A 163-Year-Old French-Architectural Hospital in the Heart of Ho Chi Minh City

Children's Hospital 2, after 163 years since its establishment, still retains its French architecture with ancient buildings nestled in a vast garden full of greenery, located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City.

Photo: National Library of France

Established in 1862, Children's Hospital 2 is one of the oldest hospitals in Vietnam (following Cho Quan Hospital—now Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases—which was built a year earlier).

The facility was constructed by the French during the early days of their occupation of Cochinchina. Initially named the Military Hospital (Hôpital Militaire), it was located at the intersection of Nationale Street (now Hai Bà Trưng Street) and Norodom Boulevard (now Lê Duẩn). By the late 1870s, the hospital was relocated to 14 rue Lagrandière, now Lý Tự Trọng Street.

In 1876, the site was rebuilt in the architectural style of French colonial military hospitals, featuring classical buildings set amid a vast garden with abundant greenery. This design aimed to facilitate airflow and control the spread of disease—key features of 19th-century European medical architecture.

The hospital’s main gate today, located on Lý Tự Trọng Street, still preserves its original French-era architecture, consistent with photographs taken in the late 19th century.

At the time, the hospital’s primary function was to serve the Marine Infantry forces. However, from the very beginning, it also provided medical care for colonial civil servants as well as both French and Vietnamese soldiers. The hospital was operated by French military doctors, with nursing support provided by nuns of the Saint-Paul de Chartres order.

Compared to photographs from the 1920s, the hospital's main building is now one story taller but has undergone little change in its architectural design.

At the hospital, renowned scientist Albert Calmette established a laboratory for researching infectious diseases and producing vaccines, laying the foundation for the first Pasteur Institute outside of France in 1891.

Beginning in 1905, under the leadership of Dr. Charles Grall, the hospital opened its doors to treat all sectors—military and civilian, including the local population. In 1925, it was named Grall Hospital in honor of the doctor who made significant contributions to the development of medicine in Indochina.

In 1978, the facility was renamed Children's Hospital 2 and became one of the leading pediatric referral centers in Ho Chi Minh City and southern Vietnam.

The corridor is wide, not much different from its appearance in the 1947 photo. The iron railings and arches were designed to make use of natural light and ventilation, making them well-suited to the tropical climate.

According to hospital leadership, the building has undergone several rounds of interior renovation and repair, yet still retains its original architectural lines that bear strong French influences.

The buildings within the compound feature red-tiled roofs and wide corridors running around them. All structural frames are made of prefabricated iron skeletons assembled on stone foundations—characteristic of the late 19th-century Indochinese architectural style. The construction materials were imported from France.

The staircases leading to the upper floors still retain their distinctive French architectural style.

From the corridors, one can look out onto the grounds shaded by towering sao, tamarind, and mahogany trees. These rows of ancient trees have continued to thrive to this day.

The chapel was built during the period when the hospital was still named Hôpital Grall, serving the spiritual needs of medical staff and patients during the French colonial era. The structure features red tile roofing, thick brick walls, and a distinctive cross atop the roof.

In front of the chapel gate now stand statues of the Divine Mercy and the Virgin Mary, providing a place for the families of pediatric patients to pray or seek peace of mind.

The hospital’s team of doctors has achieved numerous milestones in pediatric organ transplantation, neurosurgery, and treatment of traumatic brain injuries. Today, it is the first and only pediatric organ transplant center in southern Vietnam. The hospital also serves as a practical training center for medical universities, welcomes international students, and hosts various international cooperation programs.

In 2016, the hospital became the first medical facility to be recognized as a city-level architectural and artistic heritage site. The preserved area includes the grounds from the chapel, the administrative offices, buildings B 12-13-14, and extends to the area along Lý Tự Trọng Street, with conservation of its landscape, pathways, and greenery.

An aerial view shows that Children's Hospital 2 is situated on elevated ground, covering an area of 8.6 hectares and bordered by four main streets: Lý Tự Trọng, Chu Mạnh Trinh, Nguyễn Du, and Hai Bà Trưng. It is one of the few hospitals in central Ho Chi Minh City that still preserves its original French architecture intact.

Quỳnh Trần - Lê Phương