, evening street food, and nights that stretch longer than planned. It’s pragmatic, social, and constantly in motion, a place where history, hustle, and everyday pleasure coexist without much ceremony.