Independence Palace, Saigon/HoChiMinh City

Independence Palace, Saigon/HoChiMinh City (must see)

Few places in Ho Chi Minh City carry as much symbolic weight as the Independence Palace 鈥� better known to many as the Reunification Palace. This is the very spot where tanks famously rolled through the gates, marking the end of the Vietnam War and the beginning of a new chapter in the nation鈥檚 history.

The palace stands on the grounds of the former Norodom Palace, once home to the French governor of Cochinchina. Over the decades it has seen a revolving cast of occupants 鈥� Japanese forces during World War II, French colonial leaders, and later the presidents of South Vietnam. After a dramatic bombing in the early 1960s destroyed much of the old residence, a sleek modernist structure was commissioned from renowned architect Ngo Viet Thu, who envisioned a building that would reflect both authority and optimism.

Step inside today and it feels like time has paused in the 1970s. Vast reception halls gleam with polished wood and period furniture. A cinema and game room still display retro fittings, while the underground bunkers reveal rows of maps, radio equipment, and tunnels designed for quick escape. On the front lawn, the tanks that once forced the gates remain on display 鈥� silent but powerful reminders of that decisive moment.

Did you know? The palace鈥檚 architecture was deliberately designed with feng shui principles in mind, including symbolic motifs intended to bring balance and harmony to the nation?

Tip: Plan to give yourself at least an hour or two. Start with the grand ceremonial halls before making your way to the basement command center. Free guided tours in multiple languages are often available, and they add invaluable context to what might otherwise feel like a time capsule.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Saigon/HoChiMinh City. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Independence Palace
Sight Location: Saigon/HoChiMinh City, Vietnam (See walking tours in Saigon/HoChiMinh City)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Saigon/HoChiMinh City Introduction Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Saigon/HoChiMinh City, Vietnam

Create Your Own Walk in Saigon/HoChiMinh City

Creating your own self-guided walk in Saigon/HoChiMinh City is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.9 Km or 3.7 Miles

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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles

Saigon/HoChiMinh City Introduction Walking Tour

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Long before colonial buildings and skyscrapers,... view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.9 Km or 3 Miles

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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles

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