The headquarters of the People's Council - Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee - National architectural and artistic relic (Photo: https://hochiminhcity.gov.vn/)

Accordingly, on 1st and 2nd September 2023, the headquarters of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee will start welcoming visitors and remain open on the last Saturday and Sunday of each month.

The tour programme is organised starting at 8 am and 2 pm. Each tour group will be 15 minutes apart.

Photo: http://svhtt.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/

On 30th April and 1st May 2023, the headquarters opened and welcomed 51 groups with nearly 1,500 domestic and international visitors. This is a tour that introduces architectural relics of artistic and historical value in the process of urban formation and development of Sai Gon - Ho Chi Minh City, helping visitors learn detail about the urban architectural values of the City.

History and Architecture of the Building of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee

The Building of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee is a large-scale construction, located adjacent to three street fronts: Dong Khoi, Le Thanh Ton, and Pasteur, which is an architectural highlight for the downtown area of the city.

Photo: http://svhtt.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/

Over 120 years of establishment and development, the building has changed its name through each period, being a witness to the historical, political, administrative and geographical changes of Sai Gon – Ho Chi Minh City

The building was designed by architect Paul Gardès, started construction in 1898, on high ground, at the end of Charner Street (now Nguyen Hue Street). The building was completed and inaugurated in 1909. The building was the working headquarters of the Sai Gon City Council, named Hôtel de ville (roughly translated as City Hall).

Photo: http://svhtt.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/

After 30th April 1975, the building was taken over by the Military Administration of Sai Gon - Gia Dinh City and used as an office. On 2nd July 1976, the National Assembly of Vietnam decided to rename the Sai Gon - Gia Dinh City to Ho Chi Minh City, the building is still used as the headquarters of the Ho Chi Minh City government.

Currently, the building is the working headquarters of the People's Council and the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City. This place is a regular venue for important meetings and special conferences of city leaders, a place to welcome international delegations to visit and work in Vietnam.

The headquarters is located in an area of ​​about 7,500 sqm. When it was first built, the building consisted of only one lobby block with a clock tower protruding in the middle and two one-story blocks on either side of the lobby block. Around the 1940s, these two single-storey blocks were built with additional floors.

At the top of the tower hangs the national flag, below is a round clock. The facade design of the building has a blend of Baroque architectural styles, Rococo decoration, art-nouveau iron doors…

Photo: http://svhtt.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/

The arch-shaped main gate with five wide, consecutive gates is also decorated quite sophisticatedly with flower strings, leaves. The gates are all made of iron and are beautifully curved. From the main gate leading to the large hall in the middle of the ground floor, straight to the stairs leading to the first floor.

In 1966, three more four-storey blocks were built behind the old building, which is now the working place of the divisions of the City People's Committee and the headquarters of the Department of Home Affairs.

Photo: http://svhtt.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/

The building has been restored, upgraded, embellished many times, and expanded its facilities. In 2005, lighting experts from the City of Lyon (France) designed and installed an artistic lighting system to make the building even more brilliant.

The headquarters of the City People's Committee preserves its ancient and elegant features, and also preserves and promotes patriotic traditions, marking the opening ceremony of the people of Sai Gon, Cho Lon, Gia Dinh of the Southern Provisional Administrative Committee on 25th August 1945, the day people carried out the August Revolution, overthrowing colonialism and feudalism, and taking power back to the people. A commemorative stele of this important historical event was erected in the flower garden in front of the Headquarters of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City.

With existing values, the Headquarters of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City has been classified as a national art and architecture monument by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism since November 2020.

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