While Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica itself, a cathedral established by French colonists in the 1860s, is not directly associated with food history, its surrounding area certainly is. Ho Chi Minh City, especially the area around the basilica known as District 1, has seen a melting pot of cultures contributing to its culinary scene. As the basilica is located in the heart of the city, it has witnessed the transformation of Saigon's gastronomy from traditional Vietnamese street food to the introduction of French cuisine during the colonial period, and more recently, the international influences brought by expatriates and travelers.