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 greenary. You definately want to shoot this when hte 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 has open foyers on the backside 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 300k per hour. This is fairly common in museums in Vietnam. I don’t think ty’s a revenue source but rather 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.
The courtyard has a sculpture garden with contemporary artwork surrounded by tropical plants and trees that provide shade for visitors. A small café occupies one corner of the grounds, housed in a separate colonial-style building.
Hours of Operation: 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
You can also visit the Antique Street, almost next door to the museum.
