Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens

The Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens at 2B Nguyen Binh Khiem in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, was founded in 1864 and is one of the oldest zoos in Southeast Asia. The grounds sit beside the Museum of History near the northern end of the city centre and combine a mixed collection of animals with landscaped gardens, an orchid garden and shaded walks beneath mature trees. Paths wind between enclosures, ponds and lawns, and benches and small cafes are scattered through the park. Visitors can see a range of mammals, birds and reptiles, and the botanical sections include old trees and ornamental plants that give the site a park-like feel. Animal welfare standards have been criticised by some visitors, so many treat the site mainly as a green park rather than a wildlife attraction, and visitors concerned about enclosure conditions may prefer to focus on the gardens. The zoo is popular with local families on weekends, when paths and children's play areas can be crowded. A visit normally takes two to three hours. A weekday morning between 7:00am and 10:00am is the coolest and quietest time, and the heat builds quickly by midday. The entrance is about ten minutes by car from Ben Thanh Market and roughly a twenty-minute walk from Notre-Dame Cathedral. It combines easily with a visit to the adjacent Museum of History and the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts and other museums in the district. Visitors should bring water, sun protection and insect repellent, and wear comfortable shoes for walking on the paved paths.