The Vietnamese use the names Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City, or simply "HCMC" interchangeably.
By any name, Ho Chi Minh City is the economic center of Vietnam, although geographically it's 700 mi/1,120 km south of Hanoi, the capital. With a rapidly growing population, new hotels, chic bars and trendy clubs, Ho Chi Minh City is enjoying a climate of prosperity and growth.
On Ho Chi Minh City's doorstep is the Mekong Delta, with its burgeoning markets, luminous green rice fields, Khmer-styled pagodas, and fruit and flower orchards. The best way to view this tropical wonderland is by boat—you can rent a tour boat in the delta towns of Ben Tre, Vinh Long and Can Tho.
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