On the streets of Saigon, you occasionally see French-style transformer stations with the letters CEE. What does it mean? CEE stands for Compagnie des Eaux et d'Électricité de Saigon (Saigon Water and Electricity Company). The company was established in 1900 during the French colonial period, initially providing water to the Saigon, Cholon and Phnom Penh regions (Cambodia). In 1909, the company acquired another electricity company and became the official provider of water and electricity for Saigon, Cholon and Phnom Penh.

Before and after the establishment of CEE, the issue of water supply for Saigon residents was also an interesting story, closely associated with today's architectural works. In the early days, the first residents of Saigon - Ben Nghe used rainwater and well water. The book "Thong Chi" by Trinh Hoai Duc recorded the famous wells of old Saigon:

"Tran Phien An has three best wells: At the small Ben Nghe bamboo raft, there is a well with sweet water, named Tan well...

Another well is on the North bank, Binh Giang, west of Tan An village, called the Tieng well. The other one is in Tan Phu Hoi village, west of Tan Long River, called the Nhuan well. Everyone carried water together, never resting.

Discover the alluring Saigon Hidden Stories itinerary, an enchanting journey through the city's secret stories, hidden by locals and waiting to be uncovered by adventurous travelers. Get ready to unearth Saigon's well-kept secrets!