Vietnam: Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, Ho Chi Minh City Central Post Office

Date: 27 October 2019

Yesterday was spent on a full day tour that included stops at the Cao Dai temple and then the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. I was done with the day tours I had planned from Ho Chi Minh City so today was just going to be dedicated to exploring the other sights of this bustling city.

Ho Chi Minh city graffiti road — I hired a Grab bike taxi to take me from my hotel to the Notre Dame Cathedral. The short ride would cost me 13,000 VND (₹41/$0.57/€0.47)

Notre Dame cathedral basilica Saigon — This is the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon

Unfortunately, the Notre-Dame Cathedral was under-going renovation works and was closed off to the public.

Mary statue Notre Dame cathedral Saigon — A statue of Mother Mary

The church was initially named the Church of Saigon at the time of its construction by French colonists between 1863 and 1880. It was renamed in 1959 as the church looked similar to the Notre-Dame in Paris.

Notre Dame cathedral basilica Ho Chi Minh City — The church has two bell towers, reaching a height of 58 meters (190 feet)

Notre dame cathedral under renovation — Gates prevent people from entering the church

Which sucked, as I saw photos online that showed the church’s interiors and it did look quite nice. So it would have made for good photography.

Outside Notre Dame cathedral Saigon — There wasn’t much else to do here so I left after spending just 10 minutes

Ho Chi Minh City post office Vietnam — Close by the cathedral is the Saigon Central Post Office

Saigon Central Post Office Vietnam — Although it’s still called the Central Post Office, in today’s day and age, it’s mostly a tourist attraction

Built between 1886 and 1891, it’s still stands one of Saigon’s symbolic French colonial buildings.

Buu Dien Saigon Vietnam — Although locals hardly visit the post office to send mail

Tourists inside Saigon post office Vietnam — Instead it is flocked with tourists!

Inside Saigon Central post office Vietnam — You can still buy post cards and mail them out from here… if you’re still into that sort of a thing

Ho Chi Minh portrait Saigon post office — Up there is a portrait of leader Ho Chi Minh

Cambodia map Saigon post office Vietnam — That’s an old painting of a map showing Cambodia and South Vietnam

Saigon post office shops Vietnam — On either side by the entrance you have halls with even more shops

Shops Saigon post office Vietnam — Pretty much every stall is catered to selling merchandise targeted at tourists. Souvenirs… and Tiger Balm (mostly for Chinese tourists)

Steps Saigon Central post office Vietnam — It was time for me to leave

Renovation work Notre-Dame basilica Saigon — The Central Post Office is right beside the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon

Vietnam McDonalds fish fillet burger — For lunch, I ate at the McDonalds right near the Central Post Office

Yeah I know… but I was tired of eating Vietnamese noodle soup and Banh Mi. Also, it had been a while since I had a filet-o-fish burger since it’s hard to find on the menu of most McDonald’s in Bengaluru anymore.

After lunch, I continued my walk around the city. More from District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City in the next post.

Watch my vlog from this day: