Our Going Global series has been taking ‘shallow dives’ into some of the countries and cities where Orchid’s Sage Add-ons have taken root. Previous episodes have inlcuded such places as Eswatini, Aruba, Saint Lucia, American Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Mauritius, and Atlanta.
This time we look at Saigon, venue for the upcoming TPAC Asia 2025 conference.
Ten (or so) things you may not know about…Saigon
- What's in a name? The official name may have changed to Ho Chi Minh City in 1975, but it is still commonly referred to as Saigon by locals. This includes many businesses - e.g., the venue for this year's TPAC conference is Min House Saigon Hotel.
- Where Motorbikes Rule: With an estimated 8–9 million motorbikes, it is said that the city has more two-wheelers than people of working age. Crossing the street can be daunting for newly arrived pedestrians. The advice I was given during my first visit in 1994 was "think like a fish".
- Underground Beer Culture: The city has a vibrant craft beer scene hidden in basements, alleyways, and even repurposed French villas. Saigon is now considered the craft beer capital of Southeast Asia, with quirky local flavors like pho-inspired or durian beer.
- The “Alley City”: Some of Saigon’s best cafés, restaurants, and bars are tucked deep inside tiny alleys (called hẻm). Locals say the city’s real treasures aren’t on main roads but hidden behind noodle shops and laundry lines.
- Where Coffee is Cool: Cà Phê Sữa Đá, the iconic Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk, became popular in Saigon because fresh milk was rare during French colonial times. Condensed milk, imported in tins, became the sweet workaround that turned into a national obsession.
- Troubled Waters: The Saigon River looks calm, but locals warn its undercurrents are strong enough to drag away boats. Despite this, riverside beer stalls and cafés are packed nightly with people drinking right at the water’s edge.
- Bunker Bars: Some of the city’s old wartime bunkers have been converted into quirky bars or restaurants. Visitors can sip cocktails in a space that once stored ammunition or sheltered people during bombings.
- Where Opera meets Politics: The Saigon Opera House, a fine example of French Colonial architecture, has had quite a history since its opening in 1900. From 1956, it was the home of the National Assembly (effectively Parliament House), before reverting to use as a theatre in 1976.
- A Hotel with a History: The Hotel Continental Saigon, opened in 1880, has hosted Graham Greene, Charlie Chaplin, and Jackie Kennedy. Greene, a long-term guest in room 214, used it as a setting for his novel The Quiet American.
- Night Owl City: Street food stalls, late-night cafés, and even tailors who will fix your clothes at 2am make Saigon feel alive around the clock—earning it the nickname “The City That Never Sleeps of Vietnam.”
Orchid EFT's Global Footprint
Today, Orchid’s EFT Processing supports 800+ bank formats in 80+ countries.
From Mauritius to Mozambique, Samoa to Saigon, we may already have the format you need. If not, just let us know and we can set it up!
