City Hall (People's Committee Building), Saigon/HoChiMinh City (must see)

The Ho Chi Minh City Hall is the present name of the former Hotel de Ville or City Hall of Saigon. The ornate yellow French style building is located on the Le Thanh Ton Street at the end of the Nguyen Hue Boulevard.

The building was designed by the French architect P. Gardes and built between 1898 and 1908. It was called the Hotel de Ville until 1954. Between 1954 and 1975, it was called the City Hall of Saigon under the then South Vietnam Government. After the reunification of the country in 1975, it was given its present name, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Head Office.

Visitors to the building are greeted by a statue of Ho Chi Minh teaching a child. It is a popular spot where locals and tourists get their photographs taken. The City Hall has a renaissance style that was inspired by the design of town halls in France. It has a main hall and rectangular wings. A notable feature of the building is the bell tower that stands on a pyramid-shaped pedestal. The City Hall is spectacular when lighted up at night. It consists of working government offices and is not open to visitors.

Why You Should Visit:
Easy to walk around; plenty to see at your own pace; night time is great as well; great garden and food around the place.