Established in 1864, the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens stands as Vietnam‘s largest and oldest zoo, spanning 20 hectares in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. Originally founded during the French colonial period by Admiral Pierre de la Grandière, the facility combines zoological exhibits with historical architecture and extensive botanical gardens, making it a significant landmark for both conservation and cultural heritage.
The zoo’s architecture reflects its colonial origins, with several French-designed structures still standing today. The most notable is the elephant house, constructed in 1883, featuring classical European architectural elements with distinctively Vietnamese ornamental details. The main entrance gate, built in 1869, maintains its original ironwork and stone pillars, showcasing the elegant craftsmanship of the colonial era.
The botanical gardens house over 590 plant species in themed sections. The orchid garden displays hundreds of native Vietnamese varieties, while the ancient tree section includes specimens over 100 years old. The facility’s landscape design follows both French formal garden principles and traditional Vietnamese garden aesthetics, with winding paths, ornamental bridges, and carefully planned sight lines.
The zoo section houses approximately 1,300 animals representing 125 species. The exhibits are organized into distinct zones, including the big cat complex, primate area, reptile house, and aviary. The tiger enclosure, renovated in 2015, features viewing platforms and naturalistic habitat elements. The primate section includes Vietnam’s largest collection of endangered langurs and gibbons, housed in specially designed enclosures that reflect their natural habitats.
A distinctive feature is the historical museum building, constructed in 1929, which serves as both an exhibition space and administrative center. The building exemplifies French colonial architecture with its high ceilings, wraparound verandas, and ornate window treatments. The museum houses a collection of taxidermied specimens and historical photographs documenting the zoo’s evolution.
The facility includes several water features, including a central lake dating from the original design. The lake contains an island accessible by two ornamental bridges, featuring a traditional Vietnamese pavilion used for cultural performances and events. The surrounding gardens incorporate numerous sitting areas and picnic spots beneath century-old trees.
Children’s facilities include a dedicated playground area, a petting zoo, and an educational center established in 2010. The education building features interactive exhibits about wildlife conservation and environmental protection, with programs specifically designed for school groups.
Recent renovations have focused on modernizing animal enclosures while preserving historical structures. The reptile house, renovated in 2018, combines modern habitat requirements with the original 1890s building facade. New additions include a butterfly garden, opened in 2019, featuring native Vietnamese species in a carefully controlled environment.
The botanical aspect of the facility includes significant research collections, with a focus on endangered Vietnamese plant species. A modern greenhouse complex houses rare orchids and other tropical plants, while the medicinal plant garden maintains specimens of traditional Vietnamese herbal remedies.
Supporting facilities include several cafes and refreshment stands, strategically placed rest areas, and modern restroom facilities. The zoo’s layout allows for both quick visits and extended exploration, with clear signage in Vietnamese and English throughout the grounds. Multiple entrance and exit points connect to surrounding streets, though the main entrance remains the primary access point.
The Saigon Zoo is an exercise of extremes. The grounds in places are part of a botanical garden with generational trees and well-tended flower beds. The animals, like almost many zoos appear defeated and sad. And in the case of the Saigon Zoo the enclosures and housing are poorly maintained.
You can definitely get some emotional impact here in your photos but it may not be happiness you record.
Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens 2 Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Hours: 7:00 AM – 6:30 PM daily
