District 1, Ho Chi Minh City


District 1 is the central urban district of Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city in Vietnam. With a total area of the district has a population of 204,899 people as of 2010. The district is divided into 10 small subsets which are called wards. District 1 contains most of the city's administrative offices, consulates, and large buildings. District 1 is the busiest district in the city with the highest living standards. Đồng Khởi street and Nguyễn Huệ boulevard in District 1 are the city's two main commercial centers. Đồng Khởi street is an area in high demand for real estate, hitting a record price of $50,000 per square meter in 2007.

History

District 1 and the other seven districts of Ho Chi Minh City were founded on May 27, 1959. Before 1975, the first district only had four small subsets which were Bến Nghé, Hòa Bình, Trần Quang Khải and Tự Đức, and the second district had seven different wards which were Bến Thành, Bùi Viện, Cầu Kho, Cầu Ông Lãnh, Huyện Sĩ, Nguyễn Cảnh Chân and Nguyễn Cư Trinh. In May 1976 the first and second districts were combined into the District 1 of today.

Administration

District 1 is subdivided into ten wards, namely Bến Nghé, Bến Thành, Cô Giang, Cầu Kho, Cầu Ông Lãnh, Đa Kao, Nguyễn Thái Bình, Nguyễn Cư Trinh, Phạm Ngũ Lão and Tân Định. Each ward has its own People's Committee, subordinate to the People's Committee of District 1.

Demographic and geographical features

District 1 has a population of 204,899 people over the total of 7,162,864 in Ho Chi Minh City. The total area of the district is. The district's density is, very high compared to Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam respectively.
District 1 is located towards the center of Ho Chi Minh City. The district is bordered to the north by Bình Thạnh District and Phú Nhuận District with the Thị Nghè canal as the border, District 3 to the west with Hai Bà Trưng street and Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai street as the border, District 2 to the east with the Saigon River as the border, District 5 to the southwest with Nguyễn Văn Cừ street as the border, and District 4 to the south, with the Bến Nghé canal as a border.

Economy

When Saigon was governed by South Vietnam, Air Vietnam's head office was located in District 1.
District 1 is considered the financial center of Saigon and Vietnam. It is home to the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange and Vietnamese headquarters of international banks such as HSBC, ANZ, Standard Chartered, Citi, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of China, and Maybank. District 1 also known as the best spot for shopping in Vietnam, with a high concentration of shopping centres and luxury brands.
District 1 was effectively shutdown for tourism during the Covid-19 pandemic in Vietnam, causing many restaurants, bars, clubs, and hotels, to suffer major financial distress.

Consulates

Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam's biggest and busiest city, with a large population of immigrants from around the world living and working there. Because District 1 is the city's central district, many foreign consulates are located there.
The Consulate of AustraliaLevel 20, Vincom Center 47 Lý Tự Trọng, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of Cambodia41 Phùng Khắc Khoan, Đa Kao Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of Canada235 Đồng Khởi, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of China175 Hai Bà Trưng, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of Cuba45 Phùng khắc Khoan, Đa Kao Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of the Czech Republic28 Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of France27 Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of Hungary22 Phùng Khắc Khoan, Đa Kao Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of Indonesia18 Phùng Khắc Khoan, Đa Kao Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of Italy17 Lê Duẩn Ward, Bến Nghé, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of Korea107 Nguyễn Du, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of Laos93 Pasteur, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of Malaysia2 Ngô Đức Kế, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of New Zealand41 Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of Japan13-17 Nguyễn Huệ, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of Panama7A Lê Thánh Tôn, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of Poland2 Trần Cao Vân, Đa Kao Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of Singapore65 Lê Lợi, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of Sweden8A/11 D1 Lầu 5 Thái Văn Lung, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of Switzerland2 Ngô Đức Kế, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of the United Kingdom25 Lê Duẩn, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
The Consulate of the United States of America4 Lê Duẩn, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Education

Many of the best public schools in the city are located in District 1. Vietnam's system of private schools is relatively new and is still in the developing stage.

Kindergarten

High School

University

Office buildings

Many grade A office towers are located in District 1, HCMC.
NameAddress
Zen Plaza54-56 Nguyễn Trãi Street, District 1, HCMC
Vietcombank Tower5 Mê Linh Square, District 1, HCMC
TNR Tower180-192 Nguyễn Công Trứ Street, District 1, HCMC
Saigon Finance9 Đinh Tiên Hoàng Street, District 1, HCMC
Kumho Asiana Plaza39 Lê Duẩn Street, District 1, HCMC
HD Tower25bis Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai Street, District 1, HCMC
The Green Power Tower35 Tôn Đức Thắng Street, District 1, HCMC
Central Plaza17 Lê Duẩn Street, District 1, HCMC
Deutsches Haus33 Lê Duẩn Street, District 1, HCMC
Saigon Centre65 Lê Lợi Street, District 1, HCMC
Saigon Tower29 Lê Duẩn Street, District 1, HCMC
Melinh Point Tower2 Ngô Đức Kế Street, District 1, HCMC
Opera View161 Đồng Khởi Street, District 1, HCMC
HMC Tower193 Đinh Tiên Hoàng Street, District 1, HCMC
Havana Tower132 Hàm Nghi Street, District 1, HCMC
CJ Building2-4-6 Lê Thánh Tôn Street, District 1, HCMC
Citilight Tower45 Võ Thị Sáu Street, District 1, HCMC
Ruby Tower81 – 85 Hàm Nghi Street, District 1, HCMC
Sunwah Tower115 Nguyễn Huệ Street, District 1, HCMC
Sailing Tower111A Pasteur Street, District 1, HCMC
Times Square22 – 36 Nguyễn Huệ Street, District 1, HCMC
Le Meridien3C Tôn Đức Thắng Street, District 1, HCMC
President Place93 Nguyễn Du Street, District 1, HCMC
Diamond Plaza34 Lê Duẩn Street, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, HCMC
Bitexco Financial Tower2 Hải Triều Street, District 1, HCMC
President Place93 Nguyễn Du Street, District 1, HCMC

Tourist sights

Historical sights

Buildings such as the Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica, the Saigon Opera House, the Central Post Office, the City Hall, Phạm Ngũ Lão Street, the former Republic of Vietnam President's Reunification Palace, Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts, Hotel Majestic, and Rex Hotel are some of the most famous historical sights in District 1. Besides these places, most streets in District 1 built and designed since 1946 were completed by the French. Most of the buildings constructed since the French colonial era are still standing, with most having been recently renovated.

Other Attractions

The Bitexco Financial Tower is the tallest building in the city as of the beginning of 2016, and a symbol of modernity mixed with cultural influences. In addition, the Bùi Viện and Nguyễn Huệ districts are also interesting places for visitors.