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View of Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon) from the Saigon River. Saigon is Vietnam&apos;s major port and, with 8 million inhabitants, its largest city. It was called Saigon until 1975 when it was renamed Ho Chi Minh City following its capture by North Vietnamese communist forces. Although the city&apos;s commercial core is officially called Saigon, the entire city is widely referred to as Saigon even in the North. The city was architecturally influenced by the French during their colonial occupation of Vietnam. Numerous classical Western-style building in the city reflect this, so much so that Saigon was referred to as &quot;The Pearl of the Far East&quot; or &quot;Paris in the Orient.&quot; In more recent years, a building boom has transformed the skyline of the city.
Notre Dame Cathedral in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) was built by French colonists from 1877 to 1880. The neo-Romanesque structure was constructed using stained-glass windows imported from Chartres and bricks from Marseilles. Masses are conducted in Vietnamese and English.
The Central Post Office in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam, was built during the period of French control, originally erected in the 1860s using Gustave Eiffel’s design and reconstructed in its current form between 1886 and 1891 by architect Auguste Vildieu. The post office is a mix of Gothic, Renaissance, and French colonial styles with Asian decorations. On January 13, 1863, the post office opened to the public and issued its first stamp. The Post Office is one of the city’s oldest buildings and one of the most- famous and iconic attractions in Saigon.
The Central Post Office in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) was built between 1886 and 1891 and is one of the oldest buildings in the city. Designed by Gustave Eiffel, it is still in operation. The interior has remained essentially untouched since its construction.
Reunification Palace in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). The palace was built between 1962 and 1966 on the site of the former Norodom Palace. It was the official headquarters and residence of the president of South Vietnam. The building was captured by North Vietnamese forces on 30 April 1975 and is now a museum with exhibits frozen in time from 1975.
Reception room in the Reunification Palace in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). The palace was built between 1962 and 1966 on the site of the former Norodom Palace. It was the official headquarters and residence of the president of South Vietnam. The building was captured by North Vietnamese forces on 30 April 1975 and is now a museum with exhibits frozen in time from 1975.
City Hall in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) was built in French colonial style between 1898 and 1908. Officially known as the Ho Chi Minh City People&apos;s Committee Building, the lovely structure is a working government building and is not open to the public.
Statue of Ho Chi Minh reading to a child in front of the City Hall in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Built by the French between 1898 and 1908, the beautifully ornamented structure is officially known as the Ho Chi Minh City People&apos;s Committee Building and is not open to the public.
The Municipal Theater in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) is also known as the Saigon Opera House. Built in 1897, it is a fine example of French colonial architecture. The building was used as the home of the Lower House of the Assembly of South Vietnam from 1956 to 1975. It functioned as a theater after that date and was restored in 1995.
The Hotel Continental in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) dates to 1880 and the French colonial period. During the Vietnam War, it became popular with journalists and US military personnel. The hotel closed in 1976 and reopened in 1986; it was refurbished during 1998-99.
The Giac Lam Pagoda in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) was built in 1774; it is a unique temple where Taoism and Confucianism merge with Buddhism. The pagoda compound includes ornate tombs, a rare bodhi tree, and a statue of Quan The Am Bo That, the Goddess of Mercy.
The Giac Lam Pagoda in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) was built in 1774; it is a unique temple where Taoism and Confucianism merge with Buddhism. The pagoda compound includes ornate tombs, a rare bodhi tree, and a statue of Quan The Am Bo That, the Goddess of Mercy.
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