Meaning of Saigon
The mystery behind the old name of Ho Chi Minh City. What does Saigon mean? Let’s discover in this article.
The meaning of Saigon, often associated with its historical and cultural roots, has diverse interpretations, reflecting the city's unique linguistic and historical blend. Find out the definition of Saigon through the ongoing exploration of its rich past and dynamic present in the article below!
- The meaning of Saigon is intertwined with Ho Chi Minh City's vibrant history. Formerly called Saigon, the city's name changed after 1975. This dual nomenclature reflects the city's dynamic identity and its enduring connection to its historical roots. Read this article to find out the definition of Saigon and "Why is Ho Chi Minh City called Saigon?"
Meaning of the name "Saigon"
- Saigon is the former name of Ho Chi Minh City, one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Vietnam. The name Saigon has intrigued people since the early 20th century when the French made efforts to understand its origin. Even today, Vietnamese people do not fully understand or agree on the meaning of Saigon. Before delving into the definition of Saigon, let's explore how to pronounce Saigon. The word "Saigon" is phonetically pronounced as /saiɡɒn/ and is spoken without the Vietnamese low, falling tone.
- After over 300 years of the city's formation and development, scholars have proposed three explanations for the question “What is the meaning of Saigon?" or “What does Saigon mean in English?" considered the most credible: "Town in the middle of the forest," "The prosperous land," and "Tribute of the West."
Town in the middle of the forest.
- The meaning of Saigon is derived from "Sai," meaning "firewood," and "Gon," referring to "cottonwood trees”. According to Mr. Huynh Tinh Cua's book, the meaning is interpreted as "cottonwood firewood." Based on this information, scholar Truong Vinh Ky suggests that the name Saigon is a phonetic rendering of the Khmer term "Prei Nokor," where "Prei" means "forest" and "Nokor" means "town." Thus, "Prei Nokor" can be translated as a "town in the forest."
- Over time, people changed "Prei" to "Rai" and then to "Sai." Similarly, "Nokor" evolved into "Kor" and eventually became "Gon." However, this explanation is considered unsubstantiated because, over time, no evidence has been found of a "forest with many cottonwood trees" in Prei Nokor; it remains speculative.
The prosperous land.
- Scholar and writer Vuong Hong Sen collected folk data to propose an alternative explanation for the meaning of Saigon. According to him, when the Chinese left Bien Hoa in 1773, they settled in the new area, present-day Cho Lon. Recognizing it as a prosperous area that needed consolidation for sustainability, they called it "Tai-Ngon," or in Chinese - Vietnamese, "De Ngan." The pronunciation of "De Ngan" in Cantonese is "Thi Ngon," which could have evolved into "Sai Gon." Vuong Hong Sen's theory suggests that "Saigon" originated from "Thi Ngon."
- However, historical documents written by Le Quy Don in 1776 indicate that the place name Saigon existed before 1674, predating the arrival of the Chinese in Cho Lon. This challenges the persuasiveness of Vuong Hong Sen's explanation.
Tribute of the West
- French scholar Louis Malleret proposed that the meaning of Saigon originated from the term "Tay ngon," meaning "tribute from the west" (Tay Cong). The pronunciation of "Tay ngon" by the Chinese resulted in "Sai Gon."
- Malleret supported this theory based on historical records copied by Trinh Hoai Duc. When Cambodia split into two states, both kings paid tribute to the Nguyen lord in Prei Nokor. Vuong Hong Sen, however, argued that "Tay Cong" was a term introduced later by the Chinese and could not be the source of the name "Saigon."