Attraction
War Remnants Museum
A museum documenting the conflicts of 1946 to 1975 through photographs, reconstructed prison cells and a yard of captured aircraft and armour.
Independence Palace
The 1960s presidential palace of South Vietnam, whose gates were breached by a tank on 30 April 1975, preserved with its state rooms and basement command centre.
At a glance
- Type
- Historic palace and museum
- Area
- District 1 (Ben Thanh), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Opening
- Open daily · 07:00–18:00
- Official site
- dinhdoclap.gov.vn
Good to know
- Online tickets
- Basement war rooms
- Gardens
- Open on public holidays
Why we recommend it
Independence Palace, also known as Reunification Palace, is where the Vietnam War symbolically ended. At 10:45 on 30 April 1975, a North Vietnamese army tank drove through the main gate, and the image of that moment is one of the most familiar of the twentieth century. The building you see today replaced the colonial Norodom Palace, which was badly damaged in 1962 when two dissident air force pilots bombed it. Construction of the new palace started on 1 July 1962 and it was inaugurated on 31 October 1966.
The architect was Ngo Viet Thu, winner of the Grand Prix de Rome in 1955, and the building has four floors rising to 26 metres, with a floor area of around 120,000 square metres. Visitors walk through the halls and meeting rooms, laid with red carpet, including the president's office, the banquet chamber, the cabinet room and the conference hall. The national tourism board singles out the former command centre and war rooms in the basement as a part of the visit not to miss.
The palace is still used as a convention hall for state events, but it also operates as a public museum and historic site, with exhibitions on its history. The official website lists two entrances, at 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street and 106 Nguyen Du Street, and offers online ticket booking, which saves queuing at busy times. Ticket categories include adults, students and seniors, and children aged 6 to 17.
The official website gives opening hours of 07:00 to 18:00 every day, including public holidays and the Tet new year, unless a separate announcement says otherwise. Allow around one and a half to two hours. Arriving early helps you see the state rooms before the tour groups. The palace suits anyone with an interest in modern history or architecture, and older children usually find the basement fascinating.
The palace is in the heart of District 1. The War Remnants Museum is a short walk to the north-west, and Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office are about ten minutes away on foot, which makes it easy to combine several of the city's main sights in a single morning.
Independence Palace FAQs
What are the opening hours?
The official website lists 07:00 to 18:00 every day, including holidays and Tet, unless a separate announcement is made.
Can I buy tickets online?
Yes, the official website links to an online ticket booking page.
What happened here in 1975?
On 30 April 1975 a North Vietnamese army tank drove through the main gate, effectively ending the Vietnam War.
Who designed the palace?
The architect Ngo Viet Thu, winner of the Grand Prix de Rome in 1955.
What should I not miss?
The basement war rooms and communications centre beneath the palace.
How long should I allow?
Around one and a half to two hours.
Where are the entrances?
At 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street and 106 Nguyen Du Street.
Is there a children's ticket?
Yes, ticket categories include children aged 6 to 17.