the Travel Enthusiast
- 17 Mar
Adam in Amazing Places | NO COMMENTSThe Parisian Life of Ho Chi Minh City
The beautiful and diverse Ho Chin Minh seen from above
The former colonial city kept its charm
When you are in Ho Chin Minh City you ask will ask yourself that “which part of Europe am I visiting ?” The town hall building, with its ochre yellow color and with its ornamental clock seems like it was being brought from Provence( Southern France ).
It has a big Roman style villa, the Hotel Majestic is an identical with one from the French Riviera. Not even the Notre Dame Cathedral built from red bricks would not make you believe that you’re actually in Normandy.
In fact, the whole 4 buildings are at the Southeastern part of Asia, more precisely in Saigon, a city that changed its name from 1975 to Ho Chin Minh City, although the locals still name the city Saigon.
Cathedral of Notre Dame Saigon @Tartarin2009/flickr
Even if the gigantic statues and monuments were raise in memory of the Vietcong, it does not compare with the scene of Vietnam’s second biggest cities city center. It nevertheless gives you a feeling that you’re in a French colonial city a 100 years back in the past. The biggest governmental buildings , churches, the opera and the hotels were built by Parisian architects.
The cities life devolves mainly on the streets filled with Tamarin and Eucalyptus tree. Saigon has many deck chairs where you can sit and relax.
In Khmer language Saigon means “Kapok Tree”. Once gigantic Kapok trees guarded the river Saigon, which its banks now are filled with old boats, living boats and ships with restaurants. About 1.000 years ago, The Khmer people were the first who established on the metropolitan zone.
After that the Vietnamese people came from the Hue region. Along with the Chinese refugees, they gave the birth of the Saigonese population, little people filled with vitality
Missionaries Followed by Soldiers
French christian missionaries were welcomed in Saigon in the early 19th century. Nobody would have believed that these monks were followed by 8 war navy fleet filled with soldiers in 1859.
Typical Saigon street @M M/flickr
In short time, the strangers conquered the southern part of Vietnam and proclaimed Saigon as the capital of French Indochina. On the other hand, the colonists started to search intensively of the land using terrible with dreadful salary jobs.
However they did great jobs, cleaning out the swamp soils of the region and cutting the canals which adding a Parisian touch for the scene. After World War II, first the French and later the Americans fought a bloody war to protect the South from the Northern communist states. The North emerged victorious and in 1976 Vietnam was formed.
- Flights
- Hotels
- Packages
- Cars
- Cruises
travel search by Travelgrove (get this widget)Entire battalions of political “functional’s” came from the north, Hanoi, to reduce the population of Saigon, considering them decadents of the west. Reality however shows that the communists were rather reeducated in Saigon.
Nevertheless, the city from the bank of Saigon was not influenced by communism and the locals keep their cosmopolitan, creative, and optimistic nature. Saigon is the city of “boom” of Vietnam, having a developing economy and being the most important port of the country. Saigon is also at the first place when it comes about tourism.
A very popular meeting point for tourists is the terrace roof of Rex Hotel where many miniature bonsai trees are being held. Other sober beauty and breathtaking place you might wanna visit is the Giac Lam pagoda, which has a 7 floor tower. The Dong Khoi boulevard is filled with exceptional bars and cafes and the Vietnam War Remnants museum is full with of impressive war time photos and objects.
The New Cholon
The Chinese neighborhood of Cholon is another city in a city. For over 300 merchants lived in this neighborhood and soled everything they could to earn money. For a long time this place was famous for having many brothels and opium smokers.
Today not even a single one of these “services” are available yet you can have a haircut for a very cheap price on the street. You can buy singing birds, amulets and cures against impotence. In Cholon many discreet Taoist temples can be found like the Great Divine Temple. The temple has numerous colored ceramic figurines of the Altar of Sacrifice, where the faithfuls put their money for salvation for their dead loved ones.
The surroundings of Ho Chin Minh are extremely stunning. There are many beautiful historic villages, the famous Cat Tien National Park and Vung Tau Beach.
You might also like
© Copyright 2004 - 2024 Travelgrove, Inc.