Encyclopedia of Saigon / Ho Chi Minh City

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During the eighteenth century, the Cambodian settlement of Prey Nokor became the Vietnamese port of Saigon which in turn emerged as one of the largest settlements in the Vietnamese Empire. Captured by the French in 1861, it developed into the capital of the French colony of Cochinchina. An increasingly wealthy port, its population became increasingly politicised and in 1955, Saigon became the capital of the Republic of Vietnam. In 1976, Hanoi became the capital of the new Socialist Republic of Vietnam, with Saigon being renamed Ho Chi Minh City. Now a popular tourist destination, many of the sites dating from the French period and the Vietnam War survive with the city authorities taking an increasing interest in architectural heritage.

This book is wholly updated and considerably expanded from the Historical Dictionary of Ho Chi Minh City, including more than 550 illustrations and photographs, many in colour, and city maps. With entries on the major places, institutions and people who had an important role in the history and the cultural life of the city, it remains an indispensable guide to scholars and researchers.