Saigon Zoo & Botanical Gardens

Probably one of the worst zoos I’ve ever been to. I do not recommend! I went to it by chance, I was looking for the botanical gardens and then I found out it was in the middle of the zoo. The zoo is very old, every infrastructure is outdated, the animals are in TINY cages and they look MISERABLE. Every single one of them was sleeping because, poor things they have nothing else to do with such little space! Even the elephants barely had space to walk on. It looks dirty, not well cared for and the animals really look terrible.. I wouldn’t recommend going so as to not promote it.

Visited the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens and really enjoyed the experience. The park has a very nice and diverse selection of animals and plants — the fauna and flora are impressive, and the greenery makes it a pleasant place to walk around. That said, given the hot weather, I believe more attention should be given to the animals’ comfort, especially in the reptile section. Ensuring plenty of fresh water in their pools and additional cooling measures would make a big difference to their well-being. Overall, it’s a beautiful place with great potential and worth visiting.

For me, visiting Saigon Zoo & Botanical Garden always feels special. It’s not just a place to see animals, but a place filled with memories. Walking under the big old trees and hearing the sounds of birds and animals feels familiar and comforting, especially for those who grew up in Saigon. The zoo is home to many animals such as elephants, monkeys, birds, and big cats. Seeing families bring their children here reminds me of weekend trips with my own family. Parents walking slowly, kids full of excitement and curiosity, and grandparents resting in the shade create a scene that feels very local, very Vietnamese, and very real. What I love most is the atmosphere. It’s green, calm, and simple, offering a rare escape from the busy city outside. The botanical garden makes the space even more peaceful, almost as if time slows down once you step inside. This is just my personal feeling, but Saigon Zoo & Botanical Garden is more than a tourist spot. It’s a part of the city’s childhood, family memories, and everyday life. I’m proud it’s still here, and I’ll always be happy to come back.

Review of Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens is one of the most enjoyable and family-friendly attractions in Ho Chi Minh City. The zoo offers a wide variety of animals and is a great place to spend a relaxed half-day, especially for nature and wildlife lovers. One of the main highlights is the White Tiger, which is rare and impressive to see up close. The zoo also has lions, rhinoceros, giraffes, and zebras, which are well-maintained and attract a lot of visitors. For herbivore lovers, there are deer and antelopes, adding to the diversity of wildlife. The reptile section is equally interesting, featuring lizards, chameleons, alligators, and other reptiles that are displayed clearly for visitors. Bird lovers will enjoy seeing peacocks freely moving around parts of the zoo, which adds a natural and lively feel to the environment. Overall, Saigon Zoo is clean, green, and peaceful, with plenty of shaded walking paths. It’s a great spot for families, kids, and tourists who want to experience wildlife in the heart of the city. A good balance of education, entertainment, and nature makes this zoo worth visiting when in Ho Chi Minh City.

We thought Saigon Zoo was worth the visit. It’s definitely not a cutting-edge or modern zoo, but considering when it was built and its current condition, it felt reasonably well looked after and was an enjoyable way to spend a few hours. The standout for us was the capybara enclosure — easily the highlight and really well done. Overall, it felt like a fun, relaxed visit rather than a must-see attraction. That said, some areas are clearly due for renovation, and the elephants in particular look like they could benefit from better facilities and care. With a bit more investment, the zoo could be significantly improved. All up, a decent experience with a mix of positives and areas that need attention. Worth visiting if you’re nearby and keeping expectations realistic.

Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places to visit in Ho Chi Minh City. I really enjoyed my time here. The area is full of green trees, colorful flowers, and many different kinds of animals. It’s a very nice place for walking, relaxing, and taking good photos. The garden is clean and well organized, and the staff take care of the area properly. The zoo has many interesting animals like elephants, tigers, giraffes, monkeys, and birds. It’s also a good educational place for children and families to learn about nature and wildlife. The botanical garden part is amazing too, with many tropical plants and flowers. You can sit in the shade, enjoy the calm environment, and feel fresh air even inside the busy city. The entrance ticket price is 60,000 VND, which is very reasonable and totally worth the experience. There are also some food stalls and drink shops inside if you want to rest or eat something. I really liked the peaceful atmosphere and friendly staff service. This is one of the oldest zoos in Asia, and it still keeps a natural and historic charm. I highly recommend visiting Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens when you come to Ho Chi Minh City. It’s truly the green heart of the city.

A wonderful zoo park located right in the heart of Saigon ❤️ The area is quite spacious, with plenty of green trees and a diverse range of animals, although the number is not very large. It is especially suitable for families with children, as there are many areas for kids to play, explore, and observe adorable and rare animal species from Asia. There are convenient services available such as a mini train, electric cars, children’s games, as well as food and beverage options. Overall, this place is truly worth visiting and definitely deserves a 5-star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.

I visited during a holiday(?) so it was very crowded. Furthermore, there was a fair/cosplay contest happening at the time so it was packed full of people. Regardless it was a lot of fun, especially if you go out in groups or on a date. For 60k/person, it was rather worth it. Large, various animals and interactive NFC stamps for people who like adventures, kiosks for people who need to stop, many opportunities to interact with the animals (feeding, petting; just make sure you bring money for this). There's even a building to show off taxidermied animals and even skeletons or some mutated creatures. Some reminders if you plan on visiting: - Bring money if you wanna interact with the animals (and maybe tissues to clean yourself off). - if you do plan to visit the goats, bring some tissues and be wary of what you're wearing since they can put their hooves on you and get you dirty. - Bring a fan and/or sunscreen and/or a hat. - you can also go at night to observe the nocturnal animals. However, that will cost more. Love this place, will definitely visit more in the future.