I believe that you can develop a better appreciation of the present with a proper understanding of the past. Therefore, I have set out a brief history of Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) to help you better appreciate the amazing city that is today.
HCMC has certainly come a long way, in both name and culture, from its original beginning as a small fishing village, to the bustling metropolitan city that it is today. Originally inhabited by the Khmer people for centuries, ruled by the Vietnamese, and then conquered by the French in 1859, HCMC has a many cultural influences. HCMC was originally named Prey Nokor, which roughly means “god” or “heavenly” in Khmer. After Prey Nokor was settled by Vietnamese refugees from the north, the name was changed to Saigon.
Port of Saigon circa 1862
From 1859 to 1954, the French ruled HCMC. In 1954, the French were defeated by the Communist Viet Minh in the Battle of Điện Biên Phủ, and withdrew from Vietnam. Rather than recognizing the Communists as the new government, they gave their backing to a government established by Emperor Bảo Đại. Bảo Đại had set up Saigon as his capital in 1950.
At the conclusion of the American/Vietnam War on April 30, 1975, the city of Saigon came under control of the Vietnam People’s Army. American’s typically know this as the “Fall of Saigon.”
President Ho Chi Minh
In 1976, upon the establishment of the unified communist Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the city of Saigon, the province of Gia Ðịnh, and 2 suburban districts of two other nearby provinces were combined to create Hồ Chí Minh City in honour of the late communist leader Hồ Chí Minh. The former name Saigon is still widely used by many Vietnamese, especially in informal contexts.
3 comments:
interesting..didnt know there was so much behind it
As usual, an unusual trip and piquant observations. You have a way of telling me things I really wanted to know (both in words and images) yet had no idea I wanted to know them.
Odd how few bicycles there are among the mopeds. Odd how thick the air seems with smog (?). Does the air have an aroma? Are their textures of the place that your fingertips explored that might seem unusual to us? And of course I wonder about the sounds. Does the city have a loud pulsebeat?
Thanks for these... You are terrific to share.
Ted
these stories of evolution of cities I've always liked, I think this place has much to offer Vietnam!
Post a Comment