Central Post Office in Ho Chi Minh City

The Central Post Office in Ho Chi Minh is a beautifully preserved remnant of French colonial times and perhaps the grandest post office in all of Southeast Asia. Located next door to Notre Dame Cathedral, the two cultural sites can be visited together and offers visitors a chance to imagine life in Vietnam during the times of the Indochinese Empire. The building was designed by Gustave Eiffel – the renowned engineer who also designed the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower – and features arched windows and wooden shutters, just as it would have in its heyday in the late 19th Century.


 

The Central Post Office in Ho Chi Minh was constructed between 1886 and 1891 and once inside, the looping arches, intricately designed marble floors and antiquated telephone boxes all serve as a reminder of the importance the post office played in days before email and mobile phones. Although the architecture is distinctly French, the large portrait of Ho Chi Minh hanging high above everyone at the far end of the building reminds everyone we are definitely in Vietnam. Painted onto walls overhead are two maps of the region; one of them showing the telegraph lines that crisscross Vietnam and Cambodia and the other displaying a map of the Saigon region in 1892.

 

 

Although the experience is a fascinating glimpse into history, the fact that this is still a functioning post office makes the experience even sweeter, and we encourage everyone to send a letter or postcard from here – it’s a piece of living history where even the old fashioned glue pots are still in use for sticking stamps to letters. There are two wings branching out from the main office, selling souvenirs, postcards and lacquerware but the prices are inflated and the same products can probably be found elsewhere for a better price.

Central Post Office

Opening Hours: 7am to 8pm

Location: 2 Công xã Paris, District 1

See more

  • The perfume Pagoda

    The Perfume Pagoda (Chùa Hương) is a vast complex of Buddhist temples and shrines built into the limestone Huong Tich Mountains.

    Read more

  • Bitexco Financial Tower in Ho Chi Minh

    Ho Chi Minh City’s Bitexco Financial Tower stands 262 metres high at the centre of the city’s business district and offers visitors an unparalleled city view from...

    Read more

  • Kissing Rocks

    With thousands of islets of different shapes and sizes on its surface, there are countless stories about them in Halong Bay. Among those beautiful islets, there are two most...

    Read more

  • Reunification Palace

    Reunification Palace is (known as Independence Palace) the famous  historical witness which passed through the two fierce wars against the French and American...

    Read more

  • Vietnam History Museum

    The oldest of its kind in Vietnam, Vietnam History Museum was renovated from the French Ecole Française d’Extreme Orient.

    Read more

  • Nam Nha Pagoda

    Nam Nha pagoda is famous not only by the beauty of elegant architect, peaceful and quiet palace but also by the historical – cultural relic. So it becomes a popular...

    Read more

  • Nhat Le beach - The beautiful beach in Quang Binh

    Nhat Le beach has still remains many wild features with white sand, blue sea that create the charming scenery. It is great to enjoy the landscape with clean water, gentle...

    Read more

  • Star beach - the most beautiful beach in Phu Quoc

    Star beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Phu Quoc with a wild beauty, white sand with stretches, clear blue sea all year around. It a great place to relax in...

    Read more

  • Old Houses in Hoi An

    Old houses in Hoi An hide a long history inside. These houses were featured strikingly by the length, lying close together in the wide and airy lanes. To learn about Hoi...

    Read more

  • Cat Cat Village

    Cat Cat village is one of the most famous destination of not only domestic travellers but also foreign ones. It is located on  on the Muong Hoa Valley and...

    Read more

Destinations

Most popular tours

Business info

  • Vietnam Local Guide

  • Address: 18th Floor, VTC Online Tower, 18 Tam Trinh Str.,Hai Ba Trung Dist., Hanoi, Vietnam
  • Email: info@vietnamguider.com
  • Phone: (+84) 0904989890
  • Hotline: (+84) 0904989890