Independence Palace

Located at Ben Thanh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 🇻🇳 You should not visit Ho Chi Minh without going to the Independent Palace (also known as the Reunification Palace). It holds so much history. I was thoroughly impressed with the tour. The palace is basically a museum dedicated to the victory of North Vietnam over the South. The Palace and surrounding gardens are beautiful and immaculately kept. It was really interesting to visit the bunkers and situation rooms at the bottom of the Palace. Also the huge halls used by the President and government of South Vietnam. It’s very interesting to visit and listen to the guide explaining all the artifacts and what happened in each room. You also get to see the President’s personal car. The Palace itself is a very impressive example of 1960’s architecture with very bold colours. It holds very historical significance as it is the site where the Vietnam War effectively ended with the North Vietnamese tanks crashing through the Palace gates in 1975. This was a very interesting and educational experience for me and I am so glad I got to visit. Would definitely recommend. Thumbs Up!!! 👍👍👍

This was an interesting part of history to explore and learn about. We spent a few hours going through the different floors and down into the bunkers. Each room still set up as it would have been. The guided headsets are a must as they provide so much more insight into the palace.

The Independence Palace is a museum dedicated to the victory of North Vietnam over the South and the USA. In the early 20th century, the palace was used by the leaders of Vietnam and before that by the French. The Palace and the garden surrounding it are beautiful and impressive, both architecturally and historically. You can visit the large and magnificent halls that were used by the president and the government of South Vietnam and see the bunkers and situation rooms from which the war was conducted. You can see the parliament's meeting rooms, the family's private rooms, and more. Each room is decorated in a distinct color. The family's dining room is divided into two. One round table for Vietnamese-style meals with chopsticks, and one rectangular table for Western-style meals with cutlery. In the president's room on the second floor, there is an exit to the basement for escaping if necessary and reaching the helicopter waiting on the roof. Inside the basement, we also saw a lot of listening equipment left over from the American days. The fall of the presidential palace to the North Vietnamese army symbolized the defeat of South Vietnam - one of the famous images of the war is a North Vietnamese tank breaking through the main gate of the palace.

This iconic landmark in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City offers a glimpse into Vietnam’s modern history and the significant events that shaped the nation. The architecture itself is striking, with a 1960s modernist design surrounded by expansive gardens. As we walked through the palace, we marveled at the beautifully preserved rooms, each a snapshot of the era. The retro furniture, communication equipment, and the impressive banquet halls made it feel like we were traveling back in time. The basement war rooms were especially intriguing, filled with old maps and telecommunication devices that evoked the gravity of the decisions made there. While we didn’t have a guide to walk us through the palace, the signage and displays provided enough context to understand its historical significance. However, we couldn’t help but feel that a guided tour might have brought the stories and events to life more vividly. Standing on the balcony where history was made was a surreal experience. It’s incredible to think of the historic moments this building has witnessed, particularly during the fall of Saigon.

Fascinating insight and history of the former Presidential Palace, in the former Saigon. Restored to its 1960’s era condition, with a number of military vehicles and aircraft fitted around the grounds of the Palace. Well worth a visit whilst in Ho Chi Minh City

If you love history and/or are fascinated by older architecture/woodwork then I say entering the Independence Palace is a must. You get to see the type of household furniture/set up and how previous residents lived/entertained guests in this building. Other than that, it’s literally an exhibit displaying the different rooms housed in this palace. You cannot step foot in any of the rooms which is understandable, but to be frank, this is a “one and done” visit for me. It is well-maintained with multiple audio languages to follow on a headset you can rent at the front desk which explains the history of the rooms etc. but besides that, it’s not all that.

Wow what as cool place! This was incredible to see and I was truly shocked how big it was! It kept getting bigger and bigger everytime I went into a new room. The bedrooms, meeting rooms, game room and balcony were really cool to see! The bunker in the basement was fascinating and really interesting to see how they were prepared for war and other life threatening situations. Truly a great piece of history I definitely recommend checking this place out!

The Independence Palace (also known as the Reunification Palace) in Ho Chi Minh City is a must-visit for anyone interested in Vietnam's history, particularly its role in the Vietnam War. The palace is an impressive example of 1960s architecture, with its bold, modernist design and expansive grounds. Walking through the building, you'll find well-preserved rooms, including the president’s office, war rooms, and the famous basement where key military operations took place. The highlight of the visit is the rooftop, offering a panoramic view of the city. The palace also holds significant historical value as the site where the Vietnam War effectively ended, with the iconic moment of North Vietnamese tanks crashing through its gates in 1975. The exhibits and memorabilia throughout the building provide fascinating insights into the country’s turbulent past, making it an educational and reflective experience. A visit to the Independence Palace offers a deep dive into Vietnam's history while also showcasing an architectural gem.