Along with Continental, Majestic was one of the two most luxurious hotels in Saigon in the first half of the 20th century. In 1948, Majestic belonged to the Indochina Tourism and Exhibition Department. After the Geneva Agreement in 1954, the International Commission (ICCS) supervising the ceasefire between the Viet Minh and the French Union army set up an office here. Therefore, in the 1940s and 1950s, Majestic was not only a resting place for the upper class, officers, and generals, but also a "news center" - where intelligence officers, secret agents, spies, and foreign reporters regularly gathered to investigate information about the Vietnam War.
Majestic Hotel - Sketch by architect Bui Hoang Bao
Previously, this place was the Hôtel d'Annam. Many sources record that in 1925, Uncle Hoa (Hui Bon Hoa) - one of the four richest men in Saigon at that time - bought and rebuilt it into the high-class Majestic Hotel. However, it is more accurate to say that it was Uncle Hoa's children because Uncle Hoa passed away in 1901, 24 years earlier.
When first built, Majestic had an Art Nouveau style - Sketch by Architect Bui Hoang Bao
Reception hall - Sketch by Architect Linh Hoang
Sketch by Nguyen Vu Minh Tung, student of Nguyen Tat Thanh University
Majestic is the first 5-star hotel managed by Vietnamese - Sketch by designer Le Quang Khanh
The Majestic Hotel and Uncle Hoa's house (Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts) were both designed by the same architect in the Art Nouveau style (*) . The hotel originally had 4 floors. In 1965, 2 more floors were added and renovated in the direction of modern architecture (Modernism) from the drawings of architect Ngo Viet Thu. In 1994, the Majestic was renovated in the Renaissance style. At the end of 2011, the hotel added 2 more towers of 24 and 27 floors. After many renovations, the hotel's appearance has changed compared to the original.
A Majestic Corner - Sketch by Bom Sketcher
As the first 5-star hotel managed by Vietnamese, Majestic has welcomed former French President François Mitterrand, former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Japanese Crown Prince Akishino...
Main entrance - Sketch by Architect Linh Hoang
Through many renovations, Majestic has changed its appearance many times - Sketch by designer Le Quang Khanh
View from the riverbank - Sketch by Architect Tran Xuan Hong
Majestic at night - Sketch by artist Tran Binh Minh
Sketch by Architect Phan Dinh Trung
(*) style in architecture and applied arts, inspired by flowers, plants, and soft curves in nature.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/diem-hen-gian-diep-o-khach-san-tram-tuoi-majestic-185250705205308909.htm
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