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

  • 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...

  • Luon Cave

    Luon cave is the paradise of spectacular nature and dreaming landscapes. Moroever, Luon Cave is the perfect combination of lime-stone mountains and jade-green sea makes Luon...

  • The Japanese covered bridge

    The Japanese Covered Bridge or Cau Chua Pagoda (in Vietnamese “Cau Nhat Ban”) is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Hoi An, Vietnam.

  • Phong Dien Floating Market

    Phong Dien floating market is not only a palce for selling and exchanging products but also a popular attraction in Can Tho . Phong Dien floating market has many different...

  • Pham Ngu Lao Street

    Pham Ngu Lao Street in Ho Chi Minh City is on the western edge of District 1 and is renowned as the place where most backpacking travellers stay during their holiday. 

  • 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...

  • War Remnants Museum

    The War Remnants Museum once known as the ‘Museum of American War Crimes’ first opened to the public in 1975.

  • Ham Rong mountain

    Being shaped like a dragon’s head dimly looming in the thin veil of the early morning, Ham Rong (Dragon Jaw) Mountain that is fine combination of man-made and natural...

  • Vietnam War Memorial

    Across from the Ba Dinh Square from Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Building and in between Ho Chi Minh complex and Thang Long ancient city is Vietnam War Memorial.

  • Tra Que herb village

    For tourists who come from big cities and who are curious about the Asian countryside, Tra Que village in Hoi An i s obviously a good choice. One of the great things about...

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