Began construction in March / 1864 on an area of 12ha, the zoo is located next to Rach Lang River (northeast of Saigon) by a tropical plant research experts who he is French, called Louis Pierre in charge. The work completed in 1865, which grow many types of plants you in the country and the world, imported from India, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Cambodia, such as cocoa, coffee, vanilla, some sugarcane varieties called Jardin Acclimate ... Many strange and rare animals to be raised in this and place called Zoo.

By the year 1924, the zoo was expanded 10ha. On 27/11/1927 France for the construction of the Museum of Blanchard de la Bross within the Zoo with designers like Beijing summer palace tower.

In 1929, the French built the Temple Du Souvenir temple architecture like the tombs of Hue. On the floor, there is a fairly large library. In 1956, the Saigon government  which overhaul and redesign, museums Blanchard de la Bross changed is the Saigon National Museum, the zoo changed Sai Gon zoo.

Since 1989, the barn was renovated and extended to suit the ecological life of each type of animal. Area is 21.352m2 pens. In 1990, the zoo is an official member of the Association of South East Asian garden. In 1991, the park in the zoo is set after many years abandoned. After more than 130 years of construction, the Zoo has become one of the country's major zoo with 590 animals of 125 species; plant 1,800 trees of 260 species of, 23 inland orchids, 33 species of cacti, 34 bonsai and green grass on an area of 20 ha, divided into several areas: breeding animals, plants and orchids, parks and recreation ... Daily Zoo welcomes thousands of tourists to visit.