A landmark department store in District 1, the Saigon Tax Trade Centre represented decades of retail tradition before its demolition in 2016 to make way for modern development.
At a glance
Originally constructed in 1924 as the Grands Magasins Charner, this department store stood at the intersection of Nguyen Hue Boulevard and Le Loi Boulevard until its closure in September 2014. The site has since been redeveloped into Satra TAX Plaza, a 40-floor mixed-use tower preserving elements of the original podium design.
History
The building opened in 1924 as a French colonial-era department store. Under Vietnamese ownership, it evolved into the Saigon Tax Trade Centre, operating as a retail institution for generations. The store closed in late September 2014 after nearly a century of continuous operation. Demolition followed in October 2016 to accommodate urban redevelopment.
Today, the Saigon Trading Corporation (SATRA) maintains its retail legacy through seven specialized stores across District 1, located on Nguyễn Huệ, Lê Lợi, Đồng Khởi, and Phan Chu Trinh streets, selling handicrafts, Vietnamese specialties, souvenirs, and food and beverage items.
What you see
The original building’s corner location at a major roundabout made it a prominent urban landmark. The new Satra TAX Plaza, completed on the former site, incorporates the podium design of its predecessor within a contemporary 40-story structure. The site now includes Entrance 3 of the Opera House metro station serving Ho Chi Minh City Metro Line 1.
Cultural significance
The Saigon Tax Trade Centre embodied Vietnamese commercial heritage and the continuity of retail practice in Ho Chi Minh City’s historic downtown. Its survival through multiple decades and transitions reflected the city’s economic resilience, making its preservation within the new development a symbolic acknowledgment of that legacy.
Key facts
- Country: Vietnam
- City: Ho Chi Minh City
- District: District 1, Saigon ward
- Original construction: 1924
- Closure: September 2014
- Demolished: October 2016
- Coordinates: 10.775°N, 106.703°E
Practical information & getting there
The original building no longer stands; the site is now occupied by Satra TAX Plaza. To experience the retail heritage the centre represented, visit one of seven SATRA stores in District 1: locations include 9–11 and 15–17 Phan Chu Trinh Street, 74–74B Lê Lợi Boulevard, and three addresses on Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard (103, 107, and 45), plus 32 Đồng Khởi Street. The nearby Opera House metro station (Line 1, Entrance 3) provides convenient access to the area.
Sources & resources
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