Saigon (Vietnamese: Sài Gòn; pronunciation), it was the capital of the French colony of Cochinchina, and later of the independent state of South Vietnam from 1954 to 1975.

In 1975, Saigon was merged with the surrounding province of Gia Định and renamed Hồ Chí Minh City (although the name Saigon is still frequently used, particularly by its citizens).

Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam and is located near the Mekong Delta. Under the name, Prey Nokor (Khmer: ), it was the main port of Cambodia, before being annexed by the Vietnamese in the 17th century. 

The city center is situated on the banks of the Saigon River, 60 kilometers (37 mi) from the South China Sea and 1,760 kilometers (1,094 mi) south of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.

The metropolitan area, which consists of Saigon metro area, Thủ Dầu Một and surrounding towns, has more than 9 million people, making it the largest metropolitan area in Vietnam and Indochina.