The Ho Chi Minh City Hall has been one of the metropolis’ most recognizable landmarks since the period of French rule.

Tuoi Tre quoted an unnamed source as saying that on November 4, Nguyễn Ngọc Thiện, the minister of culture, sports and tourism, approved a decision to recognize the Saigon City Hall building as a national architectural monument. The century-old French-built structure was classified under the cultural architecture category.

The honor only applies to the historic facade at 86 Le Thanh Ton Street facing Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street, not the new block constructed at 213 Dong Khoi Street.

The building was constructed by the French administration from 1898 until 1909, then called Hôtel de Ville. Before 1975, it housed the working quarters of the then-government and has since become the main office for the HCMC People’s Committee.

Under the same decision, the Linh Dong Temple in Thu Duc District, one of the oldest structures of its kind in Saigon, was built in 1823, and also received national-level architectural monument recognition.

In December last year, Saigon officials bestowed city-level heritage status to the Thu Thiem Parish Church and Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent, both in Thu Thiem Ward of District 2. As city-level architectural heritage sites, the buildings are safeguarded from any construction and exploitative activities within their premises, the municipal People’s Committee noted.

[Photo via Flickr user Timothy Neesam/CC BY]