Audio Guide: Saigon/HoChiMinh City Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Saigon/HoChiMinh City

While many people still fondly say “Saigon,” the city officially became Ho Chi Minh City or HCMC in 1976, to honor the revolutionary leader who led North Vietnam. But call it what you will – Saigon still lives in the names, food stalls, and in locals’ hearts, especially in District 1, the area most of us think of when we say “Saigon.”

Long before colonial buildings and skyscrapers, the land that became HCMC was inhabited by Khmer, Champa, and later Vietnamese settlers, its waterways and fertile lands drawing people for centuries. It wasn’t until the mid-17th and early 18th centuries that Vietnamese migrants from the north began to establish more permanent settlements in what was then the Mekong delta fringe, bringing rice cultivation, trade, and river culture.

French colonization (from 1859 onward) brought dramatic changes. Elegant wide boulevards replaced narrow alleys, grand colonial architecture appeared, and Saigon grew in wealth and influence. Iconic buildings like the Saigon Opera House built in 1897, the former City Hall – now the People’s Committee Building, built early 1900s – and luxurious colonial hotels sprang up. Markets like Ben Thanh became hubs not only for commerce, but for experiencing the blend of Vietnamese street life and colonial ambience.

In recent years, one of the most striking transformations has been Nguyen Hue Boulevard – once Boulevard Charner – a narrow street that’s been widened, brightened, and turned into HCMC’s most beloved pedestrian promenade. Since it officially opened as a walking street in April 2015, its fountains, weekend performances, flower decorations during Lunar New Year, and evening lights have become part of the city’s heartbeat.

Today, Saigon is a city of contrasts: sleek skyscrapers rise next to French villas, Buddhist pagodas sit beside Catholic cathedrals, and tree-lined boulevards spill into buzzing alleys packed with motorbikes. This layered mix of old and new makes wandering the city endlessly fascinating – every corner feels like a story waiting to be told.

If you want to dive into the pulse of Saigon, this self-guided walking tour will take you through colonial landmarks, the bustle of markets, ornate temples, and lively pedestrian boulevards. Lace up your shoes – there’s much to see, smell, taste, and explore.