District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

District 1 Quận 1
Urban district
Downtown of Saigon
Position in HCMC's core
District 1 Location in Vietnam
Coordinates: 10°45′43″N 106°35′41″E / 10.76194°N 106.59472°E / 10.76194; 106.59472Coordinates: 10°45′43″N 106°35′41″E / 10.76194°N 106.59472°E / 10.76194; 106.59472
Country	Vietnam
Centrally governed city	Ho Chi Minh City
Seat	47 Lê Duẩn Boulevard
Commune, wards	10 phường
Area
• Total	7.7211 km2 (2.9811 sq mi)
Population
• Total	204,899
• Density	27,000/km2 (69,000/sq mi)
Demographics
• Main ethnic groups	predominantly Kinh
Time zone	ICT (UTC+07)
Website	quan1.hochiminhcity.gov.vn

District 1 (Quận 1) is the central urban district of Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city in Vietnam. With a total area of 7.7211 km² (2.9811 sq mi) the district has a population of 204,899 people as of 2010.^[1] The district is divided into 10 small subsets which are called wards. District 1 is where most of the city's administrative offices, consulates, and big buildings are located. District 1 is the busiest district in the city with the highest living standards. Đồng Khởi street and Nguyễn Huệ boulevard in the district are the city's two main commercial centers. Đồng Khởi street is currently hitting its price record at $50,000 for a square meter in 2007.^[2]

History

District 1 and the other seven districts of Ho Chi Minh City were founded on May 27, 1959. Before 1975, the first district only had four small subsets (wards) which were Trần Quang Khải, Tự Đức, Bến Nghé, Hòa Bình (named after major historical characters) and the second district had seven different wards which were Cầu Kho, Cầu Ông Lãnh, Huyện Sĩ, Nguyễn Cư Trinh, Nguyễn Cảnh Chân, Bùi Viện, Bến Thành. In May, 1976, the first and second district combined into the District 1 we have today.

Administration

District 1 contains ten small subsets which are called wards. The different wards are: Bến Nghé, Bến Thành, Cô Giang, Cầu Kho, Cầu Ông Lãnh, Đa Kao, Nguyễn Thái Bình, Nguyễn Cư Trinh, Phạm Ngũ Lão, and Tân Định. Each ward has its own people committee and all ten of the committee are under the People's Committee of District 1.^[3]

Demographic and geographical features

District 1 has a population of 204,899 people over the total of 7,162,864 in Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city in Vietnam. The total area of the district is about 7.7211 km² (2.9811 sq mi), that makes the district a very dense area. The District's density is 26,538 inhabitants per square kilometre (68,730/sq mi) very high comparing the Ho Chi Minh City's 3,419/km² (8,860/sq mi) and Vietnam's 259/km² (670/sq mi).

Relatively, District 1 is located in the middle of Ho Chi Minh City. The district area is divided with Bình Thạnh District and Phú Nhuận District - Thị Nghè canal as border, and District 3 - Hai Bà Trưng street and Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai street as border in the north, District 2 in the east with Sai Gon River as border, District 5 to the west - Nguyễn Văn Cừ street as border, and District 4 to the south - Bến Nghé canal as border.^[2]

Economy

When Ho Chi Minh City was governed by South Vietnam, Air Vietnam's head office was in District 1.^[4]

District 1 is considered the financial centre of Saigon and Vietnam. The Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange and Vietnam HQ of international banks such as HSBC, ANZ, Standard Chartered, Citi, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of China, Maybank,... are located in district 1. District 1 also known as the best spot for shopping in Vietnam with a high concentration of shopping centres and luxury brands.

Consulates

Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam's biggest and busiest city. A very large population of immigrants from all over the world is currently living and working there. Because District 1 is the city's central district, many consulates from other countries are located there.

^[3]

Education

Many of the best public schools in the city are located in District 1. Vietnam's system of private schools is relatively new and is still in the developing stage.

Kindergarten:

^[5]

University:

Tourist sights

Historical sights

The Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica, the Saigon Opera House, the Central Post Office, the City Hall, Phạm Ngũ Lão Street, the former Republic of Vietnam President's Reunification Palace, Rex Hotel are some of the most famous historical tourism sights in District 1. Besides specific locations like those mentioned, basically every street in District 1 built and designed since 1946 was by the French. Most of the buildings constructed since the French colony era are still standing now, with most renovated recently.

Tourist sights
Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica  Reunification Palace  Rex Hotel  Central Post Office  City Hall  Inner decor of the Central Post Office  City Opera House

Other Attractions Besides above mentioned historical sights, tourists coming to Ho Chi Minh City, particularly District 1 should not miss the Bitexco Financial Tower. It is the tallest building of the city as of the beginning of 2016 and a symbol of modernity mixed with the cultural spirit.

District 1 Skyline from Saigon River

References

External links

• From A To Z Experience Ho Chi Minh City District 1

Ho Chi Minh City
Urban districts	Bình Tân Bình Thạnh District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4 District 5 District 6 District 7 District 8 District 9 District 10 District 11 District 12 Gò Vấp Phú Nhuận Tân Bình Tân Phú Thủ Đức
Suburban districts	Bình Chánh Cần Giờ Củ Chi Hóc Môn Nhà Bè

Districts of Southeast Vietnam (Đông Nam Bộ)
Ho Chi Minh City	Urban districts Bình Tân Bình Thạnh District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4 District 5 District 6 District 7 District 8 District 9 District 10 District 11 District 12 Gò Vấp Phú Nhuận Tân Bình Tân Phú Thủ Đức Suburban districts Bình Chánh Cần Giờ Củ Chi Hóc Môn Nhà Bè
Đồng Nai Province	Biên Hòa Cẩm Mỹ Định Quán Long Khánh Long Thành Nhơn Trạch Tân Phú Thống Nhất Trảng Bom Vĩnh Cửu Xuân Lộc
Bình Dương Province	Thủ Dầu Một Bến Cát Dầu Tiếng Phú Giáo Tân Uyên Thuận An Dĩ An
Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu Province	Bà Rịa Vũng Tàu Châu Đức Đất Đỏ Long Điền Tân Thành Xuyên Mộc
Bình Phước Province	Đồng Xoài Bình Long Bù Đăng Bù Đốp Bù Gia Mập Chơn Thành Đồng Phú Hớn Quản Lộc Ninh Phước Long
Tây Ninh Province	Tây Ninh Tân Biên Tân Châu District Dương Minh Châu Hòa Thành Bến Cầu Gò Dầu Trảng Bàng
Bình Thuận Province	Phan Thiết Bắc Bình Đức Linh Hàm Thuận Bắc Hàm Thuận Nam Hàm Tân Tánh Linh Tuy Phong