Gallic Customs House
Hôtel des Douanes
Gallic Customs House
Hôtel des Douanes
A jewel of French neoclassical architecture preserving the history of colonial Saigon.
Ho Chi Minh City
Historical Site
Architecture
The Gallic Customs House is an architectural symbol of a transitional period in Vietnam's history. Located on the banks of the Saigon River, the building combines the elegance of French neoclassicism with the darker pages of the colonial era, serving as a reminder of the times of the opium monopoly and the peak of French influence in Cochinchina.
- Duration
30–45 min
- Average budget
Free (exterior view)
- Admission
Exterior view only
- Current
26 °C, clear
- Best months
Nov – Apr
- Local language
Vietnamese, English
What you need to know
The building's history began in 1867 with the estate of Cantonese merchant Wang Tai, who controlled the opium trade. In the 1880s, the administration bought the property, and architect Marie-Alfred Foulhoux rebuilt it between 1885 and 1887, creating the Hôtel des Douanes.
Special attention should be paid to the facade: between the third-floor windows, you can spot bas-reliefs featuring stylized opium poppy flowers — a rare historical marker testifying to the sources of colonial revenue at the time. Today, the building holds the status of a municipal historical monument and continues to serve as the headquarters of the Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department.
Address: 2 Hàm Nghi Street and 21 Tôn Đức Thắng Street, Bến Nghé Ward, Ho Chi Minh City.
The dry season provides comfortable conditions for walking along Nguyễn Huệ Street and the promenade, which offers the best view of the building.
On site
- Getting there
Taxi or public transport to the center
- Accommodation
Hotels in District 1
- Getting around
On foot
- Cash
Recommended for nearby purchases
- Connectivity
4G/LTE, city Wi-Fi
- With kids
Suitable for walks