Economy

Ho Chi Minh City is the country’s key economic, literary and scientific centre and maintains an important role in drawing foreign direct investment into Vietnam.

Investment in the Ho Chi Minh City abounds; the city is currently the host for about one-quarter of the total FDI in Vietnam, thanks in part to its robust economy and superior business infrastructure.

Among Ho Chi Minh City’s noteworthy investment projects:

• Quang Trung Software Park: The Quang Trung Software Park was launched in July 2000 by the Ho Chi Minh City government. The Software Park is the biggest software park in the South of Vietnam, and is one of twelve main projects in the city’s economic and scientific development plan.
• Saigon High-Tech Park: The Saigon High-Tech Park is one of the nation’s only two high-tech park projects. The park covers 913 hectares and is 15 kilometres from Ho Chi Minh City’s downtown area. The park is a technical economic zone, and has attracted significant foreign investment.
• Thu Thiem New Township: Thu Thiem New Township is Ho Chi Minh City’s innovative and contemporary centre, located on an area of 770 hectares.
• Ho Chi Minh City Export Processing Zones and Industrial Zones: The Vietnamese government encourages local enterprises, foreign organizations and foreign businesses to invest in industrial, export processing and high-tech zones. In Ho Chi Minh City, there are two EPZs and 11 IZs in operation. The government is particularly interested in promoting certain new businesses, and offers many incentives, including tax exemptions and eased licensing requirements.

The city is home to close to 300,000 businesses, including many sizeable companies in the high-tech, electronics, construction, building materials and agricultural sectors. In 2007, the city's GDP was estimated at $14.3 billion – an increase of 13 percent over the previous year.

Country of Superb Beauty

The beauty of Vietnam is always described in superlatives. Locals and expats alike describe a country that is overwhelming in natural splendour - from its subtle design to its extraordinary sunsets – and all points in between.

The country's natural setting is absolutely exquisite, including the Red River Delta in the north, the Mekong Delta in the south and the entire coastline, which features marvellous beaches offset by towering mountains, some of which are covered by intense and gorgeous forests.

From the omnipresent natural vistas, to the vast and flourishing rice fields, to the hubbub of the cities where modern Asia meets ancient Asia, Vietnam is absolutely stunning.

Ho Chi Minh City is adorned with broad and graceful boulevards and celebrated French colonial structures, including Reunification Palace, City Hall, City Theatre, and Notre-Dame Cathedral.

Culinary Delights

Are you a gastronomic aficionado? Well, then Vietnam will in no way disappoint you. The country offers a wealth of choices – with more than 500 local dishes.

Vietnam’s cuisine, which uses limited little oil and an abundance of vegetables, features many dishes that include soy sauce, rice and fish sauce (nuoc mam) – the latter of which is considered “as compulsory as ketchup for the Vietnamese.” Mint and basil are also prominent in the country’s delicious culinary offerings.

In terms of nightlife, both locals and expats frequent a wide variety of pubs, clubs and karaoke bars - which feature music in both English and Vietnamese. Casinos are also a popular pastime – for tourists and expats, as they are illegal for the local populace.

Cultural and Leisure Pursuits

In years past, Vietnam’s cultural and leisure lifestyles were massively influenced by the government-run media and the country’s socialist programs. However, since the 1990s, the country has witnessed a significant increase in the influence of the cultures of countries in Southeast Asia, Europe and the United States.

Ho Chi Minh offers a variety of cultural pursuits – including a choice of excellent museums, such as the Ho Chi Minh City Museum, the Museum of Vietnamese History, the Revolutionary Museum and the War Remnants Museum.

In the realm of theatre, the most popular performances generally comprise a variety of musical theatre, including classical opera (hat tuong); “reform” theatre (hat cai luong); and hat cheo, a rural folk tradition. Although Western drama was introduced to the country by the French, its popularity continues to lag behind that of musical theatre.