Bến Nghé

Tax collextion station

In 1623, with the approval of the King of Cambodia Chey Chettha II, Lord Nguyễn Phúc Nguyên authorized the establishment of two tax collection stations at Kas Krobei (Bến Nghé) and Prei Nokor (Sài Gòn) to collect taxes from the Vietnamese migrants in the region. In 1679, Lord Nguyễn Phúc Tần established a military outpost in Tân Mỹ village, located near what is now the intersection of Nguyễn Trãi and Cống Quỳnh streets. These developments encouraged the Vietnamese people of the Đàng Trong realm to settle in the area, where they cultivated the land, established their lives, and engaged in economic activities.

First official establishment

In 1698, Commander Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh to assume the role of imperial commissioner (or regional viceroy) Đồng Nai – Gia Định, noted that the territory had been expanded by thousands of miles, and the population had grown to 40,000 households. He established Gia Định prefecture (or fu), comprising the two counties of Phước Long and Tân Bình; at that time, Bến Nghé fell under Tân Bình County.

Before and after the Civil War

From 1776 to 1783, the Tây Sơn had offended against Gia Định for 5 times, this region became a battleground between the Tây Sơn forces and the Nguyễn lords. In 1788, Nguyễn Ánh took back Gia Định; in 1790 he settled the Capital of Gia Định (Gia Định kinh) and constructed the Thành Quy (Citadel of Tortoise) or also known as Thành Bát Quái (Bagua or Eight Trigrams Citadel), first edition of Citadel of Saigon (or Gia Định), along with several facilities outside its walls—including a naval shipyard (Xưởng; known as the Chu Sư or Thủy shipyard—the precursor to the later Ba Son Shipyard), an elephant camp (xưởng Voi), a gunpowder factory (Trường thuốc súng), a detention center and prison (Khám đường và Ngục sở), and a diplomatic guesthouse (Sứ quán). Nguyễn Ánh implemented various policies to boost agricultural production and trade, which facilitated the economic recovery and development of Saigon–Gia Định, transforming it into a solid base for his military campaigns against the Tây Sơn.

Until the late 18th – beginning of 19th century, the port towns of Bến Nghé with Sài Gòn developed strongly, attracting foreign ships to trade in large numbers. Records of foreigners who arrived Bến Nghé – Sài Gòn at that time, this area consisted of two distinct settlements: Saigun (Sài Gòn) and Bingeh (Bến Nghé). Bingeh served as the administrative center and the site of a fortress, located on the western bank of the major river (means Saigon River or Bến Nghé River then). The settlement of Bingeh developed later than Saigun; its population only began to grow significantly after the Nguyễn Ánh – Tây Sơn war had come to an end.

Revolt and demolition of Gia Định Citadel

According to author Sơn Nam, the terrain of Bến Nghé consists of two distinct zones. To the north lies a high-lying hill area, where the citadel was constructed; to the south is a low-lying, marshy area along the Bến Nghé Canal. Most dwellings are stilt houses belonging to the local people, clustered closely along the canals and waterways; in market towns, one can find rows of houses featuring tiled roofs, wooden columns, and lime-plastered walls (typically owned by officials or wealthy landowners). Some market towns has been formed area: Bến Thành Market (the main market of Bến Nghé market system), Bến Sỏi Market, Điều Khiển Market, Thị Nghè Market, Tân Kiểng Market, etc. Boats are still the main means of transportation for people thanks to the intricate network of canals. After the Lê Văn Khôi revolt, Emperor Minh Mạng decided to demolish the Quy Citadel was demolished and replaced by a smaller new citadel, the Phoenix Citadel (thành Phụng); during this process, the markets and streets in Bến Nghé also suffered varying degrees of destruction.

The fall of Bến Nghé and establishment of Ville de Saigon

Before the French Empire occupied Gia Định province, Bến Nghé was a conglomeration of about 40 villages with a population reaching 50,000 along the Bến Nghé Channel. When the Citadel of Gia Định fell in 1859, most of the urban area was destroyed and the inhabitants evacuated, leaving behind only Chợ Quán. This event was mentioned by Nguyễn Đình Chiểu in the Chạy giặc poem:

Bến Nghé của tiền tan bọt nước
Đồng Nai tranh ngói nhuốm màu mây.

The quote means fortunes vanish like foam upon the water at Bến Nghé and tiled roofs take on the war smoke like hues of the clouds at Đồng Nai.

After stabilizing the situation in the area, the French set about reorganizing Bến Nghé into a Western-style city, which they named Saigon. The name Bến Nghé was no longer officially used to refer the city anymore.

Zone 1

Zone 1, also known as The Commercial and Financial Hub (Lõi trung tâm thương mại tài chính), is the core commercial and financial hub, developed for business, commerce, hospitality, tourism, administration, and public services. This entire zone is located within the boundaries of former District 1. It is bounded by Tôn Đức Thắng Boulevard to the east; Lê Lai and Lê Thánh Tôn Streets to the west; and Phạm Ngũ Lão Street and Hàm Nghi Boulevard to the south. Major streets in the zone are: Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard, Lê Lợi Boulevard, Hai Bà Trưng Street and Đồng Khởi Street; with some public spaces are Lam Sơn Square and September 23rd Park.

Some notable buildings here are, including the historic buildings such as Bến Thành Market, Ho Chi Minh City Opera House, Rex Hotel, Caravelle Hotel, Hotel Continental Saigon, Hotel Majestic, Grand Hotel Saigon; with the modern ones like Bitexco Financial Tower, Saigon Times Square, Sunwah Tower, Vietcombank Tower, Saigon Centre, Union Square Saigon, Park Hyatt Saigon Hotel, New World Saigon Hotel, A&B Tower. The 1935 Jamia Al Muslimin Mosque at 66 Đông Du Street, also known as the Saigon Central Mosque, is the oldest and best known of the twelve mosques in Ho Chi Minh City.

Zone 2

This zone is known as the Cultural and Historical Center (Khu Trung tâm văn hóa - lịch sử), developed for cultural, business, commercial, tourism, residential, and educational purposes. It is located within the boundaries of former District 1. It is bounded by the Thị Nghè Canal and Hoàng Sa Road to the north; Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai Street to the west; Cống Quỳnh Street to the south; and Lê Lai and Lê Thánh Tôn Streets to the east. Some other major thoroughfare in here are Lê Duẩn Boulevard, Phạm Ngọc Thạch Street, Nguyễn Du Street

Notable buildings in this area: Independence Palace, Diamond Plaza, Vincom Center Đồng Khởi, Saigon Trade Center, Ho Chi Minh City Radio and Television, Ho Chi Minh City Youth Cultural House, Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, Bến Thành Theatre, IDECAF Theatre, Trần Đại Nghĩa High School for the Gifted and Children's Hospital No. 2; with public spaces such as Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Chi Lăng Park, Tao Đàn Park, April 30 Park, and Paris Commune Square

Zone 3

The zone is a multi-functional area along the west bank of the Saigon River (Khu bờ Tây sông Sài Gòn). It stretches from Saigon Bridge to Tân Thuận Bridge and encompasses parts of former Bình Thạnh District, District 1, and District 4; now Thạnh Mỹ Tây, Saigon and Xóm Chiếu, respectively. It is bounded by Saigon Bridge to the north; Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh and Tôn Đức Thắng Boulevard to the west; Nguyễn Tất Thành Street and the Tẻ Canal to the south; and the Saigon River to the east.

Notable places here: Dragon House, Bạch Đằng Quay, Mê Linh Square, Sài Gòn – Ba Son Development (Saigon Marina IFC), Sunwah Pearl & Saigon Pearl Apartment Complex, Vinhomes Central Park (Landmark 81).

Zone 4

This is the Low-rise area (Khu thấp tầng), which includes many villas from the French colonial period that are to be preserved. This zone serves residential, cultural, educational, and low-rise commercial functions, and covers former Đa Kao, District 1 and Ward 6, District 3; now part of Saigon, Tân Định and Xuân Hòa, respectively).

This sub-zone is bounded by Thị Nghè Canal and Hoàng Sa Road (to the north), Võ Thị Sáu Street (to the west), August Revolution Street (to the south), and Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai Street (to the east). Notable places here: Lê Văn Tám Park, International Square (Turtle Lake), University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon University, Ho Chi Minh City Open University, Lê Quý Đôn High School, Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai High School, Marie Curie High School, War Remnants Museum, Children's House of Ho Chi Minh City, Southern Women's Museum, 5B Drama Theater, Hồ Xuân Hương Gymnasium, Ho Chi Minh City Dermatology and Denereology Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City Eye Hospital, Từ Dũ Hospital, Xá Lợi Pagoda, Thích Quảng Đức Monument Park, Hôtel des Arts Saigon - M Gallery Collection by Accor, Victory Hotel, Saigon Star Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee and Conference Hall, Saigon Innovation Hub, Đa Kao Market, Nguyễn Đình Chiểu Apartment (original Lunch Lady restaurant is in here). Ho Chi Minh City Women's Cultural House, Tân Định Market, Tân Định Church, Tân Định Hospital and Tân Định Post are not directly located in it but next to the area.

Zone 5

This is an area adjacent to the central core (Khu lân cận lõi trung tâm), developed with a commercial and business function that extends from Sub-zone 1. This sub-zone encompasses parts of former District 1 and District 4. Within the central core, this area contains the highest concentration of residential zones, ranging from older, collective-style housing complexes (Cư xá) to modern high-rise apartment buildings, mostly in former District 4, and the exisiting low-rise houses quarters. It is bounded by Hàm Nghi Boulevard and Phạm Ngũ Lão Street (to the north), Nguyễn Thái Học Boulevard and Cống Quỳnh Street (to the west), Hoàng Diệu Street (to the south), and Tôn Đức Thắng Boulevard and Nguyễn Tất Thành Street (to the east).

The Financial District, Saigon, where the headquarters of State Bank of Vietnam Region 2 Branch and Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange located is here. Some quarters here are famous for the nightlife or street foods such as International Crossroads (Phạm Ngũ Lão Street, Bùi Viện Street and Đề Thám Street), Vĩnh Khánh Street, Vĩnh Khánh Apartment. The other notable places: Mong Bridge, Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts, One Central Saigon, Dân Sinh Market, Thái Bình Market, REE Tower, E.Town Central.