Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens Discovery

History of Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens

In 1864, Admiral De La Grandière constructed the Bach Thao Garden in Saigon. Shortly after, Louis Adolphe Germain, a French veterinarian, was tasked with expanding 12 hectares of vacant land in the northeast of the Thị Nghè creek to create a place for animal breeding and plant cultivation. Within a year, several animal enclosures were built.

(The Zoo and Botanical Garden is at 2B Nguyen Binh Khiem, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, City. Ho Chi Minh)

At the beginning of 1865, to transform the Saigon Bach Thao Garden into a place for nurturing and cultivating various species of flora and fauna from Indochina, as well as for exhibition purposes and supplying plant species to the Natural History Museum in Paris, the Governor-General of Indochina invited Mr. JB. Loius Pierre, in charge of plant care at the Calcutta Botanical Garden in India, to become the director. By the end of 1865, the Bach Thao Garden was expanded by an additional 20 hectares. Since 1867, the Bach Thao Garden has been under the management of the Saigon City Council. At that time, the park housed around 509 animal species, including over 120 mammal species, 344 bird species, and 45 reptile species.

In 1924, the Bach Thao Garden expanded by 13 hectares on the north bank of the Thị Nghè creek. In the same year, a cast-iron bridge was built to connect the two areas. In addition, the Japanese government provided approximately 900 rare plant species to the Bach Thao Garden in 1927. In 1956, the Bach Thao Garden underwent renovations and was renamed Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens, a name that is still used today. In 1990, many animal enclosures within the Saigon Zoo were renovated and expanded, increasing the total area of animal enclosures to 25,000 square meters.

Exploring Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens currently cover an area of approximately 33 hectares and are divided into various sections, including animal enclosures, botanical gardens with orchid collections, and an entertainment area for children. The zoo is home to about 590 individual animals representing 125 species, as well as 1,800 trees belonging to 260 species. Notable plant species include the Indian Banyan tree and the African Sausage tree. The zoo is home to dozens of mammal species, bird species, and reptile species, including monkeys, bears, tigers, parrots, lions, deer, elephants, ostriches, and numerous others.

(Some animals inside Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden)

In addition to the vast collection of flora and fauna, the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens also feature the Vua Hung Temple. The temple, located next to the main entrance of the zoo, commemorates the Vietnamese soldiers who sacrificed their lives during World War I while serving in the French military. Opposite the Vua Hung Temple is the Vietnamese History Museum, where thousands of precious artifacts from both within and outside the country are preserved and displayed. Within the zoo grounds, visitors can also find a bronze statue of King Paramindr Mah Prajahhipok of Thailand, presented during his visit to Saigon in 1930, as well as a half-body statue of J.B. Louis Pierre.

(Temple of King Hung inside the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden)

Visiting Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens, known as the "green treasure," is not only a gem of Ho Chi Minh City but also a pride of Vietnam. Visitors stepping into the zoo can immerse themselves in a tranquil and refreshing atmosphere, breathe clean air, explore and admire rare animal species, enjoy entertaining activities, relax, and take a leisurely stroll while appreciating the scenery. To explore Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens, tourists are recommended to choose the Saigon on motorbike. Our tour will take you to nearby attractions such as Notre-Dame Cathedral.

Ngoc Nguyen