By Dr. Pham Ha – Founding President & CEO, LuxGroup®
Across the world, great cities are born from rivers. London grew from the Thames, Paris from the Seine, and New York from the Hudson. These waterways did more than shape geography; they opened pathways for trade, culture, and ideas that connected nations to the world.
In Vietnam, the Saigon River played a similar role. Along its banks emerged Saigon Port, the country’s first modern commercial harbor and the maritime gateway that connected Vietnam to global trade routes for more than a century. Today, this historic port is entering a new chapter — transforming from an industrial trade hub into a cultural waterfront and tourism destination.
The birth of Vietnam’s first international port
The story of Saigon Port begins in the mid-19th century, during the early years of French colonial expansion in southern Vietnam.
After occupying Saigon in 1859, French authorities quickly recognized the strategic importance of the Saigon River. Deep, navigable, and connected to the fertile Mekong Delta, the river offered a natural corridor linking Vietnam’s agricultural heartland with international maritime routes.
On February 22, 1860, the French colonial administration decided to build a commercial port in Saigon. The project was assigned to Messageries Impériales, one of the leading French maritime shipping companies of the era.
Construction began in 1862, and by 1863 the port opened to international shipping under the name Port de Commerce de Saïgon. From that moment forward, Saigon quickly developed into the most important maritime hub in French Indochina.
By 1914, a decree by the Governor-General of Indochina officially recognized Saigon as a public commercial port — formally integrating it into the colonial economic system and global maritime trade.
The economic engine of Indochina
Throughout the early twentieth century, Saigon Port became the largest and busiest port in Indochina, serving Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
Ships arriving from Europe and Asia brought machinery, metals, and manufactured goods. In return, vessels departed the Saigon River loaded with the agricultural wealth of southern Vietnam: rice from the Mekong Delta, rubber from plantations, and tropical commodities.
During several periods of conflict — particularly 1936–1943 and 1946–1954 — the port also functioned as a strategic logistics hub supporting French military operations across Indochina.
Shipping statistics illustrate the scale of its operations. In 1944, 267 ships entered the port carrying approximately 420,000 tons of cargo. By 1954, traffic had expanded dramatically to 1,745 vessels handling nearly 2.9 million tons of goods.
Between 1940 and 1955, more than 30 million tons of cargo passed through Saigon Port — making it one of Southeast Asia’s most important colonial maritime gateways.
A river port that shaped national history
Saigon Port is remembered not only for commerce but also for its role in Vietnam’s modern history.
In June 1911, at Nha Rong Wharf, a young Vietnamese man named Nguyen Tat Thanh boarded the French ship Amiral Latouche-Tréville. Working as a kitchen assistant, he left Vietnam in search of a path to liberate his country.
That young traveler would later become Ho Chi Minh, the leader of Vietnam’s independence movement.
The image of that departure has become one of the most powerful symbols in Vietnamese history. For many people, Saigon Port is not merely a commercial harbor but the place where a nation’s journey toward independence began.
The port of reunification
Another important chapter unfolded after the reunification of Vietnam in 1975.
Following the end of the war, Saigon Port played a crucial role in reconnecting the country’s economy and transportation networks. Among the most memorable initiatives was the operation of the “Thống Nhất” (Reunification) passenger ships, which ran regular maritime routes linking Ho Chi Minh City with northern ports such as Hai Phong.
At a time when Vietnam’s railway and aviation systems were still recovering from decades of war, these ships became a vital transportation lifeline between the North and the South.
The voyages often lasted several days and carried:
- passengers traveling to reunite with families
- workers and students moving between regions
- goods and supplies supporting national reconstruction
For many Vietnamese who lived through the post-1975 period, the Thống Nhất ships symbolized the emotional and geographic reconnection of the country after decades of division. The route itself became a floating corridor of reunion, hope, and rebuilding.
In this way, Saigon Port was not only a gateway to the world but also a bridge reconnecting Vietnam internally during one of its most important historical transitions.
From industrial port to urban waterfront
Following Vietnam’s economic reforms in the late 20th century, Saigon Port continued to expand its logistics capacity. The modern port network now includes terminals such as:
- Nha Rong
- Khanh Hoi
- Tan Thuan 1
- Tan Thuan 2
- Can Tho
Together, the system spans approximately 570,000 square meters, with 2,830 meters of docking length, 250,000 square meters of cargo yards, and a cargo-handling capacity exceeding 16 million tons annually.
For decades, the port remained a cornerstone of Vietnam’s maritime economy and was awarded the national title Hero of Labor during the renovation era.
A new chapter: heritage and tourism
Today, Saigon Port is entering a transformative moment.
Beginning in 2025, the government of Ho Chi Minh City has decided to preserve the historic Nha Rong – Khanh Hoi waterfront as a heritage district while gradually relocating heavy cargo activities to deep-water ports outside the city center.
The decision reflects a global urban trend. Cities such as London, Singapore, and Barcelona have successfully transformed historic port districts into vibrant waterfront destinations.
Ho Chi Minh City is now beginning a similar transition.
Instead of container terminals, the Saigon River’s central waterfront will increasingly focus on:
- river tourism and cruise experiences
- cultural storytelling and heritage interpretation
- waterfront promenades and public spaces
- gastronomy and performing arts
- museums and maritime heritage attractions
In this vision, the river becomes the central narrative of the city.
Amiral Cruises: storytelling on the Saigon River
Among the new tourism concepts emerging from this transformation is Amiral Cruises for Presidents®, a luxury boutique cruise designed to celebrate the heritage of the Saigon River.
Inspired by the historic voyage of the Amiral Latouche-Tréville in 1911, the project seeks to transform a cruise journey into an immersive cultural experience.
Rather than focusing solely on sightseeing, the cruise explores the tangible and intangible heritage of the river civilization that shaped Saigon.
On board, guests discover:
- the maritime history connecting Vietnam to global trade
- the river communities of southern Vietnam
- Vietnamese gastronomy and performing arts
- stories of merchants, sailors, and travelers who once navigated these waters
Through storytelling, cuisine, and cultural performances, the river becomes a living archive of Vietnamese history.
The river that continues to shape a city
More than a century ago, ships departing Saigon Port carried rice, rubber, and goods across oceans. Later, the Thống Nhất ships carried people and hope along the reunified coastline of Vietnam.
Today, new voyages along the same river carry something else — stories.
The transformation of Nha Rong – Khanh Hoi marks the beginning of a new era in which Saigon’s historic harbor becomes not only a memory of trade but also a cultural gateway to Vietnam.
And fittingly, the story begins where it once did — along the banks of the Saigon River, where history continues to flow toward the sea.
