Saigon central Post Office is located at No.2, the Paris commune street. This is the post office building in the heart of District 1, Ho Chi Minh city.
Immediately after hitting Gia Dinh citadel…, capturing Saigon area, French has set up a communication system. On 11th, November 1860, “Saigon Department of steel wire” (that is Saigon Post office) was established. Mr. Pham Van Trung is the first Vietnamese Director of An Nam Post office in Saigon. On 13th, January 1863, Saigon Department of steel wire was officially inaugurated and published “the first stork” (the former Saigon people used to call “the stork” instead of stamp). In 1864, People in Saigon started to send letter through “steel wire house” (system of post office).
In 1886, Saigon Post Office was rebuilt with modern scale to replace the old building. This building was rebuilt according to plan of the French Architect – Vilodic. By 1891, the new headquarters of Saigon Post Office was opened for public use officially.
Saigon Post Office building is one of the famous building of city, with many of typical Europe style and Asia style that are intertwined. The building is located on the side of Cathedral (Church of Our lady) in the Paris Commune square. The post office was built, became a strange kind of service and make a very strong impression with the public.
The unique beauty of the central Post Office building was increased by a splendid work – Duc Ba Cathedral with immeasurably high bell tower at the front. Since then, the building is always central Post Office of the city. The building features a balanced structure of work items and aesthetics. The building has a balanced composition of works and aesthetics. The parts are balance and they are divided into two sides, symmetrically through an “axis” centers. The front has cubic structure with arches above the doors. The system of column, main pillar, eaves are textured square shapes. On each of the pillars, columns are carved pattern, elaborate sculptures, meticulously. In the front of the building has the system of borders, lines that are horizontal string patterns, creating beauty and balance and make the building seem not very high.
Inside the building is a system of arches close to the door and long arch. The big arch is supported by four iron pillars that are located at four corners, each iron pillar supports for four iron columns that cast on all sides. The long arch is supported by two rows of cylindrical iron on two sides. The connection points between pillars and columns are elaborately designed and carved into beautiful patterns.
With this system of arches, the building became high, spacious and airy, it’s appropriate a place that usually has many people going in and out. With a unique design from inside to outside, Saigon Post Office can be considered as a building having a unique style of architecture, it bears the colors of the old Saigon.
On the arch at lobby of the building there are two historical maps: “Saigon et ses environs 1892” and “Lignes télegraphiques du Sud Vietnam et du Cambodge 1936”. Now a day, around the main building has also a number of work items such as storage, area for installation of machinery, equipment and modern postal communications.
