HO CHI MINH CITY
Formerly known as “Saigon”, the city is Vietnam’s commercial center. With a population of approximately 10 million people it’s a dynamic metropolis undergoing dramatic change. Remnants of the city’s past are still visible however and beautiful historic buildings - public and private - can still be found dotted throughout the city. Women dressed in Vietnam’s traditional Ao Dai tunic can still be seen strolling past modern trendy boutiques and crowded cafes. The city’s nightlife buzzes but so do its many traditions and ancient rhythms. It’s a city experienced primarily at street level and there’s always something to discover just around the next corner…
HO CHI MINH CITY
Formerly known as “Saigon”, the city is Vietnam’s commercial center. With a population of approximately 10 million people it’s a dynamic metropolis undergoing dramatic change. Remnants of the city’s past are still visible however and beautiful historic buildings – public and private – can still be found dotted throughout the city. Women dressed in Vietnam’s traditional Ao Dai tunic can still be seen strolling past modern trendy boutiques and crowded cafes. The city’s nightlife buzzes but so do its many traditions and ancient rhythms. It’s a city experienced primarily at street level and there’s always something to discover just around the next corner…
Showing 1–4 of 5 results
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REUNIFICATION PALACE
Surrounded by Royal Palm trees, the dissonant 1960s architecture of this government building and the eerie mood that accompanies a walk through its deserted halls make it one of the most intriguing spectacles in HCMC.
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NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL
Built between 1877 and 1883, Notre Dame Cathedral rises up romantically from the heart of HCMC’s government quarter, facing Ð Dong Khoi. A brick, neo-Romanesque church with two 40m-high square towers tipped with iron spires, the Catholic cathedral is named after the Virgin Mary. The walls of the interior are inlaid with devotional tablets and some stained glass survives. English-speaking staff dispense tourist information from 9am to 11am Monday to Saturday. If the front gates are locked, try the door on the side of the building that faces Reunification Palace.
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CENTRAL POST OFFICE
Right across the way from Notre Dame Cathedral, HCMC's striking French post office is a period classic, designed by Gustave Eiffel and built between 1886 and 1891. Painted on the walls of its grand concourse are fascinating historic maps of South Vietnam, Saigon and Cholon, while a mosaic of Ho Chi Minh takes pride of place at the end of its barrel-vaulted hall. Note the magnificent tiled floor of the interior and the copious green-painted wrought iron.
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OPERA HOUSE
Gracing the intersection of Dong Khoi and Le Loi, this grand colonial edifice with a sweeping staircase was built in 1897 and is one of the city's most recognisable buildings. Officially known as the Municipal Theatre, the Opera House captures the flamboyance of France’s belle époque.
