By Tri Dung for Saigon Times Daily
While walking on downtown roads tourists, from guide books or accompanying guide’s explanation, learn that the French were first developers of this land by late 19th century whose heritage was the title “Pearl of the Orient or Paris of the Far East” being given to Saigon. One might thus wonder where the town of Saigon was first started in the French construction.
Two cardinal directions planned by the French architects are now Le Duan and Dong Khoi. The Norodom Palace built in 1873 and the Botanical and Zoological garden built in 1865 marked the first one, Avenue de Norodom. The road now connects the Reunification Conference Hall with the Zoo and History museum. It used to be called the Ambassadors’ road since for a time, the Embassies of the US, the French and Great Britain were located on the road. We can now see those reminders which are now the US Consulate General , French Consulate General and British Council to HCMC.
A walk on Le Duan Ave. has first photo opportunities from the palace itself and the scene of college students browsing on the internet in the park lining French-style cafés. In front of those historic buildings read more from the book or listen more to your guide about the presence of the French and the American in Vietnam. The tallest building in town, Saigon Trade center, 33 floors high, is also worth-photograghing. Just a few meters away, the History museum of HCMC should not be missed. Be in there for a visit to the museum, watch the water puppet show and take a rickshaw ride to the Central Post Office for the second cardinal direction.
La rue de Catinat, a ninety degre angle with the first one, stretches from the complex of Notre Dame de Saigon and Central Post Office, built in 1880 and 1871, to Majestic hotel, built in 1925. Spend half an hour for the church and the post office. Timing is best from 8-10 am for taking photos and a church visit. Do not forget to come and say hello to Mr. Ngo, an old retired postal clerk in this majesticly nice post office. He is now serving as the only and unique existing letter writer in Vietnam. That service was started by the French in 1871 when Saigon Post Office ( GPO ) was inaugurated.
The land marks on la rue de Catinat are the Continental hotel, the Opera House and Majestic hotel. The Continental is Vietnam’s oldest hotel built by in 1880. La rue de Catinat ( then Tu Do and now, Dong Khoi street ) was designed for a colonial French atmosphere of such a place teeming with monsieurs ( sirs) having fun with ladies in wine bars or casting eyes over cups of coffee to the pulled cart drivers to and fro whose lifestyle was another French heritage. Added to their enjoyment, Givral and Brodard cafés gave the road a more special flavor. The superior image of the road with more French buildings than any other road gave a prestige to itself. “ I saw him on Catinat yesterday” usually referred to high respect.
After 45 minutes of leisure walking from Notre Dame down to the Saigon river, one should be relaxing at Majestic hotel. Standing at 3 - 4 pm at the 8th floor restaurant promises a broad panoramic view of the Saigon river. Poke your camera to the ships, boats and people down there and achieve good photos.
The sun is going down ending a happy tour day. Nguyen Hue and Le Loi Avenues, in parallel with these two, have their own stories to tell visitors on next walking which always entertains people more with history on each stop.