Historical Sites in District 1 Ho Chi Minh City: A Look Back to the 1860s

Travelers visiting historical sites in district 1 ho chi minh city today see a bustling modern metropolis. However, early photographs from the 1860s show a very different landscape. Taken by photographer Émile Gsell and recently shared by Saigoneer via RedsVN, these rare images capture the city during its early development. At that time, only the very center of District 1 had any buildings. Nearby areas like District 3 and Chợ Lớn were still quiet countryside.

You can easily walk to these historical locations today. Nguyễn Huệ Street, now a popular pedestrian walking street, was once Charner Street. In the 1860s, a canal ran right down the middle of it before workers filled it in. The old photos show this canal crossing Ngô Đức Kế Street. Nearby, the Bến Nghé Canal still flows into the Saigon River. You can view this intersection from Bến Nhà Rồng, where the historic Thủ Ngữ flagpole still stands.