It’s just past 8:00am here in Vietnam and the MV Explorer is now docked in port after snaking its way through the Nha Be River on the last leg of our passage to Ho Chi Minh City. A number of Voyagers awoke before the sun was even up to watch as we made our way through the beautiful Vietnamese landscape.
There is an incredibly deep and vibrant history here. Ho Chi Minh city, formerly known as Saigon, is today the largest city in Vietnam. It was originally established as a small fishing village named Prey Nokor and was inhabited by the Khmer people before the Vietnamese began to settle in the area. In the 1600’s, the Vietnamese annexed the territory from Cambodia. However, it was conquered by the French in 1859. They formally renamed the city Saigon and made it the capital of their colony, Cochinchina.
The French influences on the city can still be seen today and it is often referred to as “The Pearl of the Far East” or “The Paris in the Orient.” Saigon once again became a capital city following the split between the north and the south, serving as the capital of South Vietnam from 1954-1975. Following reunification though, the capital moved to Hanoi, located about 1,000 miles north of Saigon, and the city was officially renamed Ho Chi Minh City. However, even to this day, the city is still commonly referred to as Saigon, even on signs located in Hanoi.
What was once a swampland is now home to roughly 9 million inhabitants and has become arguably Vietnam’s most important city. While it only accounts for 0.6% of the country’s land area, Ho Chi Minh City boasts 7.5% of the population, over 20% of the nation’s GDP, and close to 30% of industrial output. The standard of living is also steadily rising, with per capita income rising from $730 USD in 2006 to $2100 USD in 2007. Ho Chi Minh City is also home to over 70 colleges and universities, which together have a student population of roughly 380,000.
Semester at Sea voyagers will also be making their way to several other destinations in Vietnam as well as Cambodia. I will be posting some stories on the trips in the coming days so stay tuned!
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