Nguyen Du Street in HCM City’s District 1 has been named unofficially as “the street of tamarind leaves”
The tropical tamarind is among the trees popular on the streets of Saigon. So, it will take one some time to make a full list of streets in HCM City whose sidewalks are lined with rows of tamarind trees—Pham Ngoc Thach, Ly Tu Trong, Hai Ba Trung, Vo Van Tan, Le Thanh Ton and Le Quy Don, to name just a few. Among these names, one stands out: Nguyen Du Street in District 1.
Archives show that the tamarind was first introduced into Saigon by the French authorities about 150 years ago. Saigon Stories does not know for sure how old are the tamarinds on Nguyen Du are. But some are old enough to provide pedestrians with shadowy walkways beneath. The tamarind-lined street has been sources of inspiration for generations of Vietnamese poets and poetesses who praised romantic love. Imagine walking hand in hand with your sweetheart on the sidewalk of the street while tiny tamarind leaves are blowing in the wind. Now it’s time for you to say, “Spring is here, and romance is in the air.”
Historically, Nguyen Du was an old street first built by the French authorities during the time Vietnam was under French domination. It then consisted of two different streets. The first, name Lucien Mossard, ran from Nguyen Binh Khiem Street to what is now Hai Ba Trung Street. The second, Taberd Street, was the rest of the current street. In 1955, the Saigon regime joined the two and renamed it Nguyen Du.
The present 2-km-long street starts from Nguyen Binh Khiem in District 1, and stops at Cach Mang Thang Tam, also in the same district. However, the section of Nguyen Du from Ton Duc Thang Boulevard to Nguyen Binh Khiem Street has been blocked from public access.
By chance, the street lends its romanticism to its own name. Nguyen Du (1765-1820) is one of Vietnam’s greatest poets. The 3,254-line Truyn Kiu (The Tale of Kieu), the poet’s immortal work, is a sad romance in verse, which has moved generations of Vietnamese in love. Excerpts of Truyn Kiu are classic examples of Vietnamese poetic beauty, which have found their ways to official textbooks in the country.
Perhaps the most romantic section of the street extends from the intersection of Nguyen Du and Dong Khoi streets to its end on Cach Mang Thang Tam. The wide sidewalk, particularly the section on the side of the Reunification Palace—the Presidential Palace of the former Saigon regime, is an ideal place for joggers.
In addition to the Reunification Palace, Nguyen Du has other landmarks, too. Walk up the street from the palace toward Hai Ba Trung Street and you’ll pass the Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral before reaching the HCM City Central Post Office. Then cross Hai Ba Trung Street and you’ll arrive at the InterContinental Asiana Saigon, one of the biggest hotels in town.
If you walk down the palace toward Cach Mang Thang Tam Street, you’ll pass the HCM City Conservatory on the right. It is on the opposite side of the South Korean Consulate General. Take just a few steps further you’ll arrive at the gate of Tao Dan Park, arguably Saigon’s most famous park.
Some nostalgic Saigonese who must live away from their hometown have referred to their city as “the city of flying tamarind leaves.” You would agree with them if you visit Nguyen Du Street.
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