Kota Ho Chi Minh

Formerly known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is the most populous city in Vietnam with over 9 million people. The capital of French Indochina and then South Vietnam for many years, the city was renamed in 1975 in honor of Ho Chi Minh.

The city is the economic engine of Vietnam, generating just over 25% of the GDP. It is a major center for finance, media, technology, education, and transportation. Many multi-national companies have offices here. Tan Son Nhat International Airport accounts for half of the international arrivals into the country.

The majority population of Ho Chi Minh City are ethnic Vietnamese (Kinh) at about 93%. The rest of the residents are mostly Chinese, with a smattering of Korean, Japanese, American, and South African expats.

The city recognizes 13 separate religions, with 2 million residents identifying as “religious.” 60% of these are Buddhist, followed by Catholics, Protestants, and Muslims. Vietnam’s constitution, ratified in 2013, affirmed the right to belief and religious freedom as a fundamental right of the people. The adoption of the Law on Beliefs and Religion in 2016 created a firm legal framework for protecting this right.

The result of the relative freedom of belief is that there are over 8,000 religious festivals celebrated in the country each year. Religious organizations have more than 500 medical facilities, over 800 social protection establishments, and 300 preschools.

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