The Historic Central Post Office in Ho Chi Minh City

Interior of Central Post Office

The Central Post Office in Ho Chi Minh was constructed when Vietnam was part of French Indochina in the late 19th century between 1886 and 1891 and was designed by Alfred Foulhoux. It has beautiful Gothic, Renaissance and French influences throughout the building. 

On a recent visit to Ho Chi Minh City I saw the post office's unique, bright yellow exterior framed with white trim. Arched windows are elegantly framed with green wooden shutters and a large clock is featured prominently at the building’s main entrance. 

The stunning, spacious interior has tall, domed ceilings with green metal metal arches and an intricately designed tiles floor.  There is a colorful mosaic hanging on the wall which depicts the leader Ho Chi Minh.

Inside the Saigon Central Post office of special note are two painted maps that were created just after the post office was built, the first one located on the left side of the building is a map of Southern Vietnam and Cambodia titled Lignes telegraphiques du Sud Vietnam et Cambodge 1892 which translates to "Telegraphic lines of Southern Vietnam and Cambodia 1892". The second map of greater Saigon is titled Saigon et ses environs 1892 that translates as "Saigon and its surroundings 1892"

It is still a functioning post office selling stamps, postcards etc. The post office features polished old-school phone booths, original oil paintings on the walls, wooden counter tops along the sides, old glue pots to place stamps on envelopes, and areas to write letters.

Exterior of Central Post Office

There are two wings branching out from the main office, selling souvenirs, postcards and lacquerware.

It is located next door to a McDonalds and the Notre Dame Cathedral

Central Post Office 

Opening Hours: Daily 08:00 – 17:30 

Location: 2 Cong Xa Paris, Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City 

Tel: +84 83 822 1677