Hàm Nghi Boulevard () is an east–west boulevard in District 1, downtown Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The boulevard stretches from Tôn Đức Thắng Boulevard (Bạch Đằng Quay, Saigon River waterfront) to the Quách Thị Trang Square (in front of the Bến Thành Market).

History

The boulevard was originally a waterway known in Vietnamese as rạch Cầu Sấu (translating to "Crocodile Bridge creek"). According to scholar Pétrus Ký, the creek got its name as there was once a crocodile reservoir in the area, where crocodiles were bred for meat.

Following the French conquest of Saigon, the streets on both sides of the creek were first designated by n° 3, then they were given the names rue Dayot and rue de Canton, respectively. The waterway was later filled in and then by a decree dated 14 May 1877, the two streets were given a single name: boulevard de Canton. In the 1880s, the Saigon–My Tho railway line was built along the center of the boulevard. On 24 February 1897, the municipal council decided to split the boulevard into two separate streets on either side of the railway track, each named after a French admiral: rue Krantz on the northern side and rue Duperré on the southern side. Then again on 22 April 1920, after the relocation of the railway terminus to the area occupied today by September 23 Park, the municipal council decided to resume the name "boulevard" for the streets, and the name boulevard de la Somme was chosen, after the Battle of the Somme, one of the First World War's deadliest battles.

In 1955, the boulevard was renamed Hàm Nghi Boulevard by the government South Vietnam, after the former Emperor Hàm Nghi of the Nguyễn dynasty.

Notable buildings Hàm Nghi Boulevard is one of the most expensive streets of Ho Chi Minh City with those notable buildings Address NameImage Primary tenants, users and notes1–3 Hàm Nghi BlvdIFC One SaigonUnder construction, another address is 34A Tôn Đức Thắng Blvd. Originally invested by Saigon M&C Real Estate Company, a joint venture between Saigontourist and DongA Bank (now is Vikki Bank of HDBank) and named after the company, then changed as Saigon One Tower until VivaLand, a company related to Trương Mỹ Lan, has bought it and changed the façade of the building in 2022.2 Hàm Nghi BlvdHo Chi Minh City Customs DepartmentThe new 21-story building was built in 201832 Hàm Nghi BlvdBIDV Hàm Nghi BranchPreviously was place of Franco-Chinese Bank then Mekong Housing Bank until it was merged into Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam37–39 Hàm Nghi BlvdHo Chi Minh City University of BankingPreviously was the first place of Embassy of the United States, Saigon79–79A Hàm NghiVietinBank Ho Chi Minh City BranchPreviously place of Credit Commercial Bank of Vietnam in Republic Of Vietnam period81–83–83B–85 Hàm Nghi BlvdDoji TowerInvested and inaugurated by Fideco Real Estate Developer in 2008. Its former names are: Fideco Tower, Continental Tower, Ruby Tower and Hanwha Life Building93–95 Hàm Nghi BlvdVietinBank TowerAlso known as VietinBank Tower Saigon to distinguish with the VietinBank Business Center Office Tower in Hanoi, which also colloquially known as VietinBank Tower. Place of Ho Chi Minh City Branch 1 of the ban2 Hải Triều StreetBitexco Financial TowerThe building is at the intersection of Hải Triều, Hàm Nghi and Hồ Tùng Mậu street. It was the tallest building in Vietnam until 2011122–124–126–128 Hàm Nghi BlvdCao Thắng Technical CollegeLocation of the Building F of the college, the main entrance is on 65 Huỳnh Thúc Kháng Street132 Hàm Nghi BlvdHavanna TowerAlso known as Havana Tower136 Hàm Nghi BlvdSaigon Railway Transport JSC Headquarter

References

See also

Lê Lợi Boulevard Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard