TOP 5 INDOCHINESE ARCHITECTURAL BUILDINGS IN HO CHI MINH CITY
With the arrival of the French in the early twentieth century, Saigon’s influence is irretrievably marked by colonial architecture, with the greatest number of European buildings for an Asian city. By harnessing the local topography, climate, a typical Indochinese construction has been created to highlight stages, namely ancient architecture, colonial architecture, and contemporary architecture. Learning about these buildings gives you the information in terms of cross-culture art and architecture as well as understanding Vietnamese history and culture. If you are impressed by the beauty of “The Pearl of the Far East”, then you must add these amazing work of arts to your bucket list: Saigon Central Post Office, Ho Chi Minh City Opera House, The History Museum of Ho Chi Minh City, Continental Hotel, Park Hyatt Saigon.
SAIGON CENTRAL POST OFFICE
Location: 2 Cong Xa Paris, District 1
Time: 07:00 – 19:00 (Monday to Friday); 07:00 – 18:00 (Saturday); 08:00 – 18:00 (Sunday)
Designed by renowned French architect, Gustave Eiffel, the post office was built between 1886 and 1891. The post office is located beside the Notre Dame Cathedral. In terms of harmony in the city's architectural ensemble, this is a unique highlight of the city. Generally filled with tourists, it’s easy to forget that it is still a working post office.
“The vaulted roof and arched windows lend a classic look, reminiscent of early European railway stations.”
THE OPERA HOUSE
Location: 07 Lam Son Square, District 1
The Opera House was built in 1900 with the aim of becoming an entertainment center exclusively for upper-class guests. The Opera House with a striking facade echoes the style of the Petit Palais (Paris) and was built in 1897 by French architect, Eugene Ferret. In 1955, it was transformed into South Vietnam’s Assembly House and has since undergone several refurbishments. It was an ambitious project: three-floors, a huge stage, an audience capacity of 1,800, an auditorium, a studio, an amphitheater.
The locations for the areas to be decorated were carefully chosen with this aim of main areas which people need to pass. It is only open to the public during events and orchestras. Play tickets are available at the box office or local travel agents. Currently there are popular performances that are scheduled in the opera such as À Ố Show, The Mist, and the Opera Gala.
THE HISTORY MUSEUM OF HO CHI MINH CITY
Location: 02 Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, District 1
Time: 8:00 - 11:30 & 13:00 - 17:00
The museum is located at no.2 Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, with a long history of development in the southern region of Vietnam. The museum was designed and inaugurated by architect Auguste Delaval in 1929. The design of the construction's middle part is an octagonal block, which is covered by a gold paint. Besides that, the top of the roof is tiled with stylized Asian-style decorations. All of these design creates a solid structure, in harmony with the surrounding landscape. Up to now, the museum displays more than 40,000 precious artifacts collected thematically from primitive times to 1945 and introduces unique cultural features in the southern provinces and some countries in Asia.
PARK HYATT SAIGON HOTEL
Location: 101 Hai Ba Trung Street, District 1
Park Hyatt Saigon Hotel is a new 5-star hotel operating in Vietnam by the Hyatt International Corporation of USA. Located in the city center, the authentic trattoria-style Italian restaurant Opera in the city center offers guests absolute luxury and service of international standards.
Sophisticated designs and decor mixed by a collection of interior decorative arts such as oil paintings, antiques, lacquer works, or hand-embroidered works by famous artists. What a great way to start our holiday by comforting the ultimate personalized luxury experience.
HOTEL CONTINENTAL SAIGON
Location: 132-134 Dong Khoi Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
The Hotel Continental Saigon is situated on Dong Khoi Street, one of the oldest and most central streets in Saigon. It was built in 1880, with a characteristic that has architectural features, such as a tile roof, thick brick walls, spacious bedrooms, and public areas. High ceilings to avoid the heat of the tropics and to make use of the wind and natural light.
“ Nowadays, the Hotel Continental remains nestled among the classical buildings of old Saigon. While Dong Khoi Street continues to hustle and bustle, the Hotel Continental Saigon still maintains the charm and majesty of its classical past.”
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