How has the Thao Cam Park changed over the years?

Thao Cam Park is located on the bank of the Thi Nghe Canal at the opposite end of Le Duan Street from the Thong Nhat (Unification) Palace. "Thao" means "plants." However, Saigonese refers to the park as "So thu," where "thu" means "animals."



Construction of the park began in March 1864, and it opened in May 1865. Originally the park was solely concerned with the growing imported industrial plants such as cacao, coffee, vanilla, and rubber as well as collecting exotic animals and birds from tropical Viet Nam for export to zoos in France. The first director, J. B. Louis Pierre, worked very hard for twelve years to develop the park. At the turn of the century, the press praised he Thao Cam Park as one of the most beautiful n the Far East, second only to the Zoological and Botanical Garden in Singapore. However, from 1942 to 1954, the Japanese and French armies in turn used the park for barracks. They cut down many of the old trees and damaged he cages; many animals and birds died from lack of care.



Following the Geneva Accords, the City restored the Thao Cam Park. Since reunification in 1975, the park has expanded its cooperation with many countries and international organizations. It joined the Southeast Asian Zoological Parks Association, has regular contacts with the Leipzig and Rostock Zoos in Germany, and cooperates with the World Wildlife Fund. Through exchange programmers between zoos, Vietnamese can now see for the first time exotic animals and birds they previously saw only in films or books. The park staff spends a lot of time and effort studying, the animals and plants and often makes field trips to collect new specimens.



The Park forms a green space in the middle of the city. After the main entrance, visitors find themselves walking between two lines of tall nhac ngua trees. On their left is the History Museum. On their right is the Temple of the Hung Kings, founders of the Vietnamese nation. Orchids, cacti, and bonsai show their beautiful colors, while frangipani blossoms release their delicate fragrance. After visiting the bird and animal cages, visitors can relax by the lake and enjoy the lotus flowers and water lilies as well as schools of carp, anabases, and pike. This is a real blessing in the middle of a busy urban center.