District 1 is the central urban district (quận)

Districts of Vietnam

||The provinces of Vietnam are divided into counties , provincial cities , and county-level towns .The centrally-controlled municipalities are subdivided into rural counties , county-level towns , and urban districts , which then subdivided into wards ....

 of Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...

, the largest city in Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...

. With a total area of 7.7211 km² (3 sq mi)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 is where most of the city's administrative offices, embassies and big buildings are located. District 1 is the busiest district in the city with the highest living standards. Đồng Khởi street and Nguyễn Huệ boulevard in the district are the city's two main commercial centers. Đồng Khởi street is currently hitting its price record at $50,000 for a meter square in 2007.

History

District 1 and the other seven districts of Ho Chi Minh city

Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...

 were founded on May 27, 1959. Before 1975, the first district only had four small subsets (wards) which are Trần Quang Khải, Tự Đức, Bến Nghé, Hòa Bình (named after major historical characters) and the second district had seven different wards which are Cầu Kho, Cầu Ông Lãnh,Huyện Sĩ, Nguyễn Cư Trinh, Nguyễn Cảnh Chân, Bùi Viện, Bến Thành. In May, 1976, the first and second district combined into the District 1 we have today.

Administration

District 1 contains ten small subsets which are called wards. The different wards are: 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 committee and all ten of the committee are under the People's Committee of District 1.

The People's Committee of District 1 office	47 Lê Duẩn str. Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, HO CHI MINH CITY
The People's Committee of Bến Nghé Ward office	62 Hồ Tùng Mậu, Bến Nghé Ward, DISTRICT 1, HO CHI MINH CITY
The People's Committee of Bến Thành Ward office	92 Nguyễn Trãi, Bến Thành Ward, DISTRICT 1, HO CHI MINH CITY
The People's Committee of Cô Giang Ward office	379 Trần Hưng Đạo, Cầu Kho Ward, DISTRICT 1, HO CHI MINH CITY
The People's Committee of Cầu Kho Ward office	60 Nguyễn Thái Học, Cầu Ông Lãnh Ward, DISTRICT 1, HO CHI MINH CITY
The People's Committee of Cầu Ông Lãnh Ward office	194-195 Bến Chương Dương, Cô Giang Ward, DISTRICT 1, HO CHI MINH CITY
The People's Committee of Đa Kao Ward office	72 Đinh Tiên Hoàng, ĐaKao Ward, DISTRICT 1, HO CHI MINH CITY
The People's Committee of Nguyễn Thái Bình Ward office	41 Trần Hưng Đạo, Nguyễn Thái Bình Ward, DISTRICT 1, HO CHI MINH CITY
The People's Committee of Nguyễn Cư Trinh Ward office	211 Nguyễn Trãi, Nguyễn Cư Trinh Ward, DISTRICT 1, HO CHI MINH CITY
The People's Committee of Phạm Ngũ Lão Ward office	240 Đề Thám, Phạm Ngũ Lão Ward, DISTRICT 1, HO CHI MINH CITY
The People's Committee of Tân Định Ward office	227 Trần Quang Khải, Tân Định Ward, DISTRICT 1, HO CHI MINH CITY

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

Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...

, the largest city in Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...

. The total area of the district is about 7.7211 km² (3 sq mi), that makes the district a very dense area. The District's density is 26538 PD/km2 very high comparing the Ho Chi Minh city's 3419 PD/km2 and Vietnam's 259 PD/km2.

Relatively, District 1 is located in the middle of Ho Chi minh city. The District area is divided with Bình Thạnh district and Phú Nhuận district- Thị Nghè canal as border, and District 3- Hai Bà Trưng street and Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai street as border in the north, District 2

District 2, Ho Chi Minh City

District 2, in which the new province of Thu Thiem is located, is a district of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, with the most potential.In the past, District 2 has been one of the poorest parts of Ho Chi Minh City due to the separation of the Saigon River. However, it is now the new hope for the...

 in the east with Sai Gon River

Saigon River

The Saigon River is a river located in southern Vietnam that rises near Phum Daung in southeastern Cambodia, flows south and south-southeast for about 140 miles and empties into the Nha Be River, which in its turn empties into the South China Sea some 20 km north-east of the Mekong Delta.The...

 as border, District 5

District 5, Ho Chi Minh City

District 5 is an urban district of Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city in Vietnam. The Chinese community accounts for a significant population in this district. There are several hospitals in this district....

 to the west- Nguyễn Văn Cừ street as border, and District 4

District 4, Ho Chi Minh City

District 4 is the smallest urban district of Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city in Vietnam. The Saigon Port is located here.As of 2003 the district had a population of 206,937. The district covers an area of 4 km²....

 to the south- Bến Nghé canal as border.

Economy

When Ho Chi Minh City was governed by South Vietnam

South Vietnam

South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...

, Air Vietnam

Air Vietnam

Active from 1951 to 1975, Air Viet Nam was South Vietnam's first commercial air carrier, headquartered in District 1, Saigon. Established under Emperor Bảo Đại, the Chief of State of South Vietnam, the airline flew over one million passengers, including during the Vietnam War, before its collapse...

's head office was in District 1.

Consulates

Ho Chi Minh city is Vietnam's biggest and busiest city. A very large population of immigrants from all over the world is currently living and working there. Because District 1 is Ho Chi Minh city's central district, all of the consulates from other countries choose to locate here.

The Consulate of England	25 Lê Duẩn Bến Nghé Ward, DISTRICT 1, HO CHI MINH CITY
The Consulate of Cambodia	41 Phùng Khắc Khoan Đa Kao Ward, DISTRICT 1, HO CHI MINH CITY
The Consulate of Canada	235 Đồng Khởi Bến Nghé WArd, DISTRICT 1, HO CHI MINH CITY
The Consulate of Cuba	45 Phùng khắc Khoan Đa Kao, DISTRICT 1, HO CHI MINH CITY
The Consulate of Korea	107 Nguyễn Du Bến Nghé, DISTRICT 1, HO CHI MINH CITY
The Consulate of The United States of America	4 Lê Duẩn Bến Nghé, DISTRICT 1, HO CHI MINH CITY
The Consulate of Hungary	22 Phùng Khắc Khoan Đa Kao, DISTRICT 1, HO CHI MINH CITY
The Consulate of Indonesia	18 Phùng Khắc Khoan Đa kao, DISTRICT 1, HO CHI MINH CITY
The Consulate of Laos	93 Pasteur Bến Nghé, DISTRICT 1, HO CHI MINH CITY
The Consulate of Malaysia	2 Ngô Đức Kế Bến Nghé, DISTRICT 1, HO CHI MINH CITY
The Consulate of New Zealand	41 Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai Bến Nghé, DISTRICT 1, HO CHI MINH CITY
The Consulate of Japan	13-17 Nguyễn Huệ Bến Nghé, DISTRICT 1, HO CHI MINH CITY
The Consulate of Panama	7A Lê Thánh Tôn Bến Nghé, DISTRICT 1, HO CHI MINH CITY
The Consulate of Poland	2 Trần Cao Vân Đa Kao, DISTRICT 1, HO CHI MINH CITY
The Consulate of Singapore	65 Lê Lợi Bến Nghé, DISTRICT 1, HO CHI MINH CITY
The Consulate of Sweden	8A/11 D1 Lầu 5 Thái Văn Lung Bến Nghé, DISTRICT 1, HO CHI MINH CITY
The Consulate of Switzerland	2 Ngô Đức Kế Bến Nghé, DISTRICT 1, HO CHI MINH CITY
The Consulate of China	39 Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai Bến Nghé, DISTRICT 1, HO CHI MINH CITY
The Consulate of Australia	5B lầu 4 & 5 Tôn Đức Thắng Bến Nghé, DISTRICT 1, HO CHI MINH CITY
The Consulate of France	27 Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai Bến Nghé, DISTRICT 1, HO CHI MINH CITY
The Consulate of Italy	17 Lê Duẩn Bến Nghé, 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 in general is still new and still are in the stage of developing.

Kindergarten:

Tuổi Hồng	21 Yersin
Tân Định	26 Đặng Dung str.
Tuổi Thơ	97 Nguyễn Du
Cô Giang	50 Hồ Hảo Hớn
Nguyễn Cư Trinh	122 Trần Đình Xu
Lê Thị Riêng	39 Nguyễn Đình Chiểu
Hoa Lư	1 Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm
Hoa Lan	541 Trần Hưng Đạo
Nguyễn Thái Bình	121-123 Ng Thái Bình
Phạm Ngũ Lão	329 Phạm Ngũ Lão
30/4	174-176 Pasteur
20/10	85A Nguyễn Trãi
Bến Thành	87 Sương Nguyệt Anh
Bé Ngoan	108 Nguyễn Đình Chiểu
Hoa Quỳnh	34 Nguyễn Phi Khanh
Baby	31A Lý Tự Trọng
Tư thục Sân lá cọ	11B Phùng Khắc Khoan
Panda	18 Phan Kế Bính
Asia-Pacific	26/6 Ng Bĩnh Khiêm
Nemo	14V Ng Đình Chiểu
International Citizen
Small House	Example
Sapa	1 Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh
Dân lập Mạnh Mẫu	96 Thạch Thị Thanh
Chuyên biệt Tương Lai	27A Trần Nhật Duật

Historical sights

The Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica

Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica

Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica , officially Basilica of Our Lady of The Immaculate Conception is a cathedral located in the downtown of Saigon City, Vietnam. Established by French colonists, the cathedral was constructed between 1863 and 1880...

, the Saigon Opera House, the Central Post Office

Saigon Central Post Office

Saigon Central Post Office is a post office in the downtown Ho Chi Minh City, near Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica, the city's main church. The building was constructed when Vietnam was part of French Indochina in the early 20th century. It has a Gothic architectural style. It was designed and...

, the City Hall

Ho Chi Minh City Hall

Ho Chi Minh City Hall or Hôtel de Ville de Saigon was built in 1902-1908 in a French colonial style for the then city of Saigon. It was renamed after 1975 as Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee...

, Pham Ngu Lao street

Pham Ngu Lao street

Phạm Ngũ Lão street is located in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, Vietnam. It was named after Pham Ngu Lao, the national hero. The intersection of Pham Ngu Lao and De Tham streets are referred to as the backpacker district of Saigon...

, the former Republic of Vietnam President’s Reunification Palace

Reunification Palace

Reunification Palace formerly known as Independence Palace , built on the site of the former Norodom Palace, is a landmark in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It was designed by architect Ngô Viết Thụ and was the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War...

, Rex Hotel are some of the most famous historical tourism sights in District 1. Besides specific locations like those mentioned, basically every street in District 1 built and designed since 1946 was by the French. Most of the buildings constructed since the French colony era are still standing now, with most renovated recently.