Tucked away inside Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, the Nhan Huong café once operated as a covert base for the Saigon Special Forces during the resistance war against the United States. Disguised as a simple refreshment stand, it sheltered and supported military officers, intelligence agents, and guerrilla fighters for over a decade.

Established in 1963, the café played a crucial role during the war, collecting intelligence and relaying it to the revolutionary command, all under the unassuming façade of a drinks shop. The base was carefully disguised to avoid suspicion and operated right under the noses of American and South Vietnamese military personnel.

Spanning around 100 square meters, the café’s interior remains much as it was half a century ago. Life-sized mannequins of soldiers, civilians, and waitstaff recreate the once-bustling atmosphere.

To ensure secrecy and safety, Mr. Tung staffed the café only with trusted family members. Despite welcoming numerous military personnel and government officials from the US-backed Saigon regime, the café never aroused suspicion.

From 1963 until the fall of Saigon in 1975, Nhan Huong café served as a haven for key military officers, commandos, and intelligence agents, providing a safe house for both shelter and strategic coordination.

Mr. Tung gathered, reviewed, and relayed sensitive information to the resistance, enabling timely countermeasures. In addition to sheltering personnel, the café also contributed financially to revolutionary operations.

Today, visitors can explore the space to learn about the historical operations of the Saigon Special Forces and experience the lifestyle and cuisine of the city’s past through original furniture and recreated scenes.

Saigon Zoo was strategically selected for this covert base in 1963. As a popular public attraction, it allowed resistance fighters to enter and exit unnoticed. Its central location, close to the administrative core of the South Vietnamese regime, made it an ideal site for directing commando operations.

In 2014, the café was recognized as a municipal historical monument. It is now open to the public free of charge on weekends and national holidays.

Nguyen Hue