Why is saigon and ho chi minh city the 2 major city?

Ho Chi Minh City and Saigon are the same city. Ho Chi Minh City is the current official name of the city, while Saigon is its former name and is still widely used informally. The city was originally known as Saigon during the French colonial period and retained that name after Vietnam's independence in 1945. However, in 1975, after the reunification of Vietnam, the city's name was officially changed to Ho Chi Minh City in honor of the late Vietnamese revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh. Despite the name change, many locals and visitors continue to refer to the city as Saigon, and it remains a commonly used name for the city in everyday conversation and cultural references.