Another wonderful example of French colonial architecture, the Saigon Museum of Fine Arts is a striking yellow colonial-era mansion.
The building is set back from the street and can be nicely framed by the wrought-iron gates. The bright yellow facade contrasts nicely with the tropical greenery. You definitely want to shoot this when the sun is not harsh or better still after a light rain. The interior has high ceilings, ornate columns, and wrap-around balconies. The main stairwell is a curved masterpiece with windows opening onto the courtyard. An open period elevator completes the scene. Another nice feature is the shuttered windows found along the upper-level halls. The second and third floor have open foyers at the back where arched openings frame the courtyard.
The artwork and exhibits are nicely presented and the common areas are wide and spacious. Photography is not allowed inside unless you pay a fee of 300,000 VND per hour. This is fairly common in museums in Vietnam. I don’t think it’s a revenue source but rather an attempt to keep the space open for the public to enjoy. It’s not unusual for wedding photographers to “take-over” some public spaces for lengthy photoshoots in Saigon.
The courtyard has a sculpture garden with contemporary artwork surrounded by tropical plants and trees that provide shade from the hot Saigon sun. . A small café occupies one corner of the grounds, housed in a separate colonial-style building.
You can also visit Lê Công Kiều Street, locally known as Antique Street, which is almost next door to the museum. It is a 200-meter eclectic mix of antique shops selling everything from old coins to ceramics and Indochina War memorabilia. There are many reproductions mixed in with the true antiques. Lots of interesting street photography opportunities here.
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Closed on Mondays and during Lunar New Year holiday
Address: 97A Pho Duc Chinh Street District 1 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
