Saigon has seen tremendous growth since its humble beginnings as a small Khmer seaport. Vietnamese settlers arrived in the 17th century, eventually solidifying their control over the area with the construction on the Citadel of Saigon in 1790.
The French occupiers expanded the city’s borders as they created a model European city. Over time, Saigon grew and absorbed outlying rice fields and towns, none more significant than Cho Lon which became part of Saigon in 1956.
The maps below illustrate the city’s geographic evolution from 1790 – 1973.
1790.
1870. To view in detail click here.
1873. To view in detail click here.
1895. To view in detail click here.
1898. To view in detail click here.
1905. To view in detail click here.
1926. To view in detail click here.
1942. To view in detail click here.
1966. To view in detail click here.
1973. To view in detail click here.
