Palace of Reunification (Independence Palace)

One of the holy triad of attractions in Ho Chi Minh City's central District 1 is the Reunification Palace. It serves as a historical capsule of the city's stormy past, just like Notre Dame Cathedral and the Saigon Post Office. On the morning of April 30, 1975, tanks crashed through the main stage and the victor's flag hung on the balcony of the Reunification Palace, signaling the end of the Vietnam War.

When it was first built in 1873, the complex spanned 12 hectares and had expansive gardens, an 800-meter-wide facade, and an 800-person guest room. It was named Norodom Palace from 1873 to 1954, after the Cambodian king, and was the residence of the Governors General of French Indochina during that time. This chain of government was only disrupted during the Japanese conquest of Vietnam during World War II. The palace was given to Ngo Dinh Diem, the first prime minister of the State of Vietnam, after the Geneva Accords in 1955. In 1962, two mutinous South Vietnamese pilots bombed the left wing of the palace, destroying it. The palace's remains were demolished.

As a result, Ngo Dinh Diem ordered the palace to be rebuilt, using a design by renowned architect Ngo Viet Thu, the first Vietnamese to win the Roman Champion. The building was started in July 1962 and finished in October 1966. The South Vietnamese battle against communist forces was led from Independence Palace until April 21, 1975, when General Thieu was evacuated as part of Operation Frequent Wind, the world's largest helicopter evacuation. Ngo Viet Thu, the first Vietnamese to win the Roman Champion, was honored by Aphe. North Vietnamese forces captured the palace on April 30, 1975, and it was afterwards renamed Reunification Palace.

The surface area of these 12 hectares is approximately 2,000 square meters. The structure has a total size of 4.500 square meters, with one ground floor, three main floors, two mezzanines, one terrace for helicopter landings, over 100 rooms, 4,000 lights, 400 internal telephone lines, one permanent basement, one backup Raio, one commanding rooms, and so on.

The Independence Palace is now a popular historical relic in Ho Chi Minh City, with many foreign and domestic tourists flocking to see it. This location has also served as a venue for government meetings and receptions.

Address: 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Road, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.