Saigon Central Post Office is one of the most beautiful preserved vestiges of the French since their colonial period in Ho Chi Minh City. It is considered the most magnificent post office in Southeast Asia and is becoming an attractive destination for domestic and international tourists.
This article will show you many features of this special place.
Where is the Saigon Central Post Office and how to get there?
Where is the Saigon Central Post Office?
The Saigon Central Post Office is located at No. 2 Cong xa Paris, district 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Saigon Central Post Office is located opposite other famous buildings like Diamond Plaza, Notre Dame Cathedral, so you won’t miss it.
Opening hours:
- Monday to Friday: 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Saturday: 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Sunday: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
How go to the Saigon Central Post Office
- Bus : If you want to visit the Saigon Central Post Office by bus, take bus numbers: 03, 120, 19, 30, 93
- Taxi : You can take a taxi to the Saigon Central Post Office. It costs around €4 for a 5-minute drive from central Ho Chi Minh City.
- On foot : You can walk to the Central Post Office if you are at other nearby tourist attractions such as Notre Dame Cathedral and Independence Palace. It will take around 20 minutes if you are staying at the hotel in District 1.
The history of Saigon Central Post Office
The Saigon Center Post Office was designed by the famous French architect Gustave Eiffel. The office opened and issued its first stamps on March 13, 1863 while the first letters began to be sent on January 1, 1864.
In 1891, a new post office was officially opened. The post office has seen many historical ups and downs.
With a unique and sophisticated architecture, the Saigon Central Post Office is not only a place of communication and correspondence but also has become one of the places not to be missed in Saigon where many tourists come to take photos.
Structure and architecturee the Saigon Central Post Office
The building structure is a combination of Western and Asian building styles. You can see it clearly when you enter the main entrance. The giant clock hangs above the gate.
Between the old green windows there are names of French inventors who devoted themselves to the telegram and electricity. They are Benjamin Franklin, Alessandro Volta and Michael Faraday.
When visiting the Saigon Central Post Office, you will see images of two historical maps, one showing the telecommunications system of Cambodia and Vietnam in 1936, and the other describing Saigon and its surroundings in 1892.
On either side of the entrance are rows of straight green lines. iron columns and shiny brown wooden chairs. In the center of the post office is the image of Uncle Ho, the beloved leader of the nation.
In particular, the dome-shaped design creates a sense of nostalgia and space for visitors. Post offices still keep old mailboxes, telephone booths, souvenirs like stamps, and even old letters.
Things to do at the Saigon Central Post Office
Discover the architecture
This is one of the main things to do when coming to the Saigon Central Post Office. Whether outside or inside, you can admire the old French architecture of Saigon and with lots of small details, especially on the front facade of the building.
The interior is also breathtaking with the old cabins, old maps and the architecture which is just magnificent.
Send a postcard home
The Central Post Office is still in operation and so you can buy postcards printed with iconic buildings of Ho Chi Minh City, such as Ben Thanh Market, Notre Dame Cathedral, Independence Palace, etc. in the Central Post Office gift shops and send them home using the postal service here.
The Saigon Central Post Office has 38 customer counters to assist you.
Even though you can buy postcards everywhere, it makes a nice little souvenir.
Conclusion
Central Post Office is located close to many other tourist attractions in Ho Chi Minh City, providing travelers with the opportunity to visit these attractions together and on their own foot.
After visiting these places, you can also enjoy the downtown atmosphere with a variety of upscale cafes and local sidewalk coffee vendors. Locals often feed the doves that land in the area, attracting large numbers each day.
