Charner Boulevard

This runs parallel to Catinat Street and goes from City Hall to the Myre de Villiers embankment. Originally, in 1860, this boulevard was a canal, and was filled in in 1887 following a decision by the Colonial Council for the Development of the Capital of Cochin China.

The compartmentalized houses along this boulevard have shops on the ground floor and living quarters above.
These structures made the fortune of Chinese developers and Indian builders. Indians were in Indochina as Muslim fabric merchants for the rich, worldly people of the colony or as Christian employees from Pondicherry, employed by the colonial administration. Money-lenders of Hindu origin were called Chettys or Chettiars. It was the latter who would finance the big work projects of Saigon.
In 1880 there was a Chetty temple that was also a Central Bank office.
After the French left, the Chettiars returned to independent India, but an Indian mosque still remains on Admiral Dupré Street (now Dong Du), as well as the Mairammam Hindu temple on Ohier St. (now Truong-Dinh).

Catinat Hotel

Side walk Café

Thanh Bach Restaurant

Thanh Bach Restaurant is one of the many sidewalk coffees on Bonard Boulevard (Le Loi).

On Charner Boulevard
in 195O

The Charner Department Store

"French articles" were sold at the "Grands Magasins Charner" at the corner of Bonard and Charner Boulevards, a branch of the “Société Coloniale des Grands Magasins »(Colonial Department Store Company), which would become the “Union Commerciale Indochinoise & Africaine – LUCIA (The Indochinese and African Commercial Union), located at :
- " 135 Charner Boulevard.

Different departments :
Groceries– Tobacco and Cigarettes- Cosmetics- Fabrics– Stationery
- Clocks and Watches– Photography
- Insurance.
With the exclusive representation of the following brands :
Otard Cognac, Pommery & Greno Champagne, Suze Gentiane, Pernod Pastis, J.Walker Whisky, Martini Vermouth, Patriache Wines, Vitrac Fruits, Le Baudy Sommier Sugar, Cho Meunier Chocolate.
Max Factor, Lanvin, Lancôme, Pétrole Ann.
Kléber-Colombes Tires, Soubitez, Tecalemit, Motobécane.
Singer, Eternit, Teppaz.
The French Tobacco Authority,
La Nationale Life Insurance, Phénix Transports & Life Insurance.
Succursales : Saigon, Haiphong, Hanoi, Phnom-Penh, Tourane, Hong-Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, Tangiers, Casablanca.
The Inspector General for the Far-East
Manager :
William Thibault de Chanvalon

The Charner Department Store
G.M.C. after renovation
(now Thuong Xa Tax)

Le Loi Circus

The Glacier Pôle Nord
North Pole

Going back up Charner Boulevard, there used to be a building that was the "Bainier Garage" (Auto Hall) headquarters of Citroën since the 30's.

Auto Hall

Rosengart

Rosengart, the car who runs
After the war the Bainier Garage will be the dealers of the french cars: "Unic, Delahaye, Rosengart and Motoconfort".

Mobylette Motoconfort

Now Auto Hall...
is Rex Hotel
Before 1959

Initially the Rex Hotel was the A. Lincoln library.
The famous Hotel “Rex”, built in 1959, belonged to Mr. & Mrs. Ung Thi (who were King Bao Dai's relatives) who also owned the “Rex Cinema” where films from the western world were shown.

Rex theater

In July of 1962 the Italian-French singer Dalida put on several gala events in Vietnam notably at the Rex Theater as well as at the Hotel Caravelle.
But this tour would be plaqued by complications: the local authorities interrupt her show during a rendition of "La Leçon de Twist" (The Twist Lesson), in these troubled times this song is considered to be a political act! Nevertheless, Dalida is idolised, and the streets of Saigon are jammed by her presence.
She is accompanied by her friend: the actor and painter Jean Sobieski.

Rex film theater

The american movie "Marriage on the Rocks ", with Frank Sinatra, Deborah Kerr, Dean Martin, and Trini Lopez on december 1965.

The french movie "Two men in town" (Ké Sát Nhân), with Jean Gabin & Alain Delon, was played at the Rex film theater on october 1974.

The mini Rex

Saigon Francophilia

French-language film rank among the most popular at the Rex theater in downtown Saigon. Despite years of French colonialism, one Vietnamese business explained, "France is still the country of our dreams... The Americans are too arrogant and do not understand the importance of our feelings."
Aug 9, 1973 Associated Press.

Rex Hotel

During the sixties the Hotel Rex was occupied by American army officers.

Rex Hotel Pool

American Soldiers at Rex Hotel Pool in 1969.
The owners of the Rex chain lived out the end of their life in suburban Paris after their property was confiscated by the new régime in 1975.
The Opium Administration was at number 2; it collected, in the name of the French Government, the profits from the opium trade, which had been farmed out to the Chinese merchants since the creation of Charner Boulevard.

Saint-Graal

- at 31 Crystal and Porcelain
"Saint-Graal"

La Reine Pédauque

- at 34 "Reine Pédauque" Rotisserie

Catinat Hotel

- at 36 Catinat Hotel
(in 1955 Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard)

Bar Le Bristol

- " 80 Bar "Le Bristol"

Restaurant Aterbea

- " 84 Restaurant "Aterbia"
- " 86 Bar-Restaurant "Au Club"

Saigon Garage

A Simca 8 convertible at the Saigon Garage during the inauguration of the Automobile Show at the Press and Information Office on September 20th, 1949.

(S.E.I.C.) "Saigon Garage"
Head office: 92 at 102 Charner Boulevard &
11/23, Francis Garnier Square.
Simca-Studebaker-Berliet
Branches: Phnom Penh and Dalat
Manager: Mr.Desmond

Eden Passage

Société Indochine Luminescence
& Radio (I.L.E.R.)

- " 104 in the Eden Passage the "Société Indochine Luminescence" Philips & Claude Light.
S.D.I.T. Branches : Phnom Penh-Hanoi-Haiphong

Eden-Sports

- " 106 in the shopping center "Eden Sports" shop, Haute Couture Lise Polen shop, and "La Maison Rouge perfumery.

Eden film theater

Lise Polen

Florists
on Charner Boulevard

La Maison Rouge

- " 116 Air Vietnam agency

- " 116 Radialva, Radio, Records, Photos "Pacific Radio"

Catinat -Ciné

During the 1950’s there were about a dozen cinemas in Saigon, not counting those of Cholon. All French, as well as American films were shown in the French-language version, subtitled in Vietnamese and Chinese!
- Cinema A-Sam, 111, Albert 1 st Boulevard

Bonard theater

- " Bonard 121, boulevard Bonard

Casino Dakao

- "Casino Dakao" , Maréchal Foch Square
- " Catinat 151, Catinat street

Casino theater

- " Casino theater at the corner of Pellerin Street and Bonard Boulevard

Cathay theater

- " Cathay”, 25 Maréchal De Lattre de Tassigny Street

Catinat Ciné

- " Catinat 151, Catinat Street

Eden theater

- " Eden 183, Catinat Street
- " Majestic 13-15-17 Catinat Street

Truong Quoc theater

Olympic theater

- " Olympic 95, Chasseloup-Laubat Street
- " Nam Quang corner of Testard street and Thai-Lap-Than Street
- " Nam Viêt 131, Chaigneau street
- " Saigon Casino corner of Pellerin street and Bonard Boulevard
- " Thanh Binh 343, Colonel Grimaud Street

Van Cam film theater

- " Van Cam 8, Pépinière street (Thi-Nghé)

The "Easter Parade" movie was played at Van Cam film Theater on July 1950.
These theaters were frequented by French expatriates, Vietnamese, French military personnel, and later by Americans.

"Viva Las Vegas", with Elvis Presley (photo taken in 1966)