Sai Gon - Ho Chi Minh City is the most populous city, is also the center of economic, cultural and educational importance of Vietnam. This area was originally known as Prey Nokor, then City formed through the exploration of the South of the Nguyen dynasty. In 1698, Nguyen Huu Canh to establish Gia Dinh, marking the birth of the city. When the French in Indochina, to serve the colonial mining city of Saigon was founded and developed rapidly, becoming one of the most important urban Vietnam, dubbed the Pearl of the Far East or Oriental Paris. Saigon was the capital of the Indochinese Union period 1887-1901. In 1954, Saigon became the capital of the Republic of Vietnam and this magnificent city became one of the important cities of Southeast Asia. In 1975 the territory of Vietnam entirely consistent. July 2, 1976, the National Assembly of reunified Vietnam decided to change the name Saigon "Ho Chi Minh City", the name of the first President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.