Sai Gon 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, after territory completely unified Vietnam, on 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.