Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Why Zoo and Botanical Gardens is special ?

The Saigon Botanical Gardens is one of the first projects undertaken by the French after they established Cochinchina as a colony. Though once one of the finest such gardens in Asia, the Saigon Botanical Gardens are now only a pleasant place for a stroll under giant tropical trees. Still, you can find about 2,000 trees including Chinese incense-cedar, a bonsai forest and a large greenhouse full of purple orchids. The emphasis is now on fun fair with kid’s rides, a fun house, miniature train, house of mirrors and such. Another plus point about going to the Saigon Botanical Gardens is you can also visit the Saigon Zoo, Hung Vuong Temple and the History Museum which are all within the same compound.

Known as Thao Cam Vien locally, it is home to more than 500 animals of more than 100 species and more than 1,800 trees and plants of more than 250 species. This creates a great setting for an afternoon stroll, however there are some areas of the zoo that you may want to avoid, as some of the exhibits and animals have seen better days.

What to explore at Zoo and Botanical Gardens?

The Botanical Gardens has a vast array of flora and fauna including 20 different orchid types, 32 species of cactus and 34 species of bonsai in addition to trees, plants and ferns some of which are as old as the gardens.

The zoo exhibits a diverse range of animals including monkeys, tigers, hippos, lions, elephants; turtles and snakes. There are also rarer animals such as the white tiger that are being displayed for the first time ever in Vietnam. The zoo aims to help animal conservation of endangered species through a breeding-in-captivity program and recently bred the crested argus pheasant – being the only zoo in the world to do so.

The Botanical Gardens are striving to use the area as a knowledge centre where visitors can learn more about the species on display and how to protect them for the future.

In addition to creatures and plants, the zoo and botanical gardens also have the Saigon National Museum and the World War I monument within its vicinity. The museum covers the entire history of Vietnam and includes war weapons from the French colonial era and thousands of important documents within its walls.

Source: visit-mekong.com

How to get to Zoo and Botanical Gardens?

The zoo is located close to Saigon District 1 and the easiest way to reach it is via taxi.