Saigon-Cho Lon in 1947 Through A French Photographer's lens
A series of Saigon's photos in 1947 through the lens of French photographer Michel Huet are ones of Notre Dame Cathedral seen from the upper floor of the City Hall (Hôtel de ville), the scene of the hall in Cho Lon or a drug store.
Let's bring our mind back to the year of 1947 through some photos of Sai Gon-Cho Lon, taken by a French photographer Michel Huet.
In the photo, there is the Notre Dame Cathedral, the large building to the right is the Palace of the Interior Minister. The tile-roofed house in the picture is the Palace of Internal Affairs during the French colonial period. It was located at the corner of Dong Khoi-Ly Tu Trong today (Rue Catinat & LaGrandière). Before 1975, it was the headquarter of the Ministry of Economy, corner of Tu Do-Gia Long.
The view from the floor of the City Hall. Photo: Michel Huet.
The headquarters of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City is one of the classical architectural works in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). It was built between 1898 and 1909. During the French colonial period, this building was named Hôtel de ville in French or Dinh Xa Tay in Vietnamese. It used to be called Saigon City Hall because it was the working and meeting place of the capital's authorities. Since the unification of Vietnam, the building has been the working place of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, the People's Council of Ho Chi Minh City, and a number of other agencies.
Notre Dame Cathedral was built in Saigon. The cathedral did not have two bell towers when built in 1880. They were added in 1985 to include a total of six large bronze bells and two crosses at the top, 60.5 m above ground. It used to the tallest building in the city for a long time.
The headquarters of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Michel Huet.
The current address of this building is on 86 Le Thanh Ton Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1. It is located at the beginning of Nguyen Hue Street facing the Saigon River. In 2020, this building was ranked by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam as a national architectural and artistic monument. There is also a design plan for a new building of the City People's Committee Headquarters.
Prime Minister Nguyen Van Tan's wife (dark-colored ao dai) and his daughter on the grounds of Gia Long Palace (Ho Chi Minh City Museum now). Photo: Michel Huet.
Nguyen Van Tam (16 October 1895–23 November 1990) served as Prime Minister of the State of Vietnam, a political entity created by the French in an attempt to regain control of the country. He held that office from June 1952 to December 1953.
A view from the Opera House to the right is the famous Continental Palace Hotel. Photo: Michel Huet.
The village at the foot of Mong bridge. Photo: Michel Huet.
The village at the foot of Mong bridge. Photo: Michel Huet.
In a Chinese assembly hall in Cho Lon in 1947. Photo: Michel Huet.
Members at the assembly hall. Photo: Michel Huet.
Tuong actresses in Cho Lon. Photo: Michel Huet.
Tuong actors in Cho Lon. Photo: Michel Huet.
Lion dance scene. Photo: Michel Huet.
A woman praying in the assembly hall. Photo: Michel Huet.
A man smoking a cigarette. Photo: Michel Huet.
The image of a charming Saigon woman on the sidewalk stalls. Photo: Michel Huet.
Vietnamese couple Tung and Quynh recently went viral on the Internet sharing gorgeous photos of them wearing Ao Dai and traveling around the world together.
Responding to the important events between Vietnam and the United States, the Ho Chi Minh City Photography Association held an exhibition hoping to bring to the audience some of the landscape and people of America.
In September 2025, Hanoi welcomed 4.17 million visitors, marking a historic high and a 98% surge compared to the same period in 2024. The unprecedented growth is largely attributed to the vibrant festivities commemorating the 80th anniversary of Independence Day on September 2 (A80) held in the capital city.
To preserve and promote intangible cultural values, the Thang Long–Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center is organizing the program “Mid-Autumn Festival 2025” at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel from October 1 to 5.
On the morning of September 28, the Viksit Bharat 2025 Race organized by the Embassy of India in Vietnam in collaboration with MY Bharat under the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Government of India was successfully held at Thong Nhat Park, Hanoi. More than 200 runners participated.
"Vietnam - RoK Cultural Day 2025" is not only an event in the realm of culture and the arts, but also a large-scale people-to-people and cultural diplomacy initiative.
The Central Committee of the Vietnam–Thailand Friendship Association collaborated with the Da Nang City chapter to plan the coordination of welcoming three Thai students who will practice Vietnamese and explore Vietnamese culture in October 2025.
On September 25 in Hanoi, Good Neighbors International (GNI) celebrated 20 years of operation in Vietnam, marking a steadfast journey with hundreds of thousands of children and communities, while reaffirming its commitment to a sustainable Vietnam.
Leaders of the Da Nang People’s Committee met with a delegation from World Vision International US – Vietnam Office (WVI/VN) on September 25. The visit provided an opportunity to further facilitate the implementation of WVI’s programs and projects, ensuring they best meet the needs of local communities.