| Photo Information |
Copyright: Terez Anon (terez93)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 64 W: 72 N: 239]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif) (629) |
| Genre: Places |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2001-12 |
| Categories: Architecture |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2007-09-25 11:01 |
| Viewed: 1302 |
| Points: 0 |
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
A photo of Saigon from the roof of our hotel. It was much cooler up there! It's the largest city in Vietnam and was the capital of the French colony of Cochinchina and later the independent state of South Vietnam from 1954 to 1975. Previously, it was the main port of Cambodia before it was annexed by the Vietnamese in the 17th century, so it's always been an important center, as it's located to near the Mekong Delta. It probably began as a smal fishing village; some sources indicate that it was called Prey Nokor, and was a Khme site, but King Chettha II of Cambodia allowed Vietnamese refugees fleeing the civil war to settle the area and to set up a customs house. It was conquered by France in 1859. The French were defeated by Viet Minh in the Battle of Dien Bien Phu and withdrew, but aided Bao Dai, who established Saigon as his capital in 1950. The French heavily influenced architecture, however, as there are many Old World-style buildings and wide boulevards.
The city center is located on the Saigon River, about 40 miles from the South China Sea, but more than 1,000 miles from the capital of Hanoi. The metro area and surrounding towns is home to more than 9 milion people, making it the largest in the former Indochina. The majority of residents are ethnic Vietnamese (90%), but other groups include Chinese (8%), Khmer, Cham, Nung, Rhade and a few others. Languages include Vietnamese, Cantonese, and local dialects, as well as English. |
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