Landmark

Saigon Central Post Office

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Saigon Central Post OfficeKevin Rutherford · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
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Saigon Central Post Office is a functioning post office and tourist attraction in Paris Commune Square, next to the Notre-Dame Basilica. The building was constructed between 1886 and 1891, during the French colonial period, and shows Gothic, Renaissance, and French architectural influences.

Don't miss

  • Plaques on the outside wall commemorating scientists and engineers such as Morse, Ampere, Volta, Ohm, and Faraday.
  • A painted map on the left side inside titled 'Lignes telegraphiques du Sud Vietnam et Cambodge 1892', showing telegraph lines of Southern Vietnam and Cambodia.
  • A second painted map titled 'Saigon et ses environs 1892', depicting greater Saigon and its surroundings.
  • The post office is located next to the Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica, the city's cathedral.

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Saigon Central Post Office

You can see Saigon Central Post Office on your own. A tour is worth it for the story behind it, for transport, or for combining nearby sights into one day.

Getting there

Know before you go

  • Look for two historic painted maps inside, created just after the building was completed in 1892.
  • The building is often wrongly attributed to Gustave Eiffel; the actual architect was Alfred Foulhoux.

A bit of history

Designed by Alfred Foulhoux, the post office is often mistakenly credited to Gustave Eiffel or to a collaboration between Foulhoux and Auguste Henri Vildieu. A contemporary journal noted its inauguration was postponed until the return of the Governor General, praising the building's artistic façade and well-equipped interior.

Common questions

What architectural styles does the building feature?

It shows Gothic, Renaissance, and French influences.

Who designed the post office?

It was designed by Alfred Foulhoux, though it is often mistakenly credited to Gustave Eiffel.

What notable maps are inside?

Two painted maps from 1892: one of Southern Vietnam and Cambodia showing telegraph lines, and another of Saigon and its surroundings.

What is on the outside wall of the building?

Plaques commemorating scientists and engineers like Morse, Ampere, Volta, Ohm, and Faraday.

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