Nha Rong Wharf

Nha Rong Wharf is not only known as the largest wharf in Saigon retaining the unique architecture with the harmonious combination between French and Vietnamese culture but also famous for witnessing one of the most important historical events of Vietnam.

Nha Rong Wharf is located at No.1 Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, Ward 12, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City. This used to be a major trading port of Saigon under French colonial period. It was also home to the headquarter building of the harbor built from 1864 as accommodation for General Manager and selling tickets. Two large blue enameled terracotta dragons are mounted on the rooftop with "2 dragons flanking the moon" posture. It is also the reason why the building is called Nha Rong (Dragon House) and the wharf is also called Nha Rong Wharf (Dragon House Wharf). Nha Rong Wharf has long become famous over the world for not only its unique architecture but also its special role as a witness of an extremely important historical event of Vietnam nation.

As one of the popular tourist Ho Chi Minh City attractions as today, Nha Rong Wharf is formerly a major commercial port of Saigon. In October 1865, Thu Ngu flagpole was erected on Nha Rong Wharf to guiding the boats moving here. In late 1899, the first two wharfs started its construction on iron pillars along the river's edge 42m long. In 1930, the wharf was rebuilt with reinforced concrete into only 1 wharf 430m long. Yet, ancient architecture of the entire project of Nha Rong Wharf today is still virtually intact. After the French defeated in Indochina in 1954, Nha Rong Wharf was under the management of South Vietnam Government. Dragon-shaped decorative architectural detail on the roof top was changed outward. This architectural style is a harmonious combination between the Oriental traditional architecture and Western culture. Discovering Nha Rong Wharf is definitely one of the most things to do in Ho Chi Minh City.

Nha Rong Wharf is not only known as the largest wharf in Saigon retaining the unique architecture with the harmonious combination between French and Vietnamese culture but also famous worldwide for witnessing one of the most important historical events of Vietnam country. On 5th June 1911, Nguyen Tat Thanh, a young patriot and become President Ho Chi Minh later started his journey seeking ways to save his country right at the wharf. To celebrate the great contribution of President Ho Chi Minh, Nha Rong Wharf was requisitioned as the Vestige of President Ho Chi Minh after 1975. In 1982, Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee officially issued the decision of turning "Vestige of President Ho Chi Minh City" into "Ho Chi Minh Museum", Ho Chi Minh City branch. As one of the unique museums in Ho Chi Minh City, the museum has collected, preserved, exhibited and propagated the life and career of President Ho Chi Minh, especially emphasizing the stages He sought the ways to save his country. The museum is gradually one of the most impressive tourist attractions in Ho Chi Minh City alluring numerous both domestic and international tourists.

As one of the important Ho Chi Minh City museums, the museum now houses over 11,000 documents, artifacts and 3,300 specialized books on President Ho Chi Minh which is on display under themes and topics associated with Ho Chi Minh's career. Beside workshop activities, seminars, exhibitions, cinema... relating to President Ho Chi Minh, Ho Chi Minh Museum - Ho Chi Minh City is also home to cultural - social activities in the city such as Party and Union admission ceremony, traditional activities of the organization, program responding the revolutionary movements and the volunteer movements of the youth in the city. Combining tourism with traditional patriotic education, the museum is worth an indispensable tourist site in the journey of discovering Ho Chi Minh City travel.

Over 30 years, Ho Chi Minh Museum has really become an educational center on revolutionary history, ethical ideology and the great revolutionary activities of President Ho Chi Minh. The museum has welcomed over 30 million tourists from all over the country and international tourists in the journey of exploring Saigon tourism. Especially, hundreds of national leaders and senior officials from many countries have visited and ascertained about President Ho Chi Minh. On 31st May 2011, Ho Chi Minh City People' Committee issued the decision of recognizing Ho Chi Minh Museum as municipal level Artistic Architectural Monuments.

Nha Rong Wharf or Ho Chi Minh Museum today has shown its significant role as a place to preserve important artifacts of President Ho Chi Minh. Tourists setting foot on the museum not only have the opportunity to admire the unique architecture of the museum but also ascertain about the life and journey to save the country of the greatest person of Vietnam nation. Nha Rong Wharf displays its important contribution in promoting Ho Chi Minh City tourism to both domestic and international tourists.