The Independence Palace, or the Reunification Palace, was built on the site of the former Norodom Palace with an area of 120,000 square meters. Standing at the end of Le Duan Street crossing Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, it symbolizes the traditional philosophy, oriental rituals and personalities of Vietnam nation in the harmonious combination with modern architectures.

The iconic Independence Palace made its name in global history when in 1975 a tank belonging to the North Vietnamese Army crashed through its main gate, thus signifying the end of the Vietnam War. This image is one of the most famous pictures depicting the Reunification Palace which has seen a rich and varied history and once served as the base of the US-backed Vietnamese General Ngo Dinh Diem during the Vietnam War, until his assassination in 1963. The Independence Palace is like a time capsule frozen in 1975 with two of the original tanks used in the capture of the palace parked in the grounds. Originally the site of the Norodom Palace also known as the Governor’s Palace its first role was as a home and workplace for the French Governor of Cochinchina.

With a glamorous design with hundreds of rooms equipped with luxurious furnishings and decorations together with the tremendous gorgeous external space, The Independence Palace or the Reunification Palace is a perfect visiting place for travelers to take away from the burning sunlight of Saigon’s weather, enjoy the fresh cool air and explore one of the most amazing structure in Ho Chi Minh City.

The Independence Palace opens daily from Monday to Sunday including holidays and Tet from 7:30 AM to 11 AM in the morning and from 1PM to 4PM in the afternoon. The entrance fee is purchased at the main gate and it is quite reasonable, only costs 40,000 VND for adult.