The Central Post Office in Ho Chi Minh City was built in 1891 when Vietnam was part of French Indo-China. A typical French colonial building in the heart of the city. This iconic building is a must-see for first-time visitors to Old Saigon. In the construction of this historic building, a mixture of French-Gothic-Renaissance styles and Asian architectural models can be seen. Arches and doorways are Roman in style. The outer surface is covered with small, bright, buttery, square spots in a clear, pale yellow body. Green tinted windows and vents. A large clock above the main entrance.
Step inside and be amazed, never seen a post office like this before. Such a clean interior. Two tiers of green steel pillars. Beautiful ceiling, painted marble floor that makes you want to look at it again and again. On one head, a large portrait of Hochim above.
Two maps on the walls. One documented the telegraph lines in South Vietnam and Cambodia. Another map depicts Saigon in 1892. And oil paintings. People gather at the counters to buy stamps and send letters to loved ones back home. Others are excited to buy souvenirs to cherish the memories of their visit. Others stroll through the sculptural interiors and the array of intriguing exhibits. There are smiling Vietnamese girls waiting at every stall to introduce us to each item.
Stamp files are not the only ones for sale there. There are greeting cards, photo cards, dolls, and toys. You can buy necklaces, bracelets and rings. Small vases, jewelery boxes, tea cups, ashtrays and wall hangings were found, molded in clay and wood, with colorful paintings. Beautiful sculptures of men and women wearing Vietnamese hats are lined up.
Polished old-school phone booths, bottles for stamping envelopes, and space for writing letters to loved ones are all neat and tidy. It is one of the rarest and rarest South-East Asian postage stamps that have been carefully preserved. Working hours are from 8 am to 5.30 pm. However, this place is open for tourists till seven o’clock.
Van Gogh’s Writings
Beneath Ho Chim’s portrait inside sits a man, eighty-seven-year-old Duong Vango. Another icon of Saigon is this old man who writes letters in English and French to illiterate people of all ages. From the time the office opens in the morning to three in the afternoon, Vango’s assistance is available. Pay only 50 cents per page. Vango has been providing this service for 25 years. Attract local and international travelers to the interior of a post office! How many countries can do this? Innovative ideas such as those conceived by the Saigon regime can be imitated by anyone.