Capital of Vietnam: Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City?

The "rivalry" of cities can be found all the time: Moscow - St. Petersburg (Russia), Washington - New York (USA), The Hague - Amsterdam (Netherlands), Rabat - Casablanca (Morocco).

There are also competing cities in Vietnam. Moreover, they compete on equal terms in many respects, which is why a similar question arises so often - “The capital of Vietnam: Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City?”.

The north of Vietnam has preserved the “national spirit” the most

The indisputable status of the capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam since 1976 has been the city of Hanoi. Until that time, it was also the main city of such sunken states as the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) from 1954 to 1976, and even earlier - French Indochina (1902-1953). Now Hanoi Vietnam is the second largest city in the country, after Ho Chi Minh City. It is located in the northern part of the state, where the “national spirit” has been preserved to a greater extent than in the south. Few of the locals even know English, but here you can find Russian-speaking mature Vietnamese who once studied in the USSR.

Chaos and turmoil are happening daily on the streets of Hanoi

In a unique way, it combined and closely intertwined the old and new capital of Vietnam. The center was flooded with glass skyscrapers and office centers, and if you step aside a little, you will find yourself in a block with so dilapidated local houses that it seems they are about to collapse. This is how the blotches of capitalism look in a socialist country.

In Hanoi, traffic is crazy and there are essentially no traffic rules. Maybe they are, but the drivers are not respected. There are no sidewalks in our classical sense either. More precisely, they still exist, but they are crowded with parked bikes, mopeds, motorcycles, bicycles or busy "eatery cafes". In general, a pedestrian in Hanoi will have a very, very hard time. And in general, a European person, whose eye has not yet been tempted by all the "beauties" of densely populated Asian cities, will feel uncomfortable here and may be uncomfortable.

Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam is a completely different matter. And he was lucky to be the capital for some time: until 1901 he was the capital of Indochina, and in 1955-1975. - Southern China. Ho Chi Minh is the military glory and pride of the Vietnamese people. Many museums, traces and symbols of that terrible war are concentrated here. Of these, the most famous are the Cuchi Tunnels, the War Museum, and the Reunification Palace.

Today it is a large eight-million metropolis with an ocean of opportunities. You will no longer meet such a city of Vietnam as this one, both within the country and beyond them. No wonder Ho Chi Minh City is called the "diamond South-East Asia". But the residents themselves do not welcome the current name of their city. They like the old option - Saigon Vietnam. They all also call themselves "Saigonians" and only use the modern name in official documents.

The tank at the Reunification Palace is a symbol of the victory of North Vietnam

The French influence affected the lifestyle, orders and foundations here. Well-groomed sidewalks (unlike Hanoi, parks, squares and even Catholic cathedrals - much here resembles Europe. Local kitchen is a harmonious symbiosis of Vietnamese and French culinary traditions. The city has a huge selection of Asian and European restaurants. A modern person, accustomed to all the benefits of civilization, will feel at ease in Ho Chi Minh City.

Ho Chi Minh City - Economic Center of Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh is a city in the south of Vietnam. The largest city countries (population 6.1 million).
From 1887 to 1946 - the capital of French Indochina.
At first it was called Prei-Nokor and was largest port Cambodia. After the conquest of this area by the Vietnamese and until 1975, it was called Saigon, after the name of the river on which it is located. Renamed in honor of the first President of Vietnam Ho Chi Minh (according to the tradition of transliteration of Vietnamese geographical names, the name of the city is written together). At the same time, in colloquial Vietnamese, the name "Saigon" is still common.
City `s history
Ho Chi Minh city is new earth. It wasn't until 300 years ago that the name Saigon was mentioned in history books. In early 1698, the ruler of Nguyen Gyu Canh founded the Zha Dinh district and Saigon district.
Much later, it will turn into a huge urban area in Vietnam. In 1859, the colonial era of this area began: the French colonialists invaded and occupied the South, destroying the Zha Dinh citadel. From the beginning of French rule, the city developed rapidly - many new buildings appeared, some of which are pleasing to the eye to this day. Thanks to favorable geographical location, earth and climatic conditions, the city soon became the point of concentration of the merchants of the whole world. Saigon was founded in 1862. sea ​​port. On March 15, 1874, the President of France signed a decree officially founding the city of Saigon. At the beginning of the 20th century, Tjolon (Chinatown) joined Saigon, forming the most Big city region in Indochina.
Later, this historic land became the cradle of the anti-colonial movement. This is where the Vietnamese gained independence with the end of the Ho Chi Minh campaign on April 30, 1975. On July 2, 1976, Saigon City was officially renamed Ho Chi Minh City.
After a difficult three hundred years of formation and development, the city of Ho Chi Minh has preserved many ancient architectural monuments, famous historical sites and picturesque corners nature. A mixture of national traditions, elements of Chinese and Western European cultures creates that unique flavor that imbues the streets of the city. A whimsical combination of urban elements and the atmosphere of an oriental city make visiting Ho Chi Minh one of the most memorable travel experiences.
Sights of Ho Chi Minh City.
People's Committee - beautiful building crowns the wide Nguyen Hue Avenue. this is one of the symbols of Ho Chi Minh City, against which tourists are always photographed.
Notre Dame de Saigon Cathedral was built in 1877. Marble statue of the Virgin Mary on cathedral square very revered by Vietnamese Christians. Sometimes the statue of Our Lady is crying, it's the same inexplicable mystery, as well as the myrrh-streaming of icons.
In the so-called craft villages, especially around Hanoi, it is common to make silk paintings, various dishes and souvenirs for tourists. At present, these "villages" are gradually turning into production centers for the production of souvenirs and goods based on national motives. But, you can still find many handicraftsmen who actually make dishes, embroidered paintings, and furniture by hand.
Southern half of Vietnam
The southern half of Vietnam is seaside resorts, Vietnam's largest city, Ho Chi Minh City, and the Mekong Delta. This is the choice of those who mainly love seaside holidays. It is also the choice of those who combine visits to Vietnam and Cambodia, and even Thailand. Cambodia is just a few hours drive from Ho Chi Minh City by highway or the Mekong River. There are express buses from Ho Chi Minh City to Cambodia. From Ho Chi Minh City to the capital of Thailand, Bangkok, is about a thousand kilometers, almost two times less than from Ho Chi Minh City to the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi.
Here, in the south of the country, are the famous seaside resorts of Nha Trang, Phan Thiet, Vung Tau, Phu Quoc and Kon Dao. True, they cannot be called year-round due to the wet season for several months of the year.
Northern half of Vietnam and Laos
Russian citizens enter Laos without visas for up to 15 days. Therefore, in northern Vietnam and Laos, you can travel without a visa for quite a long time.
Laos is closer to northern Vietnam. In Laos, visit the current capital, Vientiane, and the ancient capital, Luang Prabang, with many Buddhist pagodas, monasteries and monks. The optimal stay is 3-4 days. Vietnam's capital Ho Chi Minh is a very patriarchal country, lost World. Currently, many expeditions are working in the jungles of Laos, trying to find traces of animals that were considered exterminated elsewhere on the planet. According to tourists, here the whole environment heals from stress. There is a saying in Indochina: "The Vietnamese sow rice, the Khmers watch them do it, and the Laotians listen to it grow."
Between Hanoi and Vientiane, there is a plane and a bus. The bus covers the distance between the two capitals in a day. Ticket price - from $20.
If you fly to Laos by plane, then after staying in it, it is advisable to move back from the city of Vientiane to Vietnam along the road to the South China Sea. For several hours she walks along the Mekong River in its middle course, then through the jungle. Almost immediately after crossing the border with Vietnam is mountain resort Sean Kim with healing hot springs mineral water. Then, an hour's drive, on the sea is the seaside resort of Kialo. bathing season which lasts from April to November. From Kia Lo transfer for 2 days to Halong Bay and then to Hanoi.
Southern half of Vietnam and Cambodia
Being in South Vietnam as stated above, it is easy to visit Cambodia. Buses run between Ho Chi Minh City and Cambodia. Another way is by boat or ferry along the river, but this is less comfortable and takes longer.
Border crossings in Cambodia
Moc Bai in Tay Ninh province. Direct buses from Ho Chi Minh City to Go Dau on Highway 22A.
Sa Mat in Tay Ninh province. From the town of Go Dau, follow 22B.
Tinh Bien in the province of An Giang, about 50 kilometers from the Gulf of Thailand. From Long Xuyen City in An Giang Province, take Highway 91.
Vinh Xuong in An Giang Province. On the Tien River from the pier at the Victoria Chau Doc Hotel in Chau Doc to the Vinh Xuong border crossing by boat, after customs immigration procedures - to Phnom Penh.
Schedule express buses from Vietnam to Cambodia from Cambodia to Vietnam

Or what attractions are in each of these cities. It is much more difficult for a modern tourist to decide which of the cities in Vietnam will be more interesting or more fun. Let's try to find common ground and differences in the rest, evaluating individual positions that are attractive from the point of view of foreigners.

Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh - whose markets are better?

Vietnamese markets are fundamentally different from what the inhabitants of this country offer to Russians in Moscow, St. Petersburg or Yekaterinburg. The Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi market is business card city, not seeing it means the same thing as being in Paris and never looking at the Eiffel Tower, or coming to rest on the sea and never taking a dip.

In Hanoi, several streets have actually turned into one huge Hang Da bazaar, where you can buy and sell almost everything, from clothes to some reptile marinated in the syrup of an unknown plant. The Cho Hom market offers factory-made goods, from high-end to horrendous fakes, with the first group at quite tolerable prices, fakes for mere pennies. For wholesale buyers, the road lies on the Dong Xuan market, where there are many interesting things and relatively low prices.

Until now, the old name of Saigon is more popular than the new one - Ho Chi Minh City, given in honor of the late Vietnamese leader. This city, despite the lack of capital status, is the main cultural and commercial center of the country. The latter affects the number of shops, shopping centers and markets. Moreover, in the city you can find expensive boutiques, and collapses with second-hand goods. The most luxurious souvenirs are silk, lacquer miniatures and bowls in traditional style.

Entertainment in Vietnam

The main entertainment in Hanoi is associated with walking around the city, visiting markets, palaces, the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum and museums. In the Vietnamese capital, there are many institutions that store the country's spiritual treasures, two of them are of the greatest interest to tourists: the Vietnamese Museum of Ethnology, which introduces the culture and traditions of different ethnic groups of the country, and the Army Museum, which stores huge collections of weapons, including those from the USSR .

There is also a distinctive feature - in the capital are held free tours, students act as guides, ready to talk for hours about their favorite city and its sights. From entertainment in Ho Chi Minh, excursions to markets and walks around the city again prevail. For children, the city is interesting for its museums, the presence of a beautiful botanical garden and a zoo.

City sights and surrounding beauties

The culture of Southeast Asia has always attracted European tourists; local pagodas, temples and stupas, which were erected either by gods or aliens, but not by the Vietnamese, seem to him mysterious structures. Of the architectural gems in Hanoi, the most attractive are the following: Kinh Thien Tomb, Pillar Pagoda; Temple of the White Horse; Flag tower.

Around the capital's lake Ho-Tai, whose name is translated primitively simply - "Western", there are imperial palaces worthy of a visit by any tourist. The Ville Francaise district of Hanoi, by its name alone, gives a hint of what architectural monuments can be seen here. In this part of the Vietnamese capital, buildings built by the French colonialists are carefully preserved.

Ho Chi Minh City, like the capital of Vietnam, pleases with a large number of architectural monuments, "architectural highlights" - Vinh Nghiem, the largest pagoda, the Reunification Palace. In this city, you can also find traces of the French colonialists, and the Europeans left a good memory of themselves - Notre Dame Cathedral.

The simplest comparison of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi does not allow us to single out a clear winner. Hanoi, on the one hand, is the capital of Vietnam, so it has many important monuments and memorials. On the other hand, most often it acts as a transit point on the way of tourists to the sea coast.

Former Saigon is more attractive in terms of tourism, so Ho Chi Minh City is chosen by tourists who:

• want oriental exotic;
• they dream of seeing the Asian Notre Dame, so that later they can compare it with the French;
• they love to walk around the markets, bargain and buy all sorts of mysterious items and unusual products.

Foreign guests rest in Hanoi, who:

• plan to visit places associated with ancient history countries;
• adore religious oriental buildings;
• they like to walk along the streets, getting acquainted with the culture of the East.

Super User

The capital of Vietnam, Hanoi - what you need to know!

Do you want to see a real unique flavor from Southeast Asia? If yes, then Hanoi is for you! This city strikes with a pronounced contrast, where, on the one hand, modern Western goods, and on the other, a socialist way of life.

Therefore, it is not surprising that in Hanoi, next to chic Bentleys and Mercedes, there are rusty bicycles and mopeds, and next to expensive restaurants you can always find a cheap eatery for locals.

If you first came to Hanoi, you may get the impression that you are in an old Soviet city: not far from the central part of the city with its five-star hotels, old dwellings of the poor huddle, which can collapse from day to day.

Travelers should pay attention to the fact that you will not find exchange offices in Hanoi, as they simply do not exist there! Of course, you may accidentally stumble upon a pawnshop that will exchange office, but this is unlikely, since Vietnamese pawnshops are quite idiosyncratic. Therefore, you should take care of the currency exchange in advance, especially since the exchange rate there will upset you very much. Better yet, take all the money on the card.

Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, resembles a real anthill, and it is very easy for a person who does not know the city to get lost. If you are poorly oriented, it will not be superfluous to write down the address of the hotel, and there it is already up to local taxi drivers who will take you to any place.

This huge bustling city will surprise many tourists with its features. Of course, one of them will be the lack of sidewalks for pedestrians. The sidewalks of the Vietnamese are designed for parking mopeds or for numerous street cafes. Therefore, be very careful when moving along the edge of the road, especially during the rainy season: you may drip from the roofs or you may accidentally fall into one of the fetid puddles. Of course, such troubles lie in wait for gaping passers-by, mainly during the rainy season. I remember how my white trousers and T-shirt were instantly destroyed while walking through the streets of the city during the rainy season.

Not a very pleasant feature of Hanoi is the lack of garbage cans. As a result, the streets of the city are a kind of landfill with numerous candy wrappers and even garbage bags. local residents it doesn't matter at all, so don't be surprised if you see a garbage bag flying from the fifth floor straight into the driveway. This garbage is removed at night by a special machine, but, unfortunately, not all of it, but only in garbage bags, the rest of the garbage continues to lie on the streets.

Almost the same thing can be observed when the owners walk their dogs. For them, the main thing is to take their pets outside, and where the animal has already done its business, they don’t care, so look carefully under your feet! Yes, and don't be surprised when you see roaming chickens in the city center - this is a common thing for Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh is the most big city Vietnam, the economic capital of the country. Vietnamese is written Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh (Ho Chi Minh City) or TPHCM for short. Until 1975 it was called Saigon.
Russian tourists are frequent guests in Ho Chi Minh City. Basically, they follow in transit to the seaside resorts of the south of Vietnam, but they also linger in the city itself for 1-3 days to inspect it. There are Russian-speaking guides in the city, which is still very rare for Vietnam.

Corner of Ho Chi Minh City near the Pullman Hotel near Pham Ngu Lao

The city is located on the right bank of the Saigon River. Not far from it is the delta of one of the largest rivers in Asia - the Mekong. The terrain is almost flat. Height above sea level 2-20 m. Geographical coordinates: 10°10′ - 10°38′ N latitude, 106°22′-106°54′ east longitude. Area 2095 sq. km. It extends 102 km from north to south and 47 km from west to east.

Second District of Ho Chi Minh City and the Saigon River

Ho Chi Minh City is divided into 11 administrative regions. Here is some of them.
The first district is located in the central part of the city. It has most of the places associated with history.
The second district is located to the east of the city center. It is being built up with upscale hotels.
To the west of the center is the 5th District, populated by ethnic Chinese. This zone is called Cholon (Cho Lon) and it does not exactly coincide with the boundaries of the administrative region.
In the 7th district is the Phu My Hung microdistrict, representing the modern face of the city. The buildings in it are overwhelmingly new, and there are more green spaces per person than in other areas. Many people with high incomes live here.

The population of Ho Chi Minh City is more than 7 million people and it is growing rapidly due to the arrival of residents from villages and poor cities. Most of the inhabitants by nationality are Viet. In addition to them, ethnic Chinese and Khmers are large diasporas. Many permanent residents here are citizens from other countries, for example, Filipinos.

Ho Chi Minh City produces 17% of the national GDP, from here comes 40% of the country's total exports. The industries are as follows: shipbuilding, production of clothing, footwear, furniture, other consumer goods, processing of agricultural products, fish and other seafood. The construction industry is well developed. There are chemical and petrochemical industries.
Around the city, especially in the provinces of Long An and Dong Nai, there are many industrial zones that produce a wide range of industrial products.

The wet season here lasts from May to November, the dry season - from December to April. Average annual temperature is 28 °C. The maximum reaches 39 °C in April, the minimum is 16 °C in December. But these extreme values ​​are rare and do not last long, and in general, the air temperature deviates from the average value of 28 ° C by several degrees in one direction or another. During the wet season, it rains or showers for approximately two hours a day.

Story

By historical standards, Ho Chi Minh City is quite young. Saigon was officially founded on March 15, 1874 by decree of the President of France, since Vietnam was a French colony at that time. But people lived in this area even earlier, first the Khmers (Cambodians), then the Vietnamese.
During the colonial period, the city developed quite rapidly. It was a major industrial and commercial center of Southeast Asia.

The most famous period in the history of Saigon in the world was the 60s and 70s of the 20th century during the Vietnam War. The Viet Cong underground operated here, the last point in the war was put here by the capture of the palace, which housed the puppet South Vietnamese government.

After the war, Ho Chi Minh City also economically actively developed and rebuilt, especially after 1990.

Attractions and entertainment

Sights of the central part of the city: Independence Palace, Museum of War Relics (formerly the Museum of American War Crimes) with specimens of weapons used during the Vietnam War, a zoo, Botanical Garden, the Ben Thanh clothing market, the 19th-century Catholic cathedrals of Notre Dame de Saigon and the lesser known Tan Dinh.

On the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City and its environs, there are no less, if not more, attractions than in the central part of the city.
In 2018, the tallest building in Southeast Asia at the moment, Landmark 81 skyscraper (Vincom Landmark 81), was built. It is located 3 kilometers northeast of the city center.

On the northeast direction Kuchi guerrilla tunnels from the Vietnam War have survived from the city. Phuhoadong village in Kuchi county produces dry rolled pancakes, some of which are exported to several countries due to their taste. They are made from cassava and rice flour.

The city includes the Can Zio biosphere reserve with its mangroves, located in the coastal zone.
Almost next to the city, to the northeast of it, in the province of Binh Duong, there is a "bamboo village" which is a large museum under the sky and indoors, dedicated to bamboo and its role in the life of the Vietnamese.

There are few festivals in Ho Chi Minh City. One of the notable ones is the Fruit Festival, which takes place in May-August for three and a half months. Every year on the sea coast, where the southern administrative part of the city goes, the festival of the sacred Whale is celebrated.
The largest scale of celebrations takes place during the Vietnamese New Year, which is called Tet.
In recent years, due to the large influx of foreign tourists, entertainment events have begun to be held on a larger scale during Catholic Christmas and European New Year. This makes it different from other Vietnamese cities.

Hotels

The number of 5 and 4 star hotels in the city is approaching one hundred. Some of them belong to large international hotel chains, others belong to Vietnamese firms and departments.

There are many good people in the city cheap hotels and guesthouses. Basically, they are concentrated in the area of ​​Pham Ngu Lao (Pham Ngu Lao). Prices at the beginning of 2011 were from $12. This area is also close to transport points: landing places for Open Bus, river pier, city bus station Ben Thanh.

shopping

Most famous place shopping is the Ben Thanh clothing market in the city center.
The same goods are twice cheaper at the clothing market in Moc Bai in the neighboring province of Tai Ninh (in fact, this market is located near the northern border of Ho Chi Minh City) not far from the Moc Bai border crossing from Vietnam to Cambodia.

Major famous shopping centers and branded stores: Labella Boutique, ZEN Plaza, Mango, Cao Minh Tailor's, Saigon Tax Trade Center, Citi Plaza Nguyen Chai Nguyen Trai), XQ Saigon Hand Silk Embroidery-Manufacturing & Displaying Center and others.

Local cuisine and restaurants

The following dishes are considered typical for Ho Chi Minh City (the list has just begun to be formed and will be supplemented in the future).

• Sandwiches Banh Mi (Bánh Mì) in many varieties.
• Pho soup with rice noodles, beef or chicken, seasoned with herbs and green onions.
• Ban Reu (Bún riêu). This is a crab and tomato broth. Noodles, tofu, pork and more are added to it.
• Ban mam (Bún mắm). This is a purely South Vietnamese dish on the broth with the addition of fish sauce.
• Ban thit nuong (Bún thịt nướng).
• Crushed (broken) rice in Saigon style, included in the Asian Book of Records. Made with crushed rice, fried pork ribs, pork skin, egg roll and fried eggs and vegetables.

In addition to Vietnamese restaurants, there are restaurants of Chinese, Korean, Japanese, French, Indian, Italian, German, Mexican cuisines and others. There are many cafes with live music in which Vietnamese and foreign ensembles play, most of the latter are Filipino.
You can order from local travel agencies gastronomic tour organized according to any principle.

Consulate General of Russia

The Russian Consulate General operates in Ho Chi Minh City. Russian citizens who are in this city can apply to it on issues that significantly affect their interests in Vietnam and are within the competence of the consulate. For example, illegal detention by the police, etc.

Contact details.
Address: 40, Ba Huyen Thanh Quan street
Tel. (8-10-84-83) 930-39-36
Tel. for emergency communication in case of an emergency: +84-903-741-255, +84-8-3930-39-36
Fax (8-10-84-83) 930-39-37
Email: [email protected]

The Russian-speaking colony in Ho Chi Minh City ranges from two hundred to three hundred people. It tends to grow slowly. These are employees of the Consulate General, employees of representative offices of large state and commercial enterprises of the CIS countries, as well as people employed in commerce and in travel services.

Transport

Ho Chi Minh City has a modern international airport Tan Son Nhat (Than Son Nhat). It is located within the city, 7 km northwest of the city center. Flights are made to many countries of the world by dozens of airlines different countries. Aircraft of several Russian and foreign airlines fly to Russia.

Trains run north to Hanoi, stopping in towns and cities, depending on the train class.

The bus service is well developed. Including there are regular bus routes from several companies in neighboring Cambodia. The longest bus route- Open Bus to Hanoi. Its cost is approximately $30 with a route length of more than 1,500 km.

Bus station Ben Thanh (Bến xe Ben Thanh) is located near the market of the same name in the city center.
Myen Dong Bus Station (Bến xe Miền Đông) is located 6 km northeast of the city at 292 Dinh Bo Linh street. Buses depart from it to Vung Tau, Hanoi, Mui Ne, Dalat, Nha Trang, Hoi An, Hue.

Mien Tai Bus Station (Bến xe Miền Tây) for routes to the Mekong Delta is located at 395 Kinh Dương Vương. Buses leave from here for My Tho, Vien Long, Long Xuyen, Can Tho, Rach Gia, Ha Tien, Chau Doc.

The bus station in the Cholon area (Bến xe Chợ Lớn) is located 10 km from the center of Ho Chi Minh City at 86 Trang Tử.

Saigon City Bus Station is located at Me Linh Square.

Some islands from Ho Chi Minh City are served by sea passenger ships, boats and ferries. From the river terminal on Ton Duc Thang Avenue to the center of the Mekong Delta, the city of Can Tho, a large boat for 50 passengers departs daily at 8.00. Travel time - 3.5 hours.

Well developed in the city bus service. There are no metros, trams or trolleybuses.
Most of the residents travel on motorbikes. At the beginning of 2016, there were 7.4 million, that is, almost one motorbike per capita.

Safety

Ho Chi Minh City has a high crime rate for Vietnam. It is the only one where the police has a department to combat banditry.

Foreign tourists are quite often robbed in the form of breaking chains, handbags, purses and mobile phones criminals on motorbikes. Therefore, close to the sidewalks and when crossing the street, one must be vigilant. Robbers act most often at dusk. Among them are often drug addicts.

Crossing the street with heavy motorbike traffic for a foreigner is a problem, including a psychological one.