Question: is saigon the same as ho chi minh

title: Ho Chi Minh City
text: Ho Chi Minh City ( Vietnamese : Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh ; ( thàn fǒ hò tɕǐ mɨ̄n ) ( listen ) or ( thàn fǒ hò cǐ mɨ̄n ) ) , also informally known by its former name of Saigon ( Vietnamese : Sài Gòn ; ( sàj ɣɔ̀ŋ ) ( listen ) ) , is the largest city in Vietnam by population . It was known as Prey Nokor ( Khmer : ព្រៃនគរ ) 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 Sài Gòn is still widely used ) . 

Answer: answer: Ho Chi Minh City, also informally known by its former name of Saigon, is the largest city in Vietnam by population.  On 2 July 1976, Saigon merged with the surrounding Gia Định Province and was officially renamed Ho Chi Minh City.