The Ho Chi Minh City Museum (Ly Tu Trong street, Saigon ward) was formerly known as Gia Long Palace, designed and built by French architect Alfred Foulhoux in the period 1885-1890. Through many historical upheavals, the building is not only a witness to the important periods of Saigon, but also preserves thousands of valuable artifacts and documents.
After half a year of closed for repairs, the basement under the mansion has reopened, welcoming visitors. The basement has 4 entrances, about 2 m high, arranged at the ends of the corridors; currently all doors have been opened instead of just using one entrance as before.
The tunnel is dug 4 m deep underground, made of reinforced concrete with a density of 170 kg of iron per m3 of concrete, walls up to 1 m thick. According to the design, the project is capable of withstanding firecrackers and bombs weighing up to 500 kg. The total area of the tunnel is about 1,400 m2, the foundation is completed with cement or flower bricks depending on the area.
The current tourist route is about 150 m long, an increase compared to before. Inside, there are 6 cast iron doors, equipped with steering wheels for locking and large iron posts to ensure safety in case of incidents. Along the walls and corridors, many screens are installed to show Gia Long Palace drawings, historical documents, images of events and relics of the city.
Glass cabinets displaying documents on the forecast and construction process of the shelter show that the total cost of completion was more than 12.5 million VND - a very large number at that time.
The 5 newly opened rooms are currently mainly vacant, with projection screens arranged; one room still retains the generator that was placed before the building converted into a museum.
The exit of the tunnel is located in the grounds behind the palace, facing Nam Ky Khoi Nghia and Pasteur streets (HCMC).
Recorded at the tunnel area after reopening, many tourists expressed excitement when they first accessed this historical space.
Ms. Le Bao Ngoc (a tourist from Hanoi) shared: "I visited the Ho Chi Minh City Museum a few years ago, but this is my first time going down to the basement area. The space below is quite special, both mysterious and helps to visualize the historical context more clearly. The new lighting system also makes visiting easier.
Currently, the Ho Chi Minh City Museum is a destination attracting a large number of domestic and foreign tourists. The classic architecture of the building also makes this place a familiar photo spot for many young people and couples.
