The Saigon Central Post Office has to be one of the most elegant post offices in Asia. Another example of French Colonial architecture. I am not sure where the rumour started but you will hear it attributed to Gustav Eiffel but it was not. Rather it was designed by another very famous architect, Marie-Alfred Foulhoux. These magnificent buildings in Saigon and Hanoi: the two opera houses, Notre Dame and St. Joeseph’s in Hanoi and this Post Office are all built during Frances occupation.
Though the exterior of the post office is quite elegant the interior is where the photographic opportunities lie. The vaulted barrel ceiling and window details are grand. The picture of Ho Chi Ming at the working end of the building is iconic. There’s actually a lot of natural light in the post office so it is easy to shoot with modern cSLR and mirrorless cameras that all handle higher iso well. I don’t worry so much about having a super fast lens and in fact tend to stop down a bit to increase my depth of field. One thing I am careful about is leaving plenty of room for perspective adjustments in post on any lens 20mm or wider. Nothing worse than having to choose between fixing perspective or cropping out my subject. Makes me wish I had a tilt shift lens.
The post office is a good place to play around with multiple exposure and ICM (intentional camera movements). i like to try in camera multiple exposure with dark blend for with the background fixed and multiple people coming into the frame over a number of exposures.
Something to consider when you first come to Saigon. The hop on/off tourist bus goes to many of the prime photo locations including the post office. In a new city I treat this like a cruise ship. You see a lot of ports and can decide which ones you want to come back and visit for an extended time.
Saigon Post Office: 2 Paris Commune Square
Hours: Monday through Saturday 07:30 – 6:00pm, Sunday 08:00 – 5:00pm.
