Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden

Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden is a zoological park and conservation site on Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The institution ranks among the oldest continuously operating zoos in the world. French admiral Pierre-Paul de La Grandière commissioned its creation in 1864. The site first opened to the public in 1869. It functions as a space for recreation, education, and scientific research.

The grounds cover over 20 hectares in the city center, near the Thị Nghè Channel. The zoo houses hundreds of animal species. These include mammals, reptiles, and birds from various continents. Notable animals include white Bengal tigers, Asian elephants, clouded leopards, and numerous primate species. The park participates in conservation and breeding programs for endangered species. It achieved the first captive breeding of the crested argus pheasant.

The botanical section contains thousands of trees and plants. Some specimens are over a century old. The collection features a dedicated orchid garden, a cactus garden, and many species of tropical flora. The grounds provide significant green space within the urban landscape of District 1. Paved paths connect the various animal enclosures and plant displays. Lakes with different fish and lotus species are also part of the landscape.

Two significant cultural structures stand within the park’s boundaries. The Museum of Vietnamese History is located on the premises. It displays artifacts from Vietnam’s prehistoric era to the modern day. A temple dedicated to the Hùng Kings also occupies the site. This temple was originally built as a monument to Indochinese soldiers who died in World War I.