A young architect in HCMC has released a drawings book which features the beautiful traits of the city.

Le Hung Trong, author of the Saigon Xua book.

Author Le Hung Trong, also known as Trong Lee, says the book “Sai Gon Xua” (Old Saigon), published by Phuong Nam Book and HCMC Culture and Art Publishing House, is aimed at raising awareness of protection of the iconic places of Saigon.

It is the first product of a three-year project carried out between 2012 and 2014 by Trong, who graduated as valedictorian from the Architect Faculty of Van Lang University in HCMC.

The book contains Trong’s line art drawings created from distinct straight or curved lines placed against a background without gradations in shade or hue to represent two-dimensional or three-dimensional objects, beside some colored images.

In the book, one can see Notre Dame Cathedral, Ben Thanh Market, Cay Lieu (Willow Tree) Roundabout, Opera House, HCMC Post Office, the old trees that once lined Nguyen Hue and Ton Duc Thang roads as they had been felled to make way for the city’s first metro line, and the 134-year-old Saigon Tax Center, which will be replaced by a modern building. 

The 32-year-old architect says, “I heard people saying those who live in Saigon become Saigonese. I think after 13 years living in Saigon, I am confident enough to say that I’m Saigonese.

“I do not know whether the beautiful values of Saigon still exist or not when the century-old trees that have been familiar to the Saigonese for generations and the buildings which have existed for hundreds of years in town are all gone.

“That thought rekindled an idea of mine to make the book as a way to preserve the long-established beautiful features of Saigon, which cannot escape our memory. This is the gift I would like to present to Saigon and those who love this city as much as I do.”

The captions accompanying the images about Saigon in the 96-page book reflect his strong love for the city.

Costing VND450,000 (US$21) per copy, the book is attracting attention of young people in Saigon. Trong said he will release other books with images of Saigon in the coming time.