Historical architectures of Ho Chi Minh city

The migration of Chinese here from the early years of it' history, the domination of big culture of French and American in the past, in addition to it's Vietnamese architecture manner making Ho Chi Minh a plentiful architecture complex. Visiting these historical architectures bring tourist a colorful look on Ho Chi Minh history, so they are tourist destinations for many visitors to Ho Chi Minh young city nowadays.

Central Post Office

Located right in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City - at number 2, Paris Commune Street, District 1, The Central Post Office is one of the oldest buildings in Ho Chi Minh City. It was built around 1886 – 1891, based on the design of Gustave Eiffel – a famous French architect and has become a significant symbol of the city, just like its opposite neighbor Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral. It has long been the busiest post office of the country.

Being a mixture of Gothic, Renaissance and French influences, this building fascinates tourists by its typical colonial French features, from exterior to interior decorations. By the first time, visitors may feel that they’re brought back to 20th century railway station in Europe, rather than a post office in an Asian country. From its ornate furnishings, gorgeous-pattern-tiled floor to its massively high ceilings and numerous wickets, all speak of another place in time. The interior design is even more elegant with the phone booths, which are just the same since the colonial period.

Walking inside, the first things you notice are the two maps: Saigonet ses environs, 1892 describing Ho Chi Minh City in the past and Lignes télégraphiques du Sud Vietnamet du Cambodge which is the postal route from Vietnam to Cambodia. The building inside is big and airy with a lot of space. The ceiling was designed with arc shape which was carried by the two rows of steel pillars. This makes the building look grander and more stable. Also, the building looks just perfectly in harmony with the outside, considering its arched windows creatively designed with engaged piers, green window shutters or the main entrance with intricate ironwork.

Open from 6AM to 10PM, Saigon Central Post Office is usually included in city tour around Ho Chi Minh, as it’s quite easy to get there on foot, bike or motorbike since together with other French and American architecture it located in the downtown of Nguyen Hue, Le Loi, Dong Khoi street.

Center Post Office

Notre Dame Cathedral

Located right front of the Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral is a magnificent building situated at the Cong Xa Paris Square, Dong Khoi and Han Thuyen Streets. Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the oldest and biggest Catholic churches in Viet Nam. It was built between October 1877 and April 1880 in a French style. With the approval of the Vatican, the cathedral was named Notre Dame during ceremonies held in December 1959. Its neon-Romanesque architecture and two 57.6m-high square towers tipped with iron spires dominate the city's sky line, reminds of the cathedrals in Paris. In front of the cathedral is a statue of the Virgin Mary. Visitors can attend mass held three times on weekdays and six times on Sundays

Notre Dame Cathedral

Municipal Theatre

Municipal Theater is located at N°7 Cong Truong Lam Son Street, District 1. It was originally an opera house for the Western audiences. Its construction was begun in 1898 and completed on 17 January 1900 according to the design by architect Ferrt. It holds 800 seats. The cost for the building at that time was nearly 1 million dong (old currency). In 1944 the House was badly damaged by air raids. Then, it became a temporary residence of the French and of Northerners migrating to Sai Gon after the signing of the Geneva Agreements in 1954. It was restored in 1665 and made the seat of Sai Gon Lower Houso of Parliament in 1956. After the liberation of Sai Gon, it was put under the management of the Artistic Performance Organization Company (Sai Gon Concert) and became the City's Opera House ever since. A variety of shows and performances are held in the theater: dancing and singing, spoken drama, circus, and fashion shows. It frequently hosts domestic and overseas professional art troupes. This is also where conferences, seminars and big festivals of the city are held. Investments have been poured into the restoration of the theater to its original conditions with advanced technique to make it capable of hosting performance of greater national and international dimensions. The theater features shows nightly from 8pm to 10pm, on every Sunday morning visitors can enjoy an outdoor concert here.

Municipal Theater in Ho Chi Minh city

Thong Nhat Palace
Thong Nhat (or Reunification) Palace is situated at 106 Nguyen Du Street, District 1. Originally called Norodom Palace and Palace of Indochina Governor General, it was built in 1868 and inaugurated in 1873. After 1954, Ngo Dinh Diem, South Viet Nam's President, and his family lived and worked in Norodom Palace. In 1963, this palace was heavily destroyed by bombs. President Diem commanded the remains to be destroyed and to build a new palace to be called Doc Lap Palace or Independence Palace. The new palace was built on a 120,000m2 area and covered 4,500m2. it included a basement, 3 main floors, 2 mezzanines, one terrace, and one upper floor. There are a total of 95 rooms in the Palace, each decorated according to its function. The Palace also features two exhibition rooms, a 33-room guest house, and numerous entertainment services such as tennis courts and stilt houses. On April 30, 1975, the tanks of the liberation army entered the Independence Palace, and the government, including 45 members and President Duong Van Minh, surrendered without condition. After the liberation, the Independence Palace became the headquarters of the city's military administration committee. The political consultation for national unification was held in this palace which was renamed Thong Nhat Palace or Reunification Palace . Nowadays, Thong Nhat Palace has become a historic, cultural relic attracting domestic as well as international visitors. The Thong Nhat Palace is open from 7.30am to 11am and 1pm to 4pm daily.

Reunification Palace

While French and American architectures located most in district 1, the architectures of Chinese located most in district 5. This plentiful architecture manners also showed by the design of many Markets, Pagoda, Zoo, and Museum of Ho Chi Minh city which you can explore in some other posts.