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

  • Bac Lieu Sanctuary

    Bac Lieu bird sanctuary is one of the most attractive eco-tourism in Mekong Delta and Bac Lieu province . Bac Lieu bird garden always makes visitors surprised by the...

  • Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

    This is the most recent yet probably the largest and undoubtedly the most interesting Museums in Hanoi and Vietnam.

  • 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...

  • 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...

  • Museum of History of Vietnamese Military

    Also popularly known as Military Museum, this is one of the oldest museums in Hanoi.

  • Dong Xuan Market

    There are so many interesting things and stunning places in Hanoi that you can enjoy the chance to take a visit to, one of the must – see places in Hanoi that you...

  • Saint Joseph Cathedral

    Saint Joseph Cathedral, located at 40 Nha Chung street, Hanoi, is a Roman Catholic cathedral with neo- gothic style, which was built about 120 years ago.

  • Lan Ha Bay

    Located adjacent to Halong Bay, Lan Ha Bay is a peaceful bay in Cat Ba Islands system. Lan Ha Bay has about 400 large and small islands covered with green trees and...

  • Ham Ninh fishing village

    If you want to see the most beautiful dawn and eat the freshest seafood in Phu Quoc, you should go to Ham Ninh fishing village which is an ancient fishing village. In Ham...

  • Thong Nhat Park

    Thong Nhat Park is located next to Hanoi Circus, about 15 minutes by bike to the Old Quarter.

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