Opening Hours: 7.00am - 6.00pm every day
The Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden, one of Ho Chi Minh City’s busiest attractions was established in 1865. This is the largest zoo in Vietnam, and is home to over a hundred different species of mammals, reptiles and birds. In addition the botanical gardens house many rare orchids and ornamental plants.
Also found in the grounds here is the Museum of Vietnamese History, which makes for a fascinating couple of hours and should be a major Ho Chi Minh attraction in it’s own right. It manages to chart the country’s history throughout 10,000 years of different dynasties and many wars. There are some really fascinating artefacts here and also rather weirdly the dead body of a woman that was found in a ruined building years ago. The mummified body is in remarkable condition, and lies in a glass coffin.
Saigon Zoo is actually one of the oldest in the world and receives many foreign visitors because of that fact. Zoos tend to divide opinion quite dramatically and Saigon Zoo is no different. It is though a lot better than many and certainly better than the general perception. The animals are well looked after and the zoo keepers certainly look like they are in the job for the right reasons.
The Botanical Gardens here are a great addition to the Ho Chi Minh City attractions list. It’s a great place to relax and spend a few hours, especially in the mornings before Saigon’s notorious heat really kicks in.
One of the great advantages of this place is the location, it really is in the heart of the city. If you are looking for things to do in Ho Chi Minh City, give it a try.