FAMOUS HISTORY IN SAI GON: THE INDEPENDENCE PALACE – IN THE HEART OF THE CITY

The Independence Palace – is located in the center of District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. And is limited by 4 main roads which are: Northeast Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, Southwest Huyen Tran Cong Chua Street, Northwest Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, and Southwest Nguyen Du Street.

1. History of Independence Palace:

The Independence Palace was built on the site of the colonial-era Norodom Palace. Designed by award- winning architect Ngo Viet Thu, it began construction on 1 J July 1962 and was inaugurated on 31 October 1966. The palace served as residence and office to Nguyen Van Thieu, second President of the Republic of Vietnam, from October 1967 to 21 April 1975.

The Independence Palace has since become a historical symbol representing total victory in the resistance war against the United States of America, the liberation of the South and the reunification of the country on 30 April 1975, when tanks of the Vietnamese Liberation Army famously crashed through Independence Palace's main gate. The flying of the blue and red flag with a yellow star on the Palace's roof marked the demise of the Republic of Vietnam government.

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2. Architecture of the Independence Palace:

2.1 Overall Palace:

- The design of the Independence Palace harmoniously combines the principles of modernist architecture with traditional oriental design. Modern materials and techniques were used by architect Ngo Viet Thu to create simple but delicate lines that capture the traditional philosophy and personality of the Vietnamese nation. 

- Located in a 12-hectare compound and occupying an area of 4.500 square meters. The palace has three main floors, two mezzanine floors, a terrace, a helipad, a ground floor, and a basement.   

- The usable area is 20.000 square meters and there are almost 100 rooms. Each room is decorated differently depending on its intended function, yet still complements the overall architecture of the place. 

2.2. Inside Palace: 

State banqueting hall

A state banqueting hall with as many as 100 guests was held in this room. One of the most notable events was the inauguration dinner of President Nguyen Van Thieu and Vice President Nguyen Cao Ky on 31 October 1967. The last State Dinner was held here by President Thieu on 1 March 1975 for the US congressional delegation sent to report on the prospects for continued support for the southern government.  The room’s gold color scheme was intended to create a convivial atmosphere. Its focal point is the massive painting in 7 sections by the Palace’s architect Ngo Viet Thu representing a scene from a poem in Chinese characters widely known and cherished as an evocation of national unity. Its opening lines are ‘ The land is as lovely as a length of brocade, all its growing things ripening in peace’.

 

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Cabinet room

The meeting held in this room included sitings of the President and his members. By decree of President Thieu in November 1967, the government consisted of the Prime Minister, 19 cabinet ministers and 7 deputy ministers. From 1967 to 1975, there were 5 Cabinet reshuffles. The longest was General Tran Thien Khiem, who remained in office for 6 years. The last serving cabinet and its Prime Minister Vu Van Mau were appointed on 29 April 1975 and were in the process of being formally presented to the President on 30 April at 10 am the moment when radio Sai Gon was broadcasting President Duong Van Minh’s statement of surrender confirming the end of hostilities and the transfer of power to the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Viet Nam.

+ Second floor: National Security Council chamber, Presidential office, Presidential reception rooms, Vice President’s reception room, Vice President’s office, Presidential bedroom, Ambassadors chamber, and Private apartment. 

+ Third floor:  Library, Cinema, Games room, First Lady’s reception room.

+ The last floor also is the highest floor: Salon of the 4 cardinal directions and exhibition one Helicopter UH-1.

3. Exhibition area Norodorm Palace to Independence Palace 1868-1966: 

- On the first floor of the exhibit, You can explore Norodom Palace and learn about life in colonial Saigon. This floor features four rooms: The Making of a Colonial City, The Construction of Norodom Palace, The Dynamic Saigon Gallery, and Faces of Old Saigon.

- On the stairway between the two floors of the exhibit, visitors can explore some milestones of Modern Vietnamese history in the context of events elsewhere in the world from 1937-1954.

 - On the second floor, visitors can explore the rise and fall of the Ngo Dinh Diem government and the destruction and rebuilding of the Independence Palace.  This floor features six rooms: Ngo Family Rule, The Battle of Saigon, Saigon Life, The 1962 Bombing, The 1963 Crisis and Coup, and Building a New Palace.

- Our exhibit combines familiar museum practices with innovative techniques, highlighted by the use of video projectors, digital audio, and interactive touchscreens.  We hope that the“From Norodom Palace to Independence Palace 1868-1966” enables each visitor to experience and interact with the exhibit in a unique way and to explore the aspects of the history that they find most interesting and exciting.

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Exhibition house ‘From Norodom Palace to Independence Palace 1868-1966’

4. Information Essential:

 

Operating Hours and Ticket Information for The Independence Palace :

 

Opening Hours: 8 AM – 4:00 PM Everyday 

 

Location: 135 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1,Ho Chi Minh City

 

Entrance fee:  Aldult: 40.000 VNĐ/ person 

 

                       Children: 10.000 VNĐ/ person 

 

                       Student: 20.000 VNĐ/ person

 

 

When visiting the Independence Palace in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), there are several must-see exhibits that provide a comprehensive understanding of the place where the Viet Nam Government worked in the war and Discovery “from Norodorm Palace to Independence Palace 1868-1966”. Here are some notable things to see:

 

When visiting the Independence Palace, please note the following regulations:

 

• Wear polite clothes to respect the historical space.

 

• Follow the instructions on signs and security guards throughout the tour.

 

• Do not bring luggage inside the monument and do not bring food or drinks into the monument area.

 

• Do not bring animals along in the tour area.

 

• It is forbidden to bring weapons, toxic substances, and explosives into the relic area.

 

• The sightseeing area is large, you can buy a map of the Independence Palace to easily move and visit.

 

Independence Palace is not only an outstanding architectural work but also a symbol of national pride and the desire for peace of the Vietnamese people. It is an important historical site, a reminder of the painful past and the desire for freedom. Through preserving and displaying historical relics, Saigon Independence Palace teaches us about the importance of peace, freedom, and national unity.

 

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