Visitors watch animals at the Sài Gòn Zoo and Botanical Garden in HCM City. – VNA/VNS Photo Thu Hương

Located on Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm Street in District 1 in the city’s centre, the 17ha zoo was established in 1864 and is the country’s largest of its kind.

It is also one of the world’s oldest zoos.

It has more than 2,000 animals from 135 species and 2,500 trees from 360 species, including 700 ancient trees and many endangered species listed in Việt Nam’s Red Book and the World Red Book.

Phan Thị Thu Hiền, a lecturer at Việt Nam National University Hồ Chí Minh City - University of Social Sciences and Humanities, said the Sài Gòn Zoo and Botanical Garden was initially built to breed birds and animals, produce tree seedlings, and preserve animal and plant species with four main functions - researching, preservation, showcasing and education.

The zoo still retains these functions and offers additional functions of entertainment and relaxing, she told a seminar titled “The Sài Gòn Zoo and Botanical Garden - traditional values and development potential” held in HCM City on Wednesday (March 6).

Therefore, the zoo can become a destination for entertainment, learning and MICE tourism, she added.

The zoo is a natural and cultural heritage of HCM City and has potential to develop holistic tourism, according to participants at the seminar.

Archeology Doctor Nguyễn Thị Hậu said that from its establishment and development, its values in all aspects of life and its position in the heritage and memory space of Sài Gòn urban area, the zoo is truly an important urban heritage of HCM City today.

An urban heritage with many important functions and values such as the Sài Gòn Zoo and Botanical Garden needs different conservation methods to maintain friendliness, familiarity and to develop the level of community interaction, and this would enhance the zoo’s value to the society, she said.

Huỳnh Thu Thảo, chairwoman of the Members’ Council of Sài Gòn Zoo - Botanical Garden Company Limited, said the zoo has become a green lung and a natural garden in the city’s centre area and is a place for the city’s residents and tourists to experience and learn about animals and plants.

With its development orientation of being a place to preserve gene resources of rare and precious animals and plants, the zoo can become more attractive to tourists, she said.

Besides displaying animals and plants under traditional methods, the zoo will organise activities for tourists to experience and interact with animals, she said.

On the occasion of its upcoming 160th establishment anniversary year on March 23, the zoo has organised many activities, including a photo contest, photo exhibition and art performances.

The zoo sold 1.83 million tickets worth a total of nearly VNĐ95 billion (US$3.8 million) last year. – VNS