Saigon Returns: The New Name of Downtown Ho Chi Minh City

To understand the significance of this change, one must first understand what was lost — and found. Prior to 2025, the beating heart of the metropolis was known administratively as District 1 (Quận 1). It was a term that functioned well on spreadsheets and postal codes but lacked emotional resonance. District 1 was a sterile, numerical designation for a landscape overflowing with history: the gleaming Bitexco Financial Tower, the yellow-hued Saigon Central Post Office, the swirling Art Deco of the Municipal Theatre, and the bustling chaos of Ben Thanh Market.

Under the new reorganization, the old District 1 was dissolved and redrawn. The newly created Saigon Ward now covers approximately 3.04 square kilometers. It was formed primarily by merging the entirety of the former Ben Nghe Ward with significant parts of Nguyen Thai Binh and Da Kao wards. Walking through this new ward, you are walking through the pages of a history book. It is the administrative, financial, and tourist epicenter — home to the Ho Chi Minh City Hall, the luxury hotels of Dong Khoi Street, and the consulates that line Le Duan Boulevard.

For a visitor or resident to truly understand the new Saigon, one must know where it begins and ends. The ward is not an abstract concept; it is a clearly demarcated piece of land bordered by natural waterways and historic thoroughfares.

The decision to name the central ward “Saigon” was not arbitrary. It was the result of a deliberate policy by the Ho Chi Minh City government to move away from numerical naming conventions (Ward 1, Ward 2, etc.) and embrace names with historical and cultural weight.

According to the proposal submitted by the former District 1 authorities, the name “Saigon” was chosen because it is “easily recognizable and familiar to both residents and international visitors.” The government argued that the name serves as a “symbol of pride” and carries a “responsibility to continue the traditional values” of a city rich in heritage.

This marks a significant softening of the hardline stance taken immediately after the Fall of Saigon in 1975. For decades, using “Saigon” was seen by some as tacit sympathy for the old regime. Today, it is viewed as a savvy branding exercise and a genuine act of respect for local identity. The ward is bordered by the Saigon River and the Ben Nghe and Thi Nghe canals — geographic features intrinsically tied to the city’s original settlement as a trading port.

For the traveler arriving today, the creation of Saigon Ward offers a convenient way to navigate the city’s chaos. If you stay within the boundaries described above — specifically the rectangle between the canals and the river — you are staying in the “Saigon” of legend.

Stop 1: Saigon Central Post Office

Start your morning at the Saigon Central Post Office. As you stand under its vaulted iron ceilings — designed by Gustave Eiffel — you are standing in the literal heart of the new Saigon. From there, walk across the square to the Notre-Dame Cathedral, the red-brick symbol of French colonialism that defines the city’s skyline. Both landmarks sit just inside the northern edge of the ward, a five-minute walk south of the Ben Nghe Canal boundary.

Stop 2: Nguyen Hue Boulevard

A few blocks south lies Nguyen Hue Boulevard, a wide pedestrian promenade that cuts through the ward like a green artery. Lined with luxury brands and French-era apartment buildings converted into cafes, this is where the new Saigon feels most alive. On one end stands the statue of Ho Chi Minh in front of the City Hall, looking out over the river; on the other end, the Saigon River glitters under the tropical sun. The coexistence of the Uncle Ho statue in “Saigon” ward perfectly encapsulates the current zeitgeist.

Stop 3: Ben Thanh Market

No visit to Saigon Ward is complete without Ben Thanh Market. Located near the ward’s southwestern edge, just east of the Ben Nghe Canal, this iconic market is the sensory epicenter of the city. The market’s clock tower is the most famous meeting point in Ho Chi Minh City. From here, you are within the new Saigon’s boundaries, but the canal just 200 meters to the west marks the border with District 5’s Chinatown.

The designation of this area as Saigon Ward also reinforces its status as Vietnam’s undisputed economic capital. The ward is home to the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange and the Vietnamese headquarters of virtually every major international bank, from HSBC to JPMorgan Chase.

Furthermore, it is the diplomatic heart of the country. Le Duan Boulevard, which runs along the northern edge of the ward (just south of the Ben Nghe Canal boundary), is often called “Embassy Row.” Here you will find the Consulates General of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, China, and Japan, among many others. The concentration of flags from around the world flying over this small patch of land is a testament to Saigon’s enduring role as a global city — a role it has played since it was a Khmer trading village known as Prey Nokor.

So, what does a visitor need to know? Practically speaking, very little has changed on the ground. The street signs reading “District 1” are slowly being replaced, and addresses will eventually update their administrative divisions. However, the psychological shift is immense.

For fifty years, the city suffered a sort of identity crisis. Tourists flew into Tan Son Nhat International Airport (code: SGN) and argued with taxi drivers about whether to call the destination “Saigon” or “Ho Chi Minh City.” Now, that argument is settled with nuance. Ho Chi Minh City remains the official name of the massive municipality — the sprawling metropolis that includes far-flung districts and the new “sub-city” of Thu Duc. But Saigon is officially back on the map as the name of the historic downtown core.