Saigon Central Post Office

Saigon Central Post Office

Situated at the northwest end of Dong Khoi Street, adjacent to the Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Saigon Central Post Office was constructed in the late 19th century by a French architect. The interior is ornately decorated, and the dome has a distinctly classical feel. It is a sizable colonial building with a pronounced French architectural influence and is considered an important cultural relic. The building’s exterior is grand and imposing. It continues to function as a post office today, and the vaulted ceilings inside are also quite distinctive, making it one of the representative buildings of the French colonial period. It remains the largest post office in Vietnam and is an important commercial hub in Ho Chi Minh City. Due to the limited development of the internet in the area, the central post office serves as a vital communication channel with the outside world, offering great convenience to both locals and tourists. Visitors are welcome to explore the premises.

On either side of the spacious hall are service counters, while the central area features, from the outside in, circular benches, a souvenir counter, and long writing desks. At the far end of the hall, a kind-looking image of Ho Chi Minh watches over crowds of foreign tourists who are taking photos, daydreaming, or busily writing on stacks of postcards.

For visitors, getting a postmark stamped on a postcard and mailing it from this post office—or writing down a phone number for an operator to manually connect you with a friend abroad through one of the small booths—is a unique experience.

Portrait of Ho Chi Minh: A large portrait of Ho Chi Minh hangs prominently on the wall at the end of the hall, and taking a photo with “Grandpa Ho” is the top choice for many tourists.

Hand-drawn maps: On the left and right walls of the hall are large maps, said to have been hand-drawn by French geographers in the past.

Architectural decorations: The dome, circular stained-glass windows, ornate chandeliers, floral-shaped wall sconces, telephone booths, and column decorations.

Diverse figures: Sightseeing tourists looking around, locals making long-distance calls in the phone booths, and unfazed post office staff.

Address: Cong xa Paris Square, at the northwest end of Dong Khoi Street, next to the Notre-Dame Cathedral. (Cong xa Paris Square, Dong Khoi & Han Thuyen Streets, District 1)

Tip: The postage for sending a postcard back to China is 11,400 VND. The postcards sold in the souvenir section are not of very high quality—consider buying nicer ones at a bookstore and mailing them from here instead.