Ho Chi Minh City Holiday Weather today

Date/time of update: December 22, 2024, 5:43 am, Timezone: GMT+7
Clear Sky

Temperature: 28.37°C
Temperature feels like: 30.54°C
Minimum Temperature: 27.01°C
Maximum Temperature: 28.37°C
Atmospheric pressure: 1010hPa
Humidity:64%
Visibility: 10000m
Wind speed: 3.13m/sec
Wind Direction: 291 degrees
Cloudiness: 0%
Sunrise: 2024-12-21 11:07:05
Sunset: 2024-12-22 10:36:42

The Independence Palace (also called the Reunification Palace) was built from 1868 and completed in 1871 by the French after they had conquered the six provinces in  the South of Vietnam (Cocochine). The Palace had been meant to be the Residence of the Governor of South Vietnam and it was called Norodom Palace (after the King of Cambodia).

The Independence Palace in Saigon, Vietnam

Travel Guide to The Independence Palace (Reunification Palace), Saigon Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

In 1887, the French completed the invasion of the whole of Vietnam. And Norodom Palace in Saigon  was used as the residence and office for the General Governor of Indochina from 1887-1945, though there was a brief time from March to September 1945, the Palace was the seat of the Japanese Government in Indochina (Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia) after the Japanese took a successful coup d'etat overthrowing the French in Indochina. 

The green park in front of the Independence Palace

In 1954, the French lost the battles at Dien Bien Phu and Norodom Palace in Saigon was handed to the Government of South Vietnam. Prime Minister of South Vietnam Ngo Dinh Diem later deposed the Chief of State Bao Dai and claimed himself to be the President of the Republic of South Vietnam. Ngo Dinh Diem renamed Norodom Palace into the Independence Palace which he used as the Residence of his family.

The cabinet meeting room (1st Floor)

In February 1962, there was a coup d'etat in the Republic of South Vietnam and the Independence Palace was  bombed and partially destroyed. Since the former palace could not be restored, Ngo Dinh Diem ordered the destruction of it to rebuild a new one on the same site. Ngo Dinh Diem's family temporarily moved to Gia Long Palace (Ho Chi Minh City Museum now). Soon after that, Ngo Dinh Diem's family was assassinated in November 1963. The reconstruction of the Independence Palace was completed in 1966 and it was used as the Residence of the President and the seat of the government of South Vietnam till 1975.

 
The Banquet Room (1st Floor)

The President's Reception Room (2nd Floor)

Reception Hall for Presenting National Letters

The Entertainment Room (3rd Floor)

The Helicopter Pad on the top

Visiting the Independence Palace (or Reunification Palace) you'll have time to recall an important period in the history of Vietnam. There are quite a few stories behind the scenes which assist you in thorough understanding of a piece of the Vietnamese history. The site is visited on several Vietnam tours operated by Paradissa.

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