Lost of a landmark of Cholon, Building 440 Trang Hung Dao Street ( Former Dong Khanh Street, rue des Marins )

Trần Hưng Đạo Street in Cholon is a bustling commercial hub, known for its vibrant street markets, diverse shops, and numerous eateries. It stands as the longest entrance road and the primary thoroughfare of Ho Chi Minh City, traversing numerous neighborhoods and extending for approximately 6 kilometers. Its history is deeply intertwined with the city’s own evolution.

Originally, Saigon and Cholon existed as separate entities. In 1865, the French colonial administration designated the Saigon-side section as Galliéni Street and the Cholon-side section as Des Marins Street. A marshy field separated the two.

The year 1910 marked the merger of Saigon and Cholon, forming Saigon-Cholon. This unification spurred the gradual reclamation of the swamp, leading to the widening of the streets and the eventual connection of Galliéni and Des Marins Streets at the current location of Nguyen Van Cu Street.

Political shifts also brought about changes to the street’s name. In 1952, the Bao Dai government renamed Des Marins Street to Đồng Khánh Street. Subsequently, in 1955, the Ngo Dinh Diem government renamed Galliéni Street to Trần Hưng Đạo Street, honoring the renowned Vietnamese general.

Following the events of 1975, the two distinct sections of the street were formally united under the single name of Trần Hưng Đạo Street.

The Demise of a Landmark: Building 440 Trần Hưng Đạo

Photographer Quang Lam recalls encountering this building during his visits to the Cholon neighborhood around the year 2010. “It appeared quite well-preserved at the time,” he remarked, “as evident in the photographs I took.”

His research revealed that the building enjoyed popularity in the mid-20th century, featuring on postcards of Saigon in 1950s, with different balconey structures.

The building’s structural integrity deteriorated over time, prompting the city authorities to declare it unfit for habitation in 2017. Recently, in April 2023, the municipality initiated the relocation of approximately 20 families residing in the building. These families, some of whom had lived there for over six decades, were relocated to a modern high-rise apartment in a different district. Each family received a resettlement package including USD 2,000 and a new refrigerator. While most residents expressed satisfaction with their new, spacious 80-square-meter apartments compare to the old box of 20-square-meter, some lamented the loss of the close-knit community fostered within the older building.

Unfortunately, due to the prohibitive cost of restoration, the municipality ultimately decided to demolish the building on January 20, 2025. This marks a significant loss for the city, as the building stood as a valuable testament to Saigon’s colonial architectural heritage.

Vintage postcards shown below are the exclusive archives collected by Inlen Gallery. In the colored series the first photo has been taken circa 2010 and the remaining recently in 2023.