Amidst the vibrant pace of life in Ho Chi Minh City, Independence Palace offers visitors a special space, where history, architecture and stories of an important period are preserved almost intact.
Not only visiting offices, command bunkers or precious artifacts, visitors also have the opportunity to feel more clearly the value of peace and independence when standing at the place that witnessed the historic moment on April 30, 1975.
Independence Palace, formerly known as Reunification Palace or Reunification Hall, is located at 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Ben Thanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City. The building is located right in the city center, near many famous attractions such as Tao Dan Park, Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon Central Post Office and Ben Thanh Market.
Located right in the center of Ho Chi Minh City, Independence Palace is a must-visit destination for tourists when visiting the city. Located in the center of the campus, the main building is designed in a T-shape with a floor area of about 4,500 m2, a height of 26 m and a total usable area of up to 20,000 m2.
The scale of the Palace includes 3 main floors, 2 mezzanines, 1 basement floor, 1 basement floor and 1 terrace. The project makes a strong impression with a spacious 80m long facade standing out amidst the green lawns and shady ancient trees.
Designed by architect Ngo Viet Thu, the mansion has a modern architectural style but still harmoniously combines with traditional Asian features. Stepping inside, visitors will admire the luxurious space with many functional areas.
Inside the Palace, there are nearly 100 rooms, arranged and decorated in many different styles, suitable for each function such as working, meeting, receiving guests or organizing important events.
Visitors can take turns exploring the banquet hall, Cabinet meeting room, Presidential and Vice President's offices, credentials room, banquet hall and many other areas.
Not only possessing unique architectural beauty, this place also brings a wonderful relaxing space for visitors to stroll, admire the scenery and save memorable photos.
Ms. Quynh Hoa, a tourist from Hanoi, shared: "The Independence Palace is a very worthwhile destination to visit when coming to Ho Chi Minh City. This place is imbued with historical imprints, beautiful architecture, spacious space and many green trees, so even during the day it is still quite pleasant. This is a place that has both historical value and is suitable for sightseeing, photography and learning about Vietnamese culture.
One of the things that impresses visitors is the space being preserved quite intact. Ancient phones, military maps, tables and chairs, work items and many historical artifacts help visitors better visualize the life and activities at the Palace in a special period of history.
What Ms. Hoa enjoys when visiting the Palace is the way the areas are displayed scientifically, helping the visit not simply to admire an architectural work but also to be like a journey to learn about history.
Today, two tanks numbered 843 and 390 are still displayed in the Independence Palace grounds. These are artifacts associated with the event on April 30, 1975, when tanks entered the Palace, marking the historic moment of the country's reunification. For many tourists, the two tanks are a special stop during the tour.
The underground tunnel area is also a place that attracts attention. Rooms, communication equipment, maps and items serving command work are preserved, helping viewers understand more about the historical context that once took place here.
After visiting the rooms inside, people can spend time walking around the campus, admiring the architecture, greenery or taking souvenir photos.
Ms. Hoa said that the feeling when entering the Palace is solemnity, antiquity but not too far away. Modern architecture combined with green space creates airiness and peace even though the building is located in the middle of a city area that is always bustling.
The entrance fee to the entire Independence Palace and the Exhibition House is currently 80,000 VND/person from 18-59 years old; people from 60 years old and Vietnamese students 40,000 VND; children from 6-17 years old 220,000 VND. With limited entrance tickets, the prices are 40,000 VND, 20,000 VND and 10,000 VND respectively.
Visitors can visit the Independence Palace themselves through a system of modernly designed panels, signs and room nameplates.
Visitors who want to learn more about the history of Independence Palace can use the audio tour system put into operation from August 2017. The narration content is provided in 10 languages, including Vietnamese, English, French, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, German, Spanish, Russian and Thai.
In addition, visitors can choose a tour guide to be introduced in detail about each area. Tour guide tickets at Independence Palace are priced at about 250,000 - 380,000 VND/group.
Another experience highly appreciated by many is the documentary film screening room. After the tour, visitors can spend about 30 minutes watching the movie "History of Independence Palace" in a modern screening room, supported in 4 languages.
