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150 year flagpole in Saigon
Built by the French to pick up modern iron trains to Saigon, the existing Ngữ flagpole.
The flag tower is located in the Bach Dang wharf area, near the foot of Khanh Hoi Bridge (Nguyen Thai Binh Ward, District 1, HCMC).

Flag of the modern day flag.  Photo: Duy Tran
Flag of the modern day flag. Photo: Duy Tran.

Along with the construction of the Ba Son shipyard, Nha Rong shipyard, the French built this flagpole in 1865. The 30 m high building, flagging the boat to Nha Rong harbor - where the bridge between Saigon and Ben Nghe Canal.

The flag bearing the French name is "Des des Signaus", built on the former base of the Nguyen rulers. "Ancient language" means a place of guarding a ship, which is part of the port of Saigon, which has the function of linking the operation and control of the train.

Together with the Ben Nha Rong, the flag tower of Thu Ngu became a monumental work, highlighting the confluence of three rivers that are still wild, shady trees.

The flagpole consists of three floors, the bottom is a high floor, the top of the house surrounds the column. The middle section is higher, with an octagonal roof that resembles the old Gia Dinh architecture. The iron pole is supported by many large steel cables. Over time, any damaged fibers will be replaced.

Flag of the Principality in 1866, one year after construction.  Photo material
Flag of the Principality in 1866, one year after construction. Photo material.

On the function of the old flagpole, in the book Saigon old , scholar Wang Hongsan described: "At the top of the flag often hang the sentence, the day is cloth flag, color flag, or a paint ball At night, a light is on, when it is white when it is red, these signals tell the ships to avoid danger, hit each other while entering the Saigon River.

More than 150 years ago, it was strange for Western iron and steel vessels to land in Saigon, because most of the people were walking or carriage. Modern cruise ships and masts mark the new development of the land, making the transition to later turn Saigon into a metropolis where communication with the world.

The flag was also marked by a history when a young, ruddy, armed rugged infantry unit fought against the English company on 23 September 1945. They fought and sacrificed to the last man at the bottom of the flagpole to defend the new sovereignty but failed.

The flag tower is associated with many ups and downs of Saigon.  Photo material
Flag stick with many ups and downs of Saigon. Photo material.

Today, the original function of the flag pole is no longer the But the Ho Chi Minh City government still retained as a cultural value, witness of 150 years of development city.

In addition, it also works with works such as the Tran Hung Dao statue (the Me Linh construction round), the Mieu bridge, the State Bank, the Ba Son vestiges ... forming the historical - Typical, witness of the development of the port in the center of Saigon.

In May 2016, the flag of Thu Ngoc was ranked by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee as a historical monument. The city also advocates embellishment Bach Dang port park, combining the bridge connecting the center with Thu Thiem new urban area.

Here, many cultural activities will be implemented to preserve and preserve the values ​​that contribute to the country's largest city.

Duy Tran