Saigon Central Post Office 2026: Hours, History & Tips

Saigon Central Post Office (Bưu điện Trung tâm Sài Gòn) is a working French colonial post office at 2 Công xã Paris, opposite Notre Dame Cathedral in central Ho Chi Minh City. Completed in 1891, it is famous for its vaulted hall, hand-painted 1892 maps and old telephone booths. Entry is free and it opens daily from early morning to late afternoon.

Status (checked October 2026): open daily as normal and still a working post office; entry is free. Hours are roughly 7:00–17:00 on weekdays and to about 18:00 at weekends. The post office announced a roof-tile replacement for late 2025 to early 2026, and in October 2025 it backed a proposal to list the building as an official heritage site, so small areas may occasionally be screened off.

Why Saigon Central Post Office is worth seeing:

A colonial masterpiece that still works: you can buy stamps and send postcards under the same vaulted roof as in the 1890s.
Hand-painted 1892 maps: two large maps of Saigon and the telegraph lines of southern Vietnam and Cambodia.
Architecture: an iron-framed hall, arched windows and a facade decorated with the names of famous scientists.
Next to Notre Dame: the cathedral and Book Street are steps away.
Free and air-conditioned in parts: a good break on a hot city walk.

Saigon Central Post Office at a Glance

Vietnamese name	Bưu điện Trung tâm Sài Gòn (formerly Sở dây thép Sài Gòn)
Location	2 Công xã Paris (Paris Commune Square), Sài Gòn Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
Distance	About 1.2 km from Ben Thanh Market; opposite Notre Dame Cathedral
Built	1886–1891, designed by Alfred Foulhoux
Known for	Vaulted iron-framed hall, 1892 painted maps, portrait of Ho Chi Minh, wooden phone booths
Opening hours	Daily, roughly 7:00–17:00 on weekdays and until about 18:00 at weekends
Entrance fee	Free
Time needed	20–40 minutes
Best time	Morning, before 9:30, when the hall is quiet
Nearby	Notre Dame Cathedral, Book Street, Independence Palace, Nguyen Hue Walking Street
Find it	Google Maps · Tripadvisor · Wikipedia

Is Saigon Central Post Office Worth Visiting?

Yes, especially as it takes so little time. Saigon Central Post Office is one of the most beautiful public buildings in Vietnam, and unlike many colonial monuments it has never stopped doing its original job. Combine it with Notre Dame Cathedral across the road; together they make the most photogenic corner of the city.

Best for: architecture and history lovers, photographers, anyone wanting to send a postcard home.
Skip if: you dislike busy tourist spots; at midday the hall fills with tour groups.
Short on time: 15 minutes to see the hall and maps, then cross to the cathedral.

History of Saigon Central Post Office

Saigon’s first post office was built in 1860–1863, soon after the French took the city. As the colony’s telegraph and postal network grew, a much larger building was needed. The present post office was built between 1886 and 1891 to a design by the French architect Alfred Foulhoux. It is often said that Gustave Eiffel designed it, but this attribution is generally considered mistaken; the iron framework simply reflects the engineering style of the Eiffel era.

Shortly after it opened, two large maps were painted inside the main hall: “Saigon et ses environs 1892” (Saigon and its surroundings) and “Lignes télégraphiques du Sud Vietnam et Cambodge 1892” (telegraph lines of southern Vietnam and Cambodia). After 1975 a large portrait of President Ho Chi Minh was hung on the back wall of the hall. The building was renovated in 2014, and in October 2025 Ho Chi Minh City Post Office formally supported a proposal by the city’s culture department to rank it as a heritage site. The US magazine Architectural Digest has named it among the most beautiful post offices in the world.

Arched main hall of the Saigon Central Post Office — The vaulted main hall is still a working post office. Photo: Ewong17, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

What to See at Saigon Central Post Office

1. The facade

The long cream-and-yellow facade has arched windows, a central clock and, under the cornice, the names of scientists and inventors connected with electricity and telegraphy. Step back into the square for the best view.

2. The vaulted main hall

Inside, a long barrel-vaulted roof supported by green-painted iron columns covers the main hall. Rows of service counters, ceiling fans and patterned floor tiles keep the late-19th-century atmosphere.

3. The 1892 painted maps

On either side of the entrance are the two hand-painted maps of 1892, showing Saigon and its surroundings and the telegraph lines of southern Vietnam and Cambodia. They are among the most photographed details in the city.

4. The portrait of Ho Chi Minh

At the far end of the hall hangs a large portrait of Ho Chi Minh, a classic symbol of post-1975 Vietnam and the centrepiece of most photos taken inside.

5. The phone booths and counters

Along the walls, old wooden telephone booths, some now used as ATMs or information points, recall the days when international calls were made here.

6. Postcards, stamps and souvenirs

Counters in the hall sell stamps, postcards, books and souvenirs. Sending a postcard from Saigon Central Post Office is a favourite tradition for travellers. Until 2021 the hall was also home to Dương Văn Ngộ, known as Vietnam’s last public letter writer, who worked here from 1990.

Saigon Central Post Office Tickets and Opening Hours

Item	Details
Entrance fee	Free
Weekdays	Roughly 7:00–17:00
Weekends	Roughly 7:00/8:00–18:00
Postcard + international stamp	Inexpensive; buy at the counters inside
Note	Hours can change on public holidays; it is a working post office

The building is run by Ho Chi Minh City Post Office (VNPost); hours can vary slightly, so allow for this if you plan to send mail.

Rules and Etiquette at Saigon Central Post Office

Remember that it is a real post office: do not block the counters for photos.
Tripods and professional shoots may need permission.
Keep an eye on bags; the hall is crowded at midday.

How to Get to Saigon Central Post Office

From	How	Time
Notre Dame Cathedral	Cross the square	1 minute
Independence Palace	Walk along Lê Duẩn Boulevard	About 8–10 minutes on foot
Ben Thanh Market	Walk via Lê Lợi and Đồng Khởi Streets, or Grab	15–20 minutes on foot; 5 minutes by car
Metro Line 1	Opera House station, then walk up Đồng Khởi Street	About 10 minutes on foot
Tan Son Nhat Airport	Grab or taxi	25–45 minutes depending on traffic

See our Ho Chi Minh City transport guide for more options.

Best Time to Visit Saigon Central Post Office

When	What to expect
Opening to 9:30	Quiet hall, best for photos of the maps and roof.
10:00–15:00	Busy with tour groups.
Late afternoon	Warm light on the facade; combine with sunset at Nguyen Hue Walking Street.
Rainy season (May–November)	A good shelter during short afternoon showers.
Tết holiday	Hours may be shortened; the square is decorated.

Local Expert Tips for Saigon Central Post Office

These tips come from years of arranging Saigon tours for international travellers.

Bring addresses ready to write postcards on the spot; the counters sell stamps for international mail.
Walk out of the side door to Book Street for coffee among the bookshops.
Visit together with Notre Dame Cathedral and Independence Palace for a compact morning walk.
Souvenirs inside are convenient but not the cheapest; compare with Ben Thanh Market.
Our Saigon travel tips cover money, SIM cards and safety.

Saigon Central Post Office vs Hanoi Post Office

	Saigon Central Post Office	Hanoi Post Office
Style	French colonial, iron-vaulted hall	Modernist building facing Hoan Kiem Lake
Built	1886–1891	Rebuilt in the 1970s
Main appeal	Architecture, 1892 maps	Location near the lake
Fee	Free	Free

Our view: Saigon Central Post Office is the one worth a special visit; in Hanoi, spend the time at Hoan Kiem Lake instead.

Nearby Attractions

Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral: directly opposite.
Independence Palace: the presidential palace of the 1960s.
War Remnants Museum: 15 minutes on foot.
Ben Thanh Market: the city’s best-known market.
Landmark 81 SkyView: panoramic views from Vietnam’s tallest building.
Binh Tay Market in Cholon: Saigon’s Chinatown.

Sightseeing in Ho Chi Minh City for First-Time Visitors: Where Saigon Central Post Office Fits

The post office is a 20-minute stop on the classic morning walk through the historic centre, between Independence Palace, the War Remnants Museum and Notre Dame Cathedral, before lunch near Ben Thanh Market; our Saigon food guide lists dishes to try. On the next days, head out to the Cu Chi Tunnels and the Mekong Delta, and use our Saigon accommodation guide to choose a central base.

Plan your trip with our Saigon travel guide and Ho Chi Minh City tours. Contact Vietnam Tour Expert Team for a free custom itinerary.

Frequently Asked Questions about Saigon Central Post Office

1. Is Saigon Central Post Office free to visit?

Yes. Entry to Saigon Central Post Office is free; you only pay for stamps, postcards or souvenirs.

2. What are the Saigon Central Post Office opening hours?

Saigon Central Post Office opens daily, roughly from 7:00 to 17:00 on weekdays and until about 18:00 at weekends; hours can change on holidays.

3. Did Gustave Eiffel design Saigon Central Post Office?

No. Saigon Central Post Office was designed by French architect Alfred Foulhoux; the popular Eiffel attribution is generally considered a myth.

4. When was Saigon Central Post Office built?

Saigon Central Post Office was built between 1886 and 1891, replacing an earlier post office from the 1860s.

5. Where is Saigon Central Post Office?

Saigon Central Post Office is at 2 Công xã Paris, Sài Gòn Ward, directly opposite Notre Dame Cathedral in central Ho Chi Minh City.

6. Is Saigon Central Post Office still a working post office?

Yes. Saigon Central Post Office still handles mail and parcels, and you can send postcards abroad from its counters.

7. What do the maps in Saigon Central Post Office show?

The two 1892 maps in Saigon Central Post Office show Saigon and its surroundings and the telegraph lines of southern Vietnam and Cambodia.

8. How long do you need at Saigon Central Post Office?

Twenty to forty minutes is enough for Saigon Central Post Office, including time to write and post a postcard.

9. Can I send a postcard from Saigon Central Post Office?

Yes. Saigon Central Post Office sells postcards and international stamps, and you can post them at the counters inside.

10. Who was the letter writer at Saigon Central Post Office?

Dương Văn Ngộ worked at Saigon Central Post Office from 1990 to 2021 and was known as Vietnam’s last public letter writer.

11. Is there a dress code at Saigon Central Post Office?

There is no dress code at Saigon Central Post Office; normal casual clothes are fine.

12. What is the best time to visit Saigon Central Post Office?

Visit Saigon Central Post Office early in the morning, before 9:30, when the hall is quiet and better for photos.

13. Is Saigon Central Post Office a heritage site?

In October 2025 Ho Chi Minh City Post Office supported a city proposal to rank Saigon Central Post Office as a heritage site; the dossier process was still under way at the last check.

14. Can I buy souvenirs at Saigon Central Post Office?

Yes. Saigon Central Post Office has souvenir counters selling postcards, books and gifts, although prices are higher than at local markets.

15. What is near Saigon Central Post Office?

Notre Dame Cathedral, Book Street, Independence Palace and Nguyen Hue Walking Street are all close to Saigon Central Post Office; our Ho Chi Minh City guide covers more.

16. Is Saigon Central Post Office worth visiting?

Yes. Saigon Central Post Office is free, central and one of the finest colonial buildings in Vietnam, and it pairs perfectly with Notre Dame Cathedral.