Here at Cầu Dòng Tròn, can you imagine Saigon’s humble beginnings? The Cầu Dòng Tròn stands as a silent witness to the city’s transformation. It connects today with the past. Let’s journey back to a time when Saigon was a land of dense forests and marshes.
In the 17th century, Vietnamese settlers began arriving. They were migrants from the North and Central provinces. They were poor peasants, soldiers, and even runaway convicts. They sailed in small boats up the Saigon River. They sought a new life in this untamed land.
The first settlers made their homes on high ground. They cultivated the land. The area had fresh water and good weather. Slowly they expanded outward. They built hamlets and rice fields. They transformed the landscape. This is why Cầu Dòng Tròn stands here today.
Around the mid-17th century, Vietnamese migrants were settling as far as Phnom Penh. Facing the wilderness, the settlers were hesitant. A folk poem reflected their feelings. “We are here in a strange place. We fear a bird chirping and tremble at a fish wobbling.”
Despite their fears, they stayed. They were energetic and strong-willed pioneers. When the Nguyen Lord’s emissaries arrived, the settlers had stable lives. They cultivated productive fields and gardens. It is estimated that around 10000 people lived here in the middle of the 17th century.
Among these early settlers were Chinese migrants. They fled China’s war-torn regions. In 1679, about 3000 people arrived in 50 warships led by two generals. Many settled in the South’s eastern region near Saigon. These groups were integrated into Vietnamese communities. They helped built Cholon.
Between 1623 and 1698 Saigon was founded. Hundreds of Vietnamese families migrated to the plains of the Đồng Nai and Mekong rivers. Saigon boomed with agriculture and trading. This prosperity helped the customs tax office.
In 1698, the Nguyen Lord formalized control. He sent Grand Mandarin Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh to inspect the South. At that time, about 20000 Vietnamese people lived here. They formed a third of the population of the Đồng Nai River basin.
Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh built an earth rampart to protect Saigon. “Saigon” was the area enclosed between watercourses and the rampart. Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh was an army commander and administrator. He expanded the South and laid the foundation for Saigon.
President Ho Chi Minh said that the South is the flesh and blood of Vietnam. The country was formed through land reclamation and expansion. It shows the fight against invaders who wanted to separate the South from Vietnam.
In 1859, the French occupied Saigon. They expanded their invasion nationwide. Under French rule, Vietnam was divided into three regions. The French tried to turn Saigon into the “Pearl of the Far East”.
Nguyễn Tất Thành also known as Ho Chi Minh left Saigon’s Nha Rong Port in 1911 for Europe. He brought Marxism-Leninism and formed the Communist Party. These actions helped the nation’s liberation.
On April 30 1975 Saigon was liberated. It was the end of years of resistance. In 1976, Saigon-Cholon-Gia Dinh was renamed Ho Chi Minh City. The city contributes to socialist construction and defense.
As you stand here on Cầu Dòng Tròn remember this history. Think about the settlers. Think about the leader Ho Chi Minh. Feel the spirit of Saigon. It is a testament to resilience. It is a city forged from a long struggle.