Reunification Palace, formerly Independence Palace, is preserved essentially as it looked on 30 April 1975, when a North Vietnamese Army tank crashed through its front gates, ending the war. Built in 1966 for South Vietnam's president, the building is a time capsule of 1960s and 70s design: a cabinet room with a horseshoe table, a rooftop helicopter pad, a basement war command bunker lined with radio equipment and situation maps, and a screening room with a vintage film projector. Visitors can walk through nearly the entire building unguided, including the president's private quarters and the gaming room. The palace grounds themselves are wide, tree-lined, and popular for photos of the gate and the replica tank on the lawn. It is one of the few sites in the city where the physical setting of a pivotal historical moment has been left almost entirely unaltered.
| Admission | ₫65,000 (~$2.50) adult; ₫15,000 (~$0.60) child |
|---|---|
| Hours | 8:00am-11:00am and 1:00pm-4:00pm daily |
| Typical visit | 1.5-2 hours |
| Getting there | Walk from Ben Thanh Market (about 15 minutes) or take a Grab taxi/motorbike; bus 152 stops on Nam Ky Khoi Nghia |
| Address | 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City |
Weather through the year in Vietnam
Best time Shoulder Worth avoiding
Average daytime temperature in °C. Figures are for Vietnam.
Location
135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
10.7772, 106.6953 View on map
Highlights
- War command bunker with original 1960s radio and communications equipment
- Rooftop with the presidential helicopter and gate the tank crashed through
- Cabinet Room and President's reception hall preserved in original condition
- Ground-floor exhibition on the fall of Saigon, 30 April 1975
Tips for visiting
- Closed midday from 11:00am to 1:00pm; plan around the break
- Buy a combined ticket with the War Remnants Museum if visiting both the same day
- The basement bunker level is cooler and a good escape from midday heat
- English-speaking guides can sometimes be hired at the entrance for a small fee
When to visit
Opening at 8:00am for cooler temperatures and fewer tour groups
Accessibility
Ground floor and grounds are wheelchair accessible; the bunker level requires stairs.
Visit, book or contact
Frequently asked questions
Can visitors go inside without a guide?
Yes, self-guided visits are standard and most rooms, including the bunker and rooftop, are open to walk through freely.
Why is it closed midday?
The palace closes from 11:00am to 1:00pm daily for a lunch break; morning or mid-afternoon visits avoid this gap.