Lê Lợi Boulevard () is a boulevard in District 1, downtown Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The boulevard stretches from Đồng Khởi Street, right across from Lam Sơn Square (in front of the Municipal Theatre of Ho Chi Minh City) to the Quách Thị Trang Square (in front of the Bến Thành Market) and directly connects to Trần Hưng Đạo Boulevard to go to Chợ Lớn.
Ho Chi Minh City Metro Line 1 runs underneath the boulevard across the Ben Thanh station and Opera House station.
History
The history of the boulevard dates back to the 1860s, following the French takeover of Saigon. They ordered the digging of a 800-metre canal with two drainages, the Saigon River (near the Marine barracks) and the arroyo Chinois. One of its main goals was to drain the lower part of Saigon, which was then a pestilential swamp. This waterway was crossed perpendicularly by the "Grand Canal", which later became the Charner Boulevard.
The canal was eventually filled in to create an artery known as "rue n° 13", later changed to boulevard Bonard. The exact time when the canal was filled in is unknown, but it was estimated to be between 1870 and 1880. Initially, the Bonard Boulevard ended at Mac Mahon Street (present-day Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa Street), and it was not until 1914 that the boulevard was extended to the Central Market.
In 1955, the boulevard was renamed Lê Lợi Boulevard by the government of South Vietnamafter the King Lê Lợi of the Later Lê Dynasty and the Place Augustin Foray where the northeast end of boulevard also renamed as Lam Sơn Square (the park in the middle of the square was named Lê Lợi Park in the Republic of Vietnam time then Lam Sơn Park in current) to tribute his leadership in the Lam Sơn uprising.
Notable buildings AddressNameImageCross-streetNotes 6A Lê Lợi Blvd Saigon Union Square 171 Đồng Khởi – 53 Lê Thánh Tôn – 116 Nguyễn Huệ Mandarin Oriental, Saigon will be opened here. Originally called as Vincom Center A. It was the place of Passage Eden. Older address is 2-4 Lê Lợi4–6 Lê Lợi BlvdRex Hotel141 Nguyễn Huệ Blvd – Lê Thánh Tôn Street8 Lê Lợi BlvdEximbank Lê Lợi Transaction Office26 Lê Lợi Blvd26 Lê Lợi Apartment128A–130 Pasteur StreetBạch Đằng Ice Cream and An Phước – Pierre Cardin28–28A Lê Lợi Blvd Next to Liberty Central Saigon Citypoint Hotel, Gloria Jean's Coffees was rent here but moved out currently40–54 Lê Lợi BlvdRow of shophouses60–62 Lê Lợi BlvdFAHASA Saigon Bookstore66 Lê Lợi BlvdEl Gaucho SteakhouseNam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa StreetLê Lợi BlvdSaigon Jewelry Centre (SJC) Tower101 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa – Nguyễn Trung Trực – Lê Thánh TônEmpty lot. Previously was the place of International Trade Center before October 200268–70 Lê Lợi Blvd68 Lê Lợi ApartmentNguyễn Trung Trực StreetShamoji Robata Yaki, Yen Sushi & Sake Pub are renting here, previously was rented by Bến Thành Jewelry and Bến Thành Tourist88 Lê Lợi Blvd88 Lê Lợi Apartment108–110 Lê Lợi Blvd108 Lê Lợi Apartment120–122 Lê Lợi BlvdRow of shophousesPhan Bội Châu Street11–15 Lê Lợi Blvd Opera View Building – Artex Saigon 161 Đồng Khởi Street 23 Lê Lợi BlvdSaigontourist Headquarters Building102 Nguyễn Huệ Blvd33–35 Lê Lợi Blvd Saigon Tax Trade Centre135 Nguyễn Huệ BlvdDemolished and waiting for rebuilt65–67 Lê Lợi Blvd Saigon Centre92–94 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa – 57 Pasteur – Huỳnh Thúc Kháng 119–121 Lê Lợi Blvd Saigon Square Mall by Hoàng Thành77–89 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa Street F.Studio of FPT and A Square Coffee are renting the Lê Lợi side of the mall123 Lê Lợi BlvdCapital BuildingPreviously was Kim Đô Office Building125 Lê Lợi BlvdSaigon General HospitalQuách Thị Trang Square
See also Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard Hàm Nghi Boulevard
References
External links