Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden

It is one of the city’s oldest and most historic structures. Saigon Zoo & Botanical Garden is not only a historical relic, but also a cultural emblem of Ho Chi Minh City. Constructed simultaneously with the City Post Office. Ho Chi Minh City, Notre Dame Cathedral and Ben Thanh Market, Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden are all regarded historical landmarks that have seen the ups and downs of people and this region. Enduring vitality and traditional cultural characteristics have distinguished Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens from others.

The Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens is the largest zoo and botanical park in Vietnam. Admiral Pierre-Paul de La Grandière commissioned the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens in 1864, and it opened to the public in 1869, making it one of the world’s oldest continually functioning zoos.

It is located on Nguyen Binh Khiem Street in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1 and is home to over a hundred species of animals, reptiles, and birds, as well as numerous rare orchids and decorative plants.

The grounds also include the Museum of Vietnamese History, which houses 25,000 objects from South Vietnam’s history, culture, and ethnography. A shrine to the Hung Kings (originally a memorial honoring Indochinese warriors who fell for France during World War I) is located on the premises. Other sections of the zoo include conservation zones for animals and plants, an orchid garden, and an amusement park.

The Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden is home to 590 animals from 125 different species, as well as 1,830 trees and plants from 260 different species, some of which are over 100 years old. This comprises 20 orchid species, 32 cactus species, and 34 bonsai species. The Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden is organized into four sections: animal conservation, plant conservation, orchid garden, and entertainment park.

The botanical garden is home to numerous rare and important plant species, some of which are not native to Vietnam. Cacti, ferns, and plants from Africa and South America have been introduced. Monkeys, giraffes, white Bengal tigers, Clouded Leopards, African lions, gibbons, turtles, and snakes are among the many animals, reptiles, and birds at the zoo. There are several exotic species, some of which have never been seen in Vietnam before, such as Hippopotamus amphibius, Choeropsis liberiensis, Panthera onca, Struthio camelus, and Phoenicopterus ruber.

The Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden features two notable structures: a shrine to the Hung Kings, which was initially constructed as a memorial to Indochinese troops who died for France during World War I, and the Museum of Vietnamese History. The museum is divided into two sections: a 15-room area showcasing things from the founding of Vietnam to 1930, and a 6-room area displaying antiques from South Vietnamese culture and history. A wide yard outside the museum showcases French firearms used during the French colonial era in Vietnam. The museum also has over 25,000 historical, cultural, and ethnographic materials. The zoo employs roughly 1,000 people and welcomes over two million visitors each year.