Hotel Grand Saigon – A history of French architectural for more than a century
Grand Hotel Saigon is a luxury hotel located at 8 Dong Khoi, District 1—the city center area. Although it has undergone many historical changes because of a century has passed, the hotel still retains its French architectural appearance.
Initially, Grand Hotel Saigon was just a commercial association founded by a French politician and journalist named Henry Chavigny de Lachevrotière, who was working in Indochina on October 24, 1924, and owned a small beverage shop in the corner. Catinat and Vannier streets (now is the corner of Dong Khoi and Ngo Duc Ke streets). In 1925, Lachevrotière was granted the right to manage the Majestic Hotel, while Grand Hotel Saigon was handed over to Mr. Joseph Marie Menguy as manager.
In 1929, the new Grand-Hotel Saigon officially started construction with 68 rooms at 8 Rue Catinat (now Dong Khoi Street), close to a small hotel of the same name, Grand Hôtel de la Rotonde. Grand Hôtel Saigon was inaugurated and put into operation in 1930, with Lachevrotière was the first director.
However, just 2 years later (in 1932), the hotel was sold to Patrice Luciani – a Corsican-Frenchman. Previously, in 1928, Luciani bought the most luxurious hotel in Saigon at that time, the Saïgon Palace Hotel at 82 – 98 Charner Avenue (now Nguyen Hue Street). After buying Grand-Hotel, Luciani closed Saigon Palace Hotel and changed the name of Grand-Hotel to Saigon Palace. During Luciani’s reign, the hotel grew to become one of the most successful hotels in Saigon during the 1930s, its terrace cafe restaurant becoming famous for its nightly concerts, and the spacious “salle de réunion” (large hall) always meet the requirements of large parties and meetings of local organizations.
In 1939, the hotel changed owner again when it was sold to Antoine Giorgetti, also a Corsican-Frenchman. After 1954, the hotel continued to operate under these French owners. In 1958, the hotel had the Vietnamese name Saigon Dai Lu Quan until 1975. After 1975, the hotel was taken control by the Vietnamese government and renamed Dong Khoi Hotel. Currently, Grand Saigon is one of the most prestigious, splendid, and oldest 5-star hotels in Saigon.
The hotel was renamed Saigon Palace Hotel in 1932
Hotel Saigon Palace under Luciani’s management
Grand Hotel with an onion-shaped roof is located on the corner of Tu Do – Ngo Duc Ke street
Grand Saigon Hotel is located at the corner of Dong Khoi – Ngo Duc Ke today. It is one of the oldest, most famous and 5-star hotels in Saigon
The corner where the three ao dai girls were walking is in front of the “Grand Hotel” building (Saigon Palace Hotel). The right direction is Tu Do Street, and going left is Bach Dang Wharf. The direction the motorbike was running is Ngo Duc Ke Street, about 100m behind is Me Linh Square. The white building hidden behind the last tree is Tong Nha Ngan Kho located on Nguyen Hue street.
Tu Do – Ngo Duc Ke intersection around the 1920s – At this time, the Grand Saigon Hotel was still under construction and had not yet been completed.
Hotel Saigon Palace in Rue Catinat street was printed on postcard in the 1920
A corner of the intersection of Catinat – Vannier street around the 1920s, later the intersection of Tu Do – Ngo Duc Ke (now Dong Khoi – Ngo Duc Ke). In the photo, the building was still the Nestlé store located at 5 Rue Vannier
Hotel Grand Sài Gòn in the 1950 at the corner of Tự Do – Ngô Đức Kếstreet. Straight in front of the 3-wheeled cyclo is Me Linh Square.
A woman rides a 3-wheeled cyclo in Saigon at the corner of Tu Do – Ngo Duc Ke intersection in 1950. Saigon Dai Lu Quan right on the corner is the Saigon Palace Hotel nowadays.
Tu Do-Ngo Duc Ke intersection in 1950. The photo above shows the clear distinction between rich and poor: the 3-wheeled cyclo driver is almost boneless, but still has to work hard to carry an overweigh passenger .
The photo summarizes the corner of Tu Do and Ngo Duc Ke intersection
Tự Do – Ngô Đức Kếcrossroads of 1960
Saigon Dai Lu Quan (Vietnamese name of Hotel Saigon Palace from 1958 – 1975) is located at 8 Tu Do Street (Rue Catinat Street, after 1975 it became Dong Khoi Street)
Tu Do Street in the 1960s, in front is Tu Do – Ngo Duc Ke intersection. The building with the white round top hidden behind the trees on the right is the Grand Saigon Hotel
Tu Do Street in the 1960s, on the right is Tu Do – Ngo Duc Ke intersection. Grand Saigon Hotel is located on the corner on the right side of the frame..
At the intersection of Tu Do – Ngo Duc Ke streets, three girls was walking in front of Saigon Palace Hotel (the house with the onion tower). Across the street is Hoan Kiem coffee shop in 1985 – On this side is Bao Quang and Gian tailor house, in 1969.
Tu Do – Ngo Duc Ke intersection in 1961, the girl in the image was standing in the sidewalk of Grand Saigon.
Map of SAIGON 1961, Me Linh Square area – in the Purple is the An pagoda, yellow area is the Ministry of Public Works – The black cluster right at the word LO is the District 1 Court (Conciliation Court during the French period, later the Sunwah buiding ) – The black cluster in front of the position of the word “HUE” is the State Treasury
Hotel Saigon Palace in 1962, Tự Do – Ngô Đức Kếstreet corner.
The photo was taken from the sidewalk – the location of Saigon Palace Hotel in November 1963. The direction with the red and white traffic sign is Tu Do Street, the other direction is Ngo Duc Ke Street.
TWA ticket office is located near the end of Tu Do Street looking towards the Saigon River. Right where the taxi was parked was the Tu Do – Ngo Duc Ke intersection in 1964
The blue car spot is Tu Do corner – Ngo Duc Ke, in front of Grand Hotel located 1965
Tu Do Street in 1966, on the right is Tu Do – Ngo Duc Ke intersection. The photographer stood near Tu Do – Ho Huan Nghiep intersection. Close to TWA Ticket Office – CAT sign near Grand Saigon Hotel
Tu Do – Ngo Duc Ke intersection, looking towards the church. On the right is Saigon Palace Hotel in 1967
On the right is the Saigon Palace Hotel, corner of Tu Do – Ngo Duc Ke intersection in 1967. The next intersection ahead is the corner of Tu Do – Ho Huan Nghiep (where the white in the right), then the Tu Do – Nguyen Van Thinh (now Dong Khoi – Mac Thi Buoi)
Tu Do Street, the location of the blue and cream toad taxi is the intersection of Tu Do and Ngo Duc Ke
Tu Do – Ngo Duc Ke intersection, Grand Saigon hotel is on the left of the photo
Saigon River in October 1967, the white peak near the photo is Saigon Palace Hotel, or the Vietnamese name is Saigon Dai Lu Quan
Hotel Saigon Palace, intersection corner Tự Do – Ngô Đức Kế in 1968
“Onion top” of the Grand Saigon Hotel in 1969 – 1970
Ngo Duc Ke Street next to the Tu Do – Ngo Duc Ke intersection in 1969. Three soldiers are on Ngo Duc Ke Street, behind them is the Tu Do – Ngo Duc Ke intersection and far to the left is Me Linh Square.
Intersection Tự Do – Ngô Đức Kế 1969
Ngo Duc Ke Street next to the Tu Do – Ngo Duc Ke intersection in 1969. Three soldiers are on Ngo Duc Ke Street, behind them is the Tu Do – Ngo Duc Ke intersection and far to the left is Me Linh Square.
The beginning of Tu Do Street in 1969. The building on the right in the picture above was formerly the Hotel de la Rotonde, virtually unchanged after more than a hundred years. Behind is the “onion top” of the Grand Saigon Hotel located on Tu Do Street (later Dong Khoi Street).
The beginning of Tu Do Street in 1970 – Majestic Hotel and Grand Hotel (house with round tower) at Tu Do – Ngo Duc Ke intersection
Hotel Grand Saigon on the corner of Tu Do – Ngo Duc Ke streets
At the intersection of Tu Do Street and Ngo Duc Ke Street in 1970 – 1971, on the Saigon River side was the Majestic Hotel. Photo taken from the balcony of Saigon Palace Hotel
