[Eala]

in a city that I took to be Ho Chi Minh City, still familiarly known in America by its old French colonial name of Saigon.

I don't speak French, nor do I speak Vietnamese, and neither my polyglot wife nor my Vietnamese friends are available right now... but to my ears "Saigon" does not sound one bit French. So how is it a "French colonial name"? Did the French found Saigon?

[ThanhPhero]

"Saigon" does not sound one bit French. So how is it a "French colonial name"?

Sai Gon is in no way of French derivation nor origin.It is still the name of the city. Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh is the name of the larger district, sort of Ho Chi Minh Metropolitan Area and includes Sai Gon and numerous other towns and some countryside, sort of like Miami-Dade in Florida. Here's a quickie for you http://www.vietscape.com/travel/saigon/. I don't know how to put a link in this so just cut and paste.

[SwinneySwitch]

There are many citations to the birth of Saigon and the origin of its name. In the 15th century, this area were swamps, marshes and thick forests. By the early 17th century, a small township was formed. According to one theory, Saigon or Sai Con has its root in a Khmer word Prei Kor (Kapok Tree Forest).

The name Saigon was used officially in 1698, when Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu sent Mr. Nguyen Huu Canh to this region to create various districts and to form a government for this southern outpost.

Way before the french got there!

BTW Happy Seis de Mayo!(The day after Mexico defeated the french!)