{"id":4122,"date":"2020-09-11T18:57:05","date_gmt":"2020-09-11T10:57:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/?p=4122"},"modified":"2022-03-25T12:24:04","modified_gmt":"2022-03-25T04:24:04","slug":"saigon-zoo-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/saigon-zoo-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Saigon Zoo Guide: Things To Do From Visiting Animals To Nostalgic Tram Rides To Plant Souvenirs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Saigon Zoo guide: things to do in the Saigon Zoo & Botanical Gardens<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Home to enormous natural landscapes and over 1,500 animals, our very own <\/span>Saigon Zoo & Botanical Gardens<\/b> spans over 20 hectares and was first opened to the public on<\/span> 14th July 1869. <\/b>That makes it the <\/span>world’s 8th oldest <\/b>and<\/span> Vietnam\u2019s largest zoo.<\/b><\/p>\n

While the Saigon Zoo\u2019s mission is to preserve our country’s wildlife and nature, it\u2019s also an ideal place to unwind and create stunning snapshots in a natural setting. From circus shows, feeding animals, to visiting age-old trees and plants, Saigon Zoo<\/a> can offer everything you need for a <\/span>relaxing and educational experience.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

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How to get to the Saigon Zoo<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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After passing the entrance gates, you\u2019ll come across a wall on which the map of the zoo is outlined. Due to the enormous size of the zoo, take a snapshot of the map with your phone so you can take a look at it every time you lose your bearings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

By bus<\/strong><\/p>\n

From the <\/span>23\/9 Park bus pickup point<\/span><\/a> or the <\/span>Ham Nghi Street pickup point<\/span><\/a> in District 1, you can hop on <\/span>Bus D1 or Bus 19 <\/b>for a 5-minute ride to the <\/span>Nguyen Thi Minh Khai<\/b> drop-off point, where you can walk for 3 minutes to the zoo.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tickets are VND6,000-VND12,000 (~USD0.26-USD0.52) each.<\/span><\/p>\n

By bicycle and motorbike<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Saigon Zoo has 2 entrances with 2 separate parking slots, including one on Nguyen Binh Khiem Street<\/a> and the other on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The parking fare is VND2,000 (~USD0.09) for bicycles and VND4,000 (~USD0.17) for motorbikes.<\/span><\/p>\n

By car<\/strong><\/p>\n

Those who travel by car can park your vehicles at the parking slot at Nguyen Thi Minh Khai entrance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The parking fare is from VND30,000-VND50,000 (~USD1.29-USD2.16) per vehicle.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Things to do at the Saigon Zoo<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Take a zoo tram ride for a hassle-free tour<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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For those who want to take a trip down memory lane<\/span>, there are several<\/span> vintage-looking <\/span>trams in the zoo where guests can hop on for a <\/span>scenic ride <\/b>on the tree-lined roads while taking in the breathtaking view of the zoo.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The zoo is quite spacious so this option is also recommended for the elderly and children who are not used to walking for a long period of time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Many of us last rode a zoo tram as a kid, so it\u2019s no wonder these trams make Insta-worthy, <\/span>nostalgic backdrops<\/b> to take beautiful photos against, even though they\u2019re humbly designed.<\/span>
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Visit the animals<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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At Saigon Zoo, you\u2019ll spot a myriad of animals, such as elephants, Indochinese and Bengal tigers, a lion, flamingos, monkeys, and a variety of birds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nImage adapted from: @duongkhuong1986<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

You and your kids will also get an opportunity to feed<\/b> goats, sheep, and elephants, so you should prepare some small change to buy them some food. It costs VND5,000-VND10,000 (~USD0.22-USD0.43) for a pack of food which you can use to feed the animals with your own hands.<\/p>\n

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Visitors will also be treated to<\/span> circus shows <\/b>performing live on the outdoor stage of Saigon Zoo, and they don\u2019t cost a single dime.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nImage credit: Th\u1ea3o C\u1ea7m Vi\u00ean – S\u00e0i g\u00f2n Zoo & Botanical Gardens<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Animal shows with magic tricks and music will be hosted at the central stage from 10AM-12PM on Saturday and Sunday. An extra show is hosted from 4PM to 6PM every Sunday afternoon for those who miss the morning show.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Fun rides and exhilarating pool dips<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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Remember to pack your swimsuit or sports gear, because a trip to the Saigon Zoo will not be complete without some<\/span> thrilling rides<\/b> and <\/span>water activities<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Children can cool down in a<\/span> free aqua playground<\/b>, where they can have a blast with colorful slides and water jets.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nThe Saigon Zoo\u2019s ferris wheel<\/em>
\nImage credit: <\/span>@lucyle1912\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Water activities are not the only entertainment here for kids and kids at heart. There are 24 different rides in the zoo, 19 of which are best suited for children, including rides on a ferris wheel, a roller coaster, a merry-go-round, bumper cars, as well as fishing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Visitors can pay an extra charge of <\/span>VND10,000 to VND20,000 (~USD0.43-USD0.86) <\/b>for each ride.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nImage credit: @deanringo<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Those with strong hearts can check out the <\/span>flying carpet ride<\/b>, <\/span>where passengers will be swung back and forth on a stationary horizontal gondola with a 360-degree swinging pendulum.<\/span><\/p>\n

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For families or those who want to slow down and have a relaxing time on the water, <\/span>visitors can ride around the lake on swan-shaped paddle boats when it\u2019s not too sunny.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Take a stroll around the zoo<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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\u00a0Filled with age-old trees and stunning waterscapes, the Saigon Zoo is an ideal place to keep you on your feet for half a day.<\/span><\/p>\n

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During your walk, you\u2019ll catch the sight of a multitude of towering trees, many species of plants, and tastefully trimmed lawns.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some of the zoo\u2019s most marvelous trees and plants include the <\/span>Burma padauk, a leafy tree that sports bright yellow blooms in spring, and the Afzelia xylocarpa that can grow to a height of 30M.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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All of these trees are <\/span>over 200 years old<\/b> and have been listed in Saigon Zoo\u2019s list of rare plants.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to take a bad picture when visiting the Saigon Zoo, from the rugged vintage walls to animal-shaped statues.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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With the right angle, you can snap stunning shots with the lush and mesmerizing backgrounds here, and can easily fool your friends into thinking that you\u2019re in Da Lat or in a national park.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Traveller\u2019s palms<\/em><\/p>\n

There are many benches and pavilions dotted around the zoo for you to sit down and recharge until you\u2019re ready to pick up your pace.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Remember to catch a lot of snapshots when you pass by the<\/span> Orchid House<\/b>, which still retains its centuries-old architecture. This is also where Vietnam\u2019s most <\/span>beautiful <\/b>and <\/span>rare orchids <\/b>are displayed in their full splendor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Orchid House is home to 23 orchid hybrids, meticulously crafted and tended by the horticultural staff of the zoo.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The zoo also has plenty of <\/span>cycling tracks <\/b>and lawns where your kids can ride their mini bicycles while enjoying rare fresh air in the concrete jungle of Saigon.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nArt students drawing animals<\/em><\/p>\n

Boasting captivating biodiversity and exciting wildlife, the zoo is also an ideal destination for landscape painters<\/strong> who want to sharpen their skills.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Check out the souvenir shops for beautiful crafts and plants<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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Don\u2019t end your trip without visiting the souvenir shops, where you can find a great selection of crafts<\/b> as well as plants<\/b> nurtured by the zoo staff.<\/p>\n

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\nImage credit: Th\u1ea3o C\u1ea7m Vi\u00ean – S\u00e0i g\u00f2n Zoo & Botanical Garden<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Taking home a souvenir from the zoo helps the zoo buy animal feed and other necessities for their thousands of animals, especially amid the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nImage adapted from: Th\u1ea3o C\u1ea7m Vi\u00ean – S\u00e0i g\u00f2n Zoo & Botanical Gardens<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t worry if you can\u2019t bring them all home. You can ask to have your plant or craft purchases shipped to your doorstep by the zoo staff with a minimal extra shipping charge, which is based on the distance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Visit the Museum of Vietnamese History<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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\"\"Artifacts of the former Champa Kingdom dating back to the period between 2nd century AD and 1832 before Champa was annexed with Vietnam under the rule of Emperor Minh Mang<\/em><\/p>\n

While you\u2019re at the Saigon Zoo, don\u2019t hesitate to pay an extra fee of VND30,000 (~USD1.29) to visit the Museum of Vietnamese History<\/span>. <\/span>Once called the <\/span>Mus\u00e9e Blanchard de la Brosse<\/b> and built by French architect <\/span>Auguste Delaval <\/b>in 1926, <\/span>the Museum of Vietnamese History <\/b>is one of the oldest and most well-preserved museums in the country.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Please note that you should only pay a visit to the museum after you have completed your trip at the Saigon Zoo. Even though the museum is in the same zone as the zoo, it functions independently and you\u2019ll have to get separate tickets to enter the museum.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Built in the Indochinese style<\/strong>, the museum\u2019s exterior boasts eclectic features of Eastern vernacular elements with a French architectural twist. At the center of the U-shaped museum lies a block with a polygon roof<\/strong> ornamented with dragon and phoenix motifs, inspired by the architectural principles of I Ching<\/strong>, one of the oldest<\/span> Chinese texts on divination.<\/span><\/p>\n

The museum has plenty of windows, most of which overlook the communal garden filled with plants and ponds to give the museum a lush and refreshing feel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At the museum, you\u2019ll be treated to a magnificent display of roughly <\/span>45,000 historical and cultural artifacts<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Ly Dynasty artifacts<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

From paintings to musical instruments to sculptures, a 30-minute walk around the museum will open visitors\u2019 eyes to exhibits of various historical dates and topics, from the Prehistoric period (500,000 years ago to 2879 BC) to the Metal Age (2879\u2013179 BC), all the way to the Nguy\u1ec5n dynasty (1802\u20131945).<\/p>\n

Inside the museum, there\u2019s a separate room where a mummy is preserved. Commonly known as the Mummy of Xom Cai, the mummy – <\/span>Lady Nguyen Thi Hieu <\/b>from a Vietnamese royal family – dates back to the Nguyen Dynasty of over 200 years ago.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nImage credit: Daa\u00e9\/Wikimedia Commons<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Lady Nguyen Thi Hieu was a cousin of <\/span>Emperor Gia Long (1762-1820)<\/b> and passed away in 1869, when she was in her 60s.<\/span><\/p>\n

The tomb where she was buried was discovered in Xom Cai, Ward 8, District 5, before her body was transferred to the Saigon Zoo & Botanical Gardens for preservation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Places to eat at the Saigon Zoo<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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If you feel peckish after a long day of walking and taking photos, take some rest at one of <\/span>several coffee shops or eateries<\/b> in the zoo.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"The dining area<\/em><\/p>\n

Expect simple but tasty food such as <\/span>pho,<\/span><\/i> noodles, <\/span>banh mi, <\/span><\/i>hot dogs, and ice-cream. The price range for food inside the zoo is from VND30,000-VND50,000 (~USD1.29-USD3.16) per portion.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, my recommendation is to <\/span>bring your own lunch<\/b> if you can, especially if you are with kids. The stalls can get flooded with visitors during the weekends and it might take a long while for your food to arrive.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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There are plenty of <\/span>scenic spots<\/b> to sit down for picnic lunches inside the zoo. All you have to do is to bring a picnic blanket, a basket, and save your money for ice-cream or iced tea.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking for a more diverse range of food items or fresh hot dishes, you should only do so <\/span>before or<\/b> after your zoo visit<\/b> because you can\u2019t go out and return with the same tickets.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are numerous coffee shops and restaurants across the street such as <\/span>Selfie Coffee & Photo<\/b> for refreshing drinks and Western food, and <\/span>B\u00fan \u0110\u1eadu Lan H\u1ed3ng<\/b> for Vietnamese noodles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Saigon zoo guide: support the beloved attraction and have a walk in nature<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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When it comes to the<\/span> Saigon Zoo & Botanical Gardens<\/b>, you don\u2019t have to be a fan of birds, crocodiles, or monkeys to enjoy discovering a wide variety of wildlife species and biodiversity here.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Not only will a visit to the Saigon Zoo & Botanical Gardens give you a<\/span> much-needed serene break<\/b><\/a> from the hustle and bustle of Saigon, but it will also be an <\/span>educational experience <\/b>for you or your kids as you learn about the animals and plants here. <\/span>
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\n<\/span>Let\u2019s support the Saigon Zoo & Botanical Gardens – one of Saigon\u2019s oldest and iconic heritage sites<\/a> – to help it <\/span>survive the COVID-19 pandemic<\/b> with a weekend visit.<\/span><\/p>\n

Entrance fee:<\/b><\/span> VND50,000 (~USD2.16) for adults, VND30,000 (~USD1.29) for children 1-1.3M tall, free for all other children
\n<\/span>Address:<\/span> <\/b>2 Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
\n<\/span>Opening hours: <\/b><\/span>7AM-6.30PM, Daily<\/span><\/p>\n

Website<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Also check out:<\/span><\/p>\n