What to Do in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, is the largest city in Vietnam which used to be the capital city of South Vietnam. After the reunification of both North and South in 1975, the capital city of Vietnam became Hanoi. However, the terms of Saigon is still widely used, especially by the locals. Saigon looks much more developed than Hanoi, with the skyscrapers, office buildings, ongoing constructions, and huge shopping malls. While most tourists come to Hanoi to learn the culture and explore the nature, some of them pay a visit to Saigon for foods and shopping. The most touristy parts of Saigon are called Pham Ngu Lao and Bui Vien Street , both are located in District 1. To go to this part of the city from Tan Son Nhat International Airport, you can take the yellow bus number 109 for VND 20,000 as the cheapest option. If you come with lots of luggage, taxi (VND 150,000 – 180,000) might be a better choice. Remember to take either