Saigon Central Post Office – Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

        Just across the city’s main church, Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, we visited another French architectural leftover in the form of a main post office called Saigon Central Post Office. The post office is not only a place to deliver mails but more than that it has become one of the most inspiring landmarks in the city. 

        The post office was built when French still ruled in Vietnam and the person who designed it was no other than the famous French architect Auguste-Henri Vildieu. At first the designer was inspired by an ancient European railway station, so the building far of less looks like a railway station instead of a post office. Constructed between 1886 and 1891, this largest post office in Vietnam was built in neoclassical architectural style whose feature appears in vaulted roof and arched windows symbolizing early European railway stations. Since the first time of its establishment, the post office has been running its function as a post office and major telecommunication center that connects the locals and tourists to the rest of the world. Here you can buy stamps, books, souvenirs, even use the telephone booths and fax machines. Inside you can also find currency exchange offices. 

 

This grand old edifice is adorned with arched green windows and engaged piers. The main entrance is decorated with intricate ironwork.
 

A giant clock with roman numerals instead of numbers adorns the arcade of the entry gate

The main hall is cavernous with over 30 service counters and old-fashioned telephone booths. The interior is elegant with glass canopy, huge ceilings and electrical fans between ornamented pillars. Working daily from 7 am to 10 pm, the post office is always busy, but most visitors are tourists instead of customers. 

In the middle of the post office, an enormous picture of Ho Chi Minh, the liberator of the country from Western colonization, is hung. The booth at the center of the building sells various stamps, post cards and postal items. 

This is the mailing counter where any mailing activities could be done 

The former telephone booths are now ATM machine booths at the right side from the main entrance and nowadays telephone booths are placed at the left side.

 

Inside you can also find souvenir shops. Unfortunately, visitors are not allowed to take photographs of the items.

       I have never seen such a grandeur and magnificent post office like the one in Saigon. I think it is the most beautiful post office in Asia. So, if you come to Ho Chi Minh, a visit to the site is really worth it.

Source:

Personal experience and additional information from other online articles