Did you realize this Thủy đài cổ hides a tale of Saigon’s early waterworks? Standing before you is a remarkable structure. It is located within the Saigon Water Corporation’s compound in District 3. This is Thủy đài cổ. It means old water tower.
The French built it in 1886. It supplied water to a growing city. Thủy đài cổ is one of Saigon’s oldest water towers. It is also one of the oldest in Indochina. Imagine Saigon nearly 140 years ago. Water was not as readily available as now. This tower played a vital role.
Thủy đài cổ stands about 25 meters tall. Its design is oval. Two steel tanks sit atop the structure. They could hold 1000 to 1500 cubic meters of water. The walls are thick. They measure 1.6 to 2 meters. This thickness was needed to support the weight of the water.
Look at the architecture. You can see French influences. The tower has many windows and vents. Each one has detailed designs. The entire tower is painted yellow. This was common for French buildings in Saigon.
Thủy đài cổ has about 20 vents. Five of these once held fans. These fans helped cool the water. The ground floor and first floor are empty now. SAWACO used them for offices and storage at one time. The lighting system is still in place. It still works.
In the rainy season water flowed from wells to a central well. During the dry season pumps were needed. From this central well water was treated. It was then pumped to the tanks above. Gravity then pushed the water to homes and businesses.
After the first water tower was torn down this Thủy đài cổ stopped operating around 1930 to 1940. Later it became a backup water system. This was for times when Saigon had water shortages. The Thủy đài cổ stopped working completely in 1965.
Look closely at the walls of Thủy đài cổ. You can see exposed bricks. The paint has peeled away. It reveals its age and history. In 2016 the city recognized its importance. Thủy đài cổ became a city-level architectural monument.
There were plans to turn Thủy đài cổ into a museum. It would also be a tourist site. It was almost demolished. Thankfully it was saved at the last minute. Currently you cannot enter for safety reasons. Construction is happening nearby. Thủy đài cổ remains. It is a reminder of Saigon’s past. It stands as a testament to French engineering. It is waiting for a new chapter in its long history.