The port of Phu My (pronounced Foo May) is the gateway to Ho Chi Minh City and the seaside resort of Vũng Tàu. Explore the National History Museum and Reunification Hall. Browse the shops on Dong Khoi Street and immerse yourself in the myriad of colors, aromas and sights that make up this energetic and enterprising city. Vũng Tàu, which is the capital of Ba Ria-Vũng Tàu Province, located in the south of Vietnam, situated at the tip of a small peninsula, is the only petroleum base of Vietnam where crude oil and gas exploitation activities dominate the city’s economy and contribute principal income to Vietnam’s budget and export volume. To most tourists, however, it is known for its extensive beaches – sightseeing at Front Beach and swimming in Back Beach, over 6 miles (10 kilometers) of fine sand seaside. Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam and is located near the Mekong River delta. Under the name Prey Nokor, it was the main port of Cambodia, before being conquered by the Vietnamese in the 16th century. Known as Saigon until the end of the Vietnam War, it was the capital of the French colony of Cochinchina, and later of the former state of South Vietnam from 1954 to 1975. In 1975, Saigon was merged with the surrounding province of Gia Đinh and renamed Ho Chi Minh City (although Saigon is still frequently used). The city center is situated on the banks of the Saigon River, 37 miles (60 kilometers) from the South China Sea. The metropolitan area which consists of Ho Chi Minh city metro area, Bien Hoa, Thu Dau Mot and surrounding towns has more than 9 million people, making it the largest metropolitan area in Vietnam and Indochina.
What’s in a Name
In 1804, King Gia Long planned to use the name Nam Việt for Vietnam but the Qing dynasty of China disagreed and changed it to Việt Nam. In English, the two syllables were written into one – Vietnam. From 1839 to 1945, Emperor Minh Mang renamed Việt Nam to Đại Nam, meaning “Great South”. Việt is the name of the largest ethnic group in Vietnam (the Kinh) and Nam means “the south”, affirming Vietnam’s sovereignty from China (usually called “North Country” to Vietnamese people).
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posted by Hills @ 6:52 PM
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