Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon
The Federal District of Sài Gòn, commonly known as Saïgon, is the largest city in Indochina, situated in its southeastern region. The city surrounds the Saigon River and covers about 2,061 square kilometres, and is home to ten million people.
Prior to Vietnamese settlement in the 17th century, the city was a scarcely populated area that had been part of historic empires of Funan, Chenla, and Champa. With the arrival of Vietnamese, the area became more populated and officials began establishing the city from 1623 to 1698. After it was ceded by the last Vietnamese dynasty to the French in 1862, the name Saigon was adopted and the city underwent urbanization to become a financial center in the region. It was designated a first-class city by the Federal Republic of Indochina after independence from France. In 2002, the city became a federal district independent from both the Cochinchina region and Vietnam, and was granted 5 seats in the Indochinese Federal Senate.
The primary economic center of Vietnam and Indochina, it is also a popular international destination, with landmarks related to remnants of its history showcased through its architecture. A major transportation hub, the city hosts the Tan Son Nhat International Airport, the busiest airport in Southeast Asia. It also serves as a major media and entertainment outlet of the region, and is a financial capital of Asia, with the Saigon Stock Exchange (SGEX) emerging as the second largest stock exchanges in Asia after the HKEX. It also hosts the prestigious Federal University of Saigon and is home to overseas campuses of various global universities.
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