name
Uncommon
Saigon
SEYE-gon
Saigon (name) means the former name of Ho Chi Minh City, once the capital of South Vietnam. Example: “The film is set in Saigon during the final days before its fall in 1975.”
name
1
The former name of Ho Chi Minh City, once the capital of South Vietnam.
"They met at a bar in Saigon, dated, fell in love, and, a year later, married right there in the city’s central courthouse."
— Ocean Vuong, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous (2019)
"But news that the North Vietnamese had launched an invasion more akin to the blitzkrieg of Poland than to a Maoist "people's war," and had overrun my old base camp 30 miles up Thunder Road from Saigon, turned my heart to lead."
— Walter A. McDougall, Who Were We in Vietnam? (2000)
"The film is set in Saigon during the final days before its fall in 1975."
How to use Saigon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe historic name for what is now Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
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The film is set in _____ during the final days before its fall in 1975.
Etymology
From Vietnamese Sài Gòn, the city's original name.
Frequently asked questions
What does “Saigon” mean?
The word “Saigon” means the former name of Ho Chi Minh City, once the capital of South Vietnam. In plain terms, the historic name for what is now Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
How do you pronounce “Saigon”?
“Saigon” is pronounced SEYE-gon (/ˈsaɪɡɒn/ in IPA).
How do you use “Saigon” in a sentence?
Here is “Saigon” used in a sentence: “The film is set in Saigon during the final days before its fall in 1975.”
What part of speech is “Saigon”?
“Saigon” is a name.
Is “Saigon” a common word?
“Saigon” is an uncommon word in modern English.
