HO CHI MINH CITY PEOPLE’S COUNCIL AND PEOPLE’S COMMITTEE HEADQUARTERS

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council and People’s Committee Headquarters is a classic architectural landmark, constructed in 1898 and inaugurated in 1909. During the French colonial period, the building was known as the Hôtel de Ville in French or Dinh Xã Tây in Vietnamese. Since April 30, 1975, the building has served as the headquarters for the City’s People’s Council and People’s Committee.

The building features a wide facade stretching 30 meters, directly overlooking Nguyen Hue Street. The central portion of the building is marked by a prominent high tower with symmetrical roof tiers on both sides—an architectural style common in Northern France. A national flag flies atop the tower, positioned above a circular clock. The center of the tower features a bas-relief of a goddess, two cherubs, and various animals. On the facade of each tower level stand statues of two goddesses holding swords, surrounded by local products. The building’s exterior design is a blend of several European architectural styles: a Renaissance floor plan, Baroque and Rococo decorations, and Art Nouveau iron gates.

In the spirit of development and integration, through numerous restorations and landscape enhancements, the headquarters has preserved its original ancient and elegant charm. In 2005, through a partnership with Ho Chi Minh City, lighting experts from Lyon designed and installed an artistic lighting system that makes the building even more radiant. In 2020, the building was officially ranked as a National Architectural and Artistic Monument.

The Headquarters stands as an exemplary work of early 20th-century architecture and decorative arts, befitting its role as the seat of the city’s top government authorities, the venue for People’s Council meetings, and a place for receiving international diplomatic delegations.