A guide to saying it correctly
How to Pronounce Saigon
Pronounced SY-gon, this Vietnamese city name is often misheard due to its vowel sound.
saigon
SY-gon
/ˈsaɪ.ɡɒn/ · SY · gon
Native US English · Kokoro neural TTS · 0:01
Saigon, officially Ho Chi Minh City, is a major metropolis in Vietnam. The name 'Saigon' is still widely used, especially when referring to the city's historical significance, its food scene, or in contexts like 'Saigon beer'.
Where the word comes from
The name 'Sài Gòn' is believed to derive from Vietnamese 'sai' (meaning 'stick' or 'pole') and 'gòn' (meaning 'cotton' or 'kapok tree'), possibly referring to the kapok trees that grew along the river.
Common ways people get it wrong
- SAY-gon The first vowel is a long 'i' sound like in 'sky', not a long 'a' sound like in 'say'.
- sigh-GON The stress is on the first syllable, SY-gon, not the second.
Frequently asked
How do you pronounce Saigon in Vietnamese?
In Vietnamese, it's pronounced roughly 'SY-gon', with the 'SY' sound being a diphthong and the 'gon' having a short 'o' sound. The tones are also important in Vietnamese pronunciation.
Is it Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City?
The city was officially renamed Ho Chi Minh City in 1976. However, 'Saigon' remains in common use, particularly for the central districts and in informal contexts.
What's the most common mistake when saying Saigon?
The most common mistake for English speakers is pronouncing the first vowel like the 'a' in 'say' instead of the 'i' in 'sky'. It should be SY-gon, not SAY-gon.
