The central city area next to the Saigon River today is much different from what it was in the 1955-1960 period. After over half a century, skyscrapers have sprouted up, the most notable one being the 68-story Bitexco, spanning 262.5 meters and was once the city’s highest skyscraper.
The riverside, the Bach Dang Port, parks and hotels have all been renovated over time.
The view of the Bach Dang Port in District 1 has changed significantly since 1959, as seen through the photos of Nguyen Ba Hau.
The port spans a kilometer along the Saigon River from the Thu Ngu flag pole to the Me Linh Square. Next to the port is the Ham Nghi Avenue, where the Quan Thue building, the Nguyen Hue Walking Street, the Majestic hotel and other sites are located at.
In 2022, the port was renovated at VND26 billion ($1 million), including granite upgrades, new walking paths and lighting systems. The vessels and floating restaurants were relocated for waterway tourism development.
An aerial view of the Me Linh Square, from the side of the Saigon River, in the early 1970s by photographer Corbis.
The view has significantly changed today, with roads branching out from the roundabout, including Ngo Duc Ke, Ho Huan Nghiep and Phan Van Dat. The statue of Tran Hung Dao at the square has been renovated.
Next to the Bach Dang Port is the Nguyen Hue Avenue, as seen in a photo dated in the 1970s and as seen today. One side of the road leads to the Saigon River, while the other side leads to the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, built from 1898 to 1909.
The road spans 700 meters from the People’s Committee headquarters to the Bach Dang Port. In the past, it was the Kinh Lon Channel that brings water from the Saigon River to Gia Dinh. In 1887, the French covered up the channel to build a road, calling it the Chamer Avenue.
By 1956, the then-government of the Republic of Vietnam changed the avenue’s name to Nguyen Hue. In 2004, Ho Chi Minh City restored the flower street on the avenue, and renovated it into a walking street as it is today in 2014.
The two sides of the Ben Nghe-Tau Hu channel have undergone significant changes since 1950. To the right, towards District 1, is the Vo Van Kiet Avenue, spanning 13 kilometers and connecting with key economic localities in the south. In the opposite side are District 4 and District 8, with roads of the Van Don Port and the Binh Dong Port.
Both sides of the channel have been renovated today, including multiple skyscrapers and green areas. Bridges like Khanh Hoi, Mong, Calmente and Ong Lanh have either been reserved and renovated, ensuring smooth connection between the two sides of the channel.
The Thu Thiem Peninsula in 1950, as photographed from a plane.
The peninsula, which used to be a desolate swamp land, has now become a bustling urban area, with the aim of becoming one of the modern urban areas of Southeast Asia. Several skyscrapers and other infrastructures are under construction in the area.
A corner of the Thu Thiem Peninsula and the center of Saigon in 1956 per a Public Domain photograph.
Today, the Ba Son Bridge can be seen at the site. The bridge, which opened to the public in 2022, spans around 1.5 kilometers in length and is touted as one of the symbols of Ho Chi Minh City. A land strip near the bridge has also been renovated to become a park.
Compared to a photograph in the 20th century, the Ben Thanh Market area has undergone significant changes over the past 100 years. There was a roundabout in front of the market built in 1914, which has stuck through several generations of Saigonese.
In 2014, for the construction of underground stations for the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line, several statues at the roundabout have been relocated. City authorities are planning for a renovation of the roundabout.
An aerial view of the Tan Cang Port area and the Saigon Bridge in 1967, compared to how they are today.
Tan Cang was built in the 1960s for sea transportation and logistics. Today, it is a modern urban area, with highlights including the 81-story Landmark building, Vietnam’s highest. Next to it is the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line.
The Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe Channel as seen in 1969, spanning 10 kilometers and running through districts 1, 3, Binh Thanh, Phu Nhuan and Tan Binh.
Since 1993, city authorities have planned for the renovation and construction of roads on the sides of the channel. The project was finished over 10 years ago. A renovation project for the Truong Sa and Hoang Sa roads have also been invested at over VND554 billion ($21.4 million).
The Binh Tay Market, part of the Chinatown area, has largely been unchanged from a photo in 1930 to how it is today. The Chinatown was formed between the 17th and 19th centuries, when the Chinese community came to the area and built a bustling urban zone. During the French colonialism era, the area used to be a separate part from Saigon, before their unification in 1956.
Today, the Chinatown area spans across districts 5 and 6. The most famous market is Binh Tay, formed by Chinese merchant Quach Dam in 1928. The market spans 25,000 square meters, with 12 gates and a garden. In 2016, the market went under maintenance and returned to operation after two years. Today, the market has around 2,300 stalls and receives around 120,000 international visitors a year.
An aerial view of the Lang Cha Ca area in 1966 through a photo by Alan Beckler. Today, this area has become an important traffic junction of the city. It is an intersection of several major roads, including Cong Hoa, Hoang Van Thu, Tran Quoc Hoan and Le Van Si.
The name "Lang Cha Ca" was originated from a tomb spanning 2,000 square meters in the area, the resting place of a French bishop named Ba Da Loc. After 1975, the tomb was cleared for a road expansion. In 2013, Ho Chi Minh City opened an overpass in the area to relieve traffic burden.
The Bay Hien intersection in Tan Binh District is much more crowded than how it was in a photo taken in 1969.
It is an important traffic junction and a northwest entrance into the city, where people can enter central areas through Cach Mang Thang Tam Street.
Today, a cemetery for the French army has been renovated into the Tan Binh Exhibition and Convention Center, surrounded by residential areas. Two empty land plots in the past have now become the Nguyen Thuong Hien High School in 1969, and the Vi Dan Hospital, whose name was changed to Thong Nhat Hospital, in 1972.
An aerial view of the Phu Nhuan intersection in the 1960s through the lenses of Bob Bahl. Several roads in the 1960s photo have had their names changed today.
The Phu Nhuan intersection is an important traffic junction to travel to Go Vap, Tan Son Nhat airport and downtown areas. The area’s traffic is often congested.
Compared to how it was the 1960s, the Hanoi Highway has been significantly expanded today, with several skyscrapers and residential areas sprouting up. The first metro line of Ho Chi Minh City also runs along the route.
The Hanoi Highway, spanning 31 kilometers and connecting Ho Chi Minh City with Bien Hoa City in Dong Nai, was built from 1957 to 1961. The road began from the Dien Bien Phu Bridge to the Tam Hiep intersection. The highway was originally named the Bien Hoa Highway, before being changed to the Hanoi Highway in 1984 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the capital’s liberation.
The Phu My Hung area in District 7 was a desolate swamp in 1990. After more than 30 years, it has become a modern urban area.
The area was planned from 1993 on a land plot spanning 2,600 hectares. The urban area includes an administrative center, a college town and a hi-tech area.
