Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Zoo and botanical garden in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens is a 20-hectare (49.4-acre) park with zoo in central Ho Chi Minh City that houses over 100 animal species and hundreds of tropical plant varieties. Visitor paths wind through enclosures and gardens with rare orchids and century-old trees that cast shade over open lawns.
French colonial administrators created the facility in 1865, making it the eighth zoo established worldwide and operating it as a scientific institute. The temple within the grounds was built in 1926 to honor Vietnamese soldiers who served during World War I.
The complex preserves its French colonial layout with tree-lined avenues and pavilions now used by families for weekend strolls. Local residents often arrive early in the morning to exercise or sit beneath old trees to escape the heat.
The complex opens daily from 7 AM to 6 PM with gates on Nguyen Binh Khiem Street and Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street. Shaded areas beneath trees offer relief from afternoon sun, and paved paths allow stroller access throughout most sections.
A three-ton bronze elephant stands beside the Hung Kings temple featuring detailed carvings in traditional Vietnamese style. The temple itself combines French architecture with local ornamentation, a blend rarely seen elsewhere in Saigon.
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