Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City (; or ), also known by its former name of Saigon (; or ), is the largest city in Vietnam by population. It was known as Prey Nokor () prior to annexation by the Vietnamese in the 17th century. Under the name Saigon, it was the capital of the French colony of Cochinchina and later of the independent republic of South Vietnam 1955–75. On 2 July 1976, Saigon merged with the surrounding Gia Định Province and was officially renamed Ho Chi Minh City after revolutionary leader Hồ Chí Minh (although the name
Ho Chi Minh Thought the party's Seventh Party Congress. The Communist Party, the Vietnam state and the legitimate views of Vietnam today agree that Ho Chi Minh Thought is a creative use of Marxism–Leninism in Vietnam's context, considering Ho Chi Minh's thought has become a valuable spiritual asset of the Communist Party and the people of Vietnam. The Communist Party of Vietnam identified Marxism–Leninism and Ho Chi Minh's thought as the guideline for all actions and victories of the Vietnamese revolution. Vietnamese schools always promote learning and follow Ho Chi Minh Thought in all walks of life. Ho Chi Minh Thought Ho Chi Minh