VietNamNet Bridge - HCM City People's Committee has approved the conservation plan of the Department of Culture, Tourism and Sports and the Department of Planning and Architecture for portions of the Saigon Tax Trade Center, which was built more than 100 years ago.

The chicken at the Saigon Tax Trade Center.

Under this plan, the mosaic-tiled stairs leading to the main hall, the four roosters, the balustrades with subtle patterns, and external portions such as the lean-to and the signboard will be retained. The new building must mimic the architectural style of the original work.

HCM City People's Committee reaffirmed that the Saigon Trade Center, located at 135 Nguyen Hue Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, is not merely a shopping mall but a historical and cultural monument of the city. The construction of the new building must preserve the characteristic landscape and highlights of the old work, especially the old style.

Earlier, HCM City authorities approved the Saigon Trading Corporation’s (SATRA) project to build a 40-storey office and hotel center to replace the old Saigon Tax Trade Center. The building was closed in October to prepare for the construction, which is expected to start by the first quarter next year.

The Finnish Consulate General in HCM City then sent a letter to HCM City People's Committee and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism proposing a number of measures to conserve part of the work.

The Ministry of Culture also asked the HCMC People's Committee to assign specialized agencies to study measures to preserve the history, culture and architecture of the building.

Deputy Director of the National Assembly delegation of HCM City, Mr. Tran Du Lich, asked the city to invite scientists and intellectuals to make comments on the project to rebuild the Center.

HCM City government asked the local Department of Planning and Architecture and the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to conduct research and offer suggestions on the preservation of parts of the center.

SATRA was also assigned to work with the design consultant to study and propose solutions and then report to the Council of Architecture - Planning before submitting the solutions to the city government.

The final preservation plan was approved this month.

Founded in 1880, Les Grands Magasins Charner (GMC), the old name of Saigon Tax Trade Center, along with other French-style structures, including Ben Thanh Market, Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon Central Post Office, and Hôtel de Ville de Saïgon (now the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee headquarters), was considered a part of the glory of Saigon at that time.

In the 1940s, the three-level GMC building, which was a mix of French and Asian architectural styles, comprised a clock tower of Western style on top as well as windows of East Asian style. It stood on two of Saigon’s well-known boulevards, Bonard (the former name of Le Loi Street) and Charner (the former name of Nguyen Hue Street), serving as a shopping mall which sold expensive goods.

In the 1960s, GMC was renamed Tax Plaza by the Trade Association. It was broken up into small areas for hundreds of merchants to rent and run their own businesses.

The Tax Plaza from 1960-1970 was considered one of Saigon’s busiest shopping centers. The mall attracted foreigners, especially American shoppers. The merchandise included clothes, handicrafts, cameras, watches and electronic items imported from Japan, the U.S., and Taiwan.

On November 12, 1981, the Tax Plaza was again renamed, this time the HCM City Department Store and put under the management of the HCMC Trade Service. The period of the 1990s was the store’s most prosperous time as it welcomed a huge number of customers.

In the 1990s, the store enjoyed prosperous business and received a large number of foreign shoppers, mainly from Europe. Due to the very successful trading activities with partners from Russia, this place was also called the “Russian Market” at that time.

In 2003, the Saigon Tax Trade Center was upgraded, becoming a taller modern building which officially began operation on April 26.

T. Van