Choosing to call Vietnam's largest city either Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon can be a sensitive matter, mostly because it gives reference to the Vietnam War. While as a foreign visitor you won't be held accountable, choosing which name to use could potentially show political leanings for Vietnamese people.

Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon?

Saigon, or Sài Gòn in Vietnamese, was merged with the surrounding province in 1976 and renamed Ho Chi Minh City to celebrate the reunification of north and south at the end of the Vietnam War.

The name comes from the communist revolutionary leader credited with uniting the country.

While Ho Chi Minh City (often shortened to HCMC, HCM, or HCMc in writing) is the new official name of the city, Saigon is still used daily by many Vietnamese -- particularly in the south. Despite official mandates, the label 'Saigon' is still shorter and easier to say in daily speech.

The newest generation of Vietnamese youth growing up under the current government tends to use Ho Chi Minh City more often.

• See this first-timer's travel guide for Vietnam.

Some People Use Both

As if not confusing enough, sometimes both names for the city can be correct! Southern Vietnamese people living in the suburbs of the city often refer to their area as part of Ho Chi Minh City, while Saigon is used in reference to the urban heart and areas around District 1. This is because the surrounding provinces were not a part of Saigon before the merger and name change in 1976.

Considerations for Saigon

• The airport code for Ho Chi Minh City is still SGN.

• Saigon is still used as a label for District 1, the center of Ho Chi Minh City.
• New hotel developments often opt for 'Saigon' in their name rather than 'Ho Chi Minh City.'
• Some bus stations still label signs and tickets with 'Saigon.'
• The river flowing through the city is still named the Saigon River.
• Vietnamese people living overseas who fled at the end of the war usually say Saigon for political reasons.

Considerations for Ho Chi Minh City

• In Hanoi and the north, you'll more often hear 'Ho Chi Minh City.'
• All government publications and productions use 'Ho Chi Minh City.'
• All official documents and writings use 'Ho Chi Minh City.'
• Places in the province surrounding Saigon, far from District 1, are often referred to as being in Ho Chi Minh City rather than in Saigon.

Travel to Saigon

Regardless of what you choose to call the city, you'll have an interesting time in Vietnam's busiest urban center.

• See what to expect after flying to Vietnam.
• Learn the best options for getting from Saigon to Hanoi.