Hanoi may be the capital, but Ho Chi Minh City - still occasionally referred to as Saigon - remains the main business hub, as well as the largest city, of Vietnam. Set by the banks of the Saigon River, a buzzing street life mimics the fast-revolving wheels of commerce. The 8 million strong population are heavily involved in many aspects of business.

Getting there
One of the pleasures of Ho Chi Minh City is that its airport, Tan Son Nhat International (84 8 848 5383; www.tsnairport.hochiminhcity.gov.vn), is only a couple of miles north of the city centre. The city is also the southern terminus of the railway (84 8 822 5722; www.vr.com.vn) which runs the length of the country, while the Saigon River is deep enough to be negotiated by passenger liners. Road links to other parts of the country remain slightly bumpy.

Weather
In the tropics, and only a short way from the South China Sea, Ho Chi Minh City is warm year round, with temperatures averaging 32°C . The rains start in earnest in May, becoming heavier from June till August, though the showers are usually sudden and short. Typhoons are not unknown between June and November, while the dry season runs from December to April.

Important Numbers

Transportation/Getting Around

Note: The local currency is Vietnamese dong

Local Language
Learn more about local language from below.

Business and Finance
With an estimated GDP of USD14.3 billion (228.8 billion dong) - about 20 per cent of the country's total - Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam's most important economic centre. Recent investment has largely concentrated on hi-tech, services and real estate projects. The city currently hosts more than a dozen industrial parks and export processing zones, as well as the country's first stock exchange, which opened in 2001. Luxury shopping malls are fast taking over from traditional markets, and tourism continues to play a large role in the city's economy, welcoming more than three million visitors in 2007.

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