Built on the site of the French governor-general's Norodom Palace, Independence Palace was completed in 1966 as the residence and workplace of South Vietnam's president. Its interiors are preserved as a time capsule of 1960s design, including a war command bunker with original radio equipment, a rooftop helipad, and a cabinet room with a horseshoe conference table. The building's history reached its climax on 30 April 1975, when tank 843 of the North Vietnamese Army crashed through the front gates, an event captured in one of the war's most iconic photographs, effectively ending the Vietnam War that same day.
| Admission | ₫65,000 (~$2.50) adult |
|---|---|
| Hours | 8:00am-11:00am and 1:00pm-4:00pm daily |
| Address | 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City |
Why it matters
Site of the 30 April 1975 fall of Saigon, when a North Vietnamese tank crashed through the front gate, marking the war's end
Site facts
- Built
- 1966 (replacing the earlier Norodom Palace)
- Style
- 1960s modernist architecture
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 communications equipment
- Rooftop helipad and presidential helicopter
- Cabinet room and reception halls preserved from the 1960s-70s
- Ground-floor exhibition on the fall of Saigon
Tips for visiting
- Visit in the morning before the 11:00am-1:00pm midday closure
- Combine with the nearby War Remnants Museum
- Self-guided visits are standard; English signage is available throughout
When to visit
Morning (8:00-10:00am)
Accessibility
Ground floor and grounds are wheelchair accessible; the underground bunker requires stairs.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same building from 1975 photographs?
Yes, the building and its front gate are the same structure seen in the famous 30 April 1975 photographs of the tank crashing through.