The first palace on the site of the

The first palace on the site of the Reunification Palace was the Norodom Palace built in 1871. It was the French Governor General’s headquarter and palace, but was destroyed by bombs in 1962. The current Reunification Palace (also known under its old name Independence Palace) was completed in 1966 after 3 years of construction, and is the former Presidential Palace of South Vietnam. It was here on April 30, 1975, tanks from the North Vietnamese Army crashed through the gate and ended the war, and a replica of one of the tanks is located on the lawn outside the Palace.

The visit to the Reunification Palace was very interesting and it was like a time travel back to the 1970s. Things were left largely untouched from the day before Saigon fell to North Vietnam, and you were free to walk around in the Palace. See the conference room, the recreation room, the receiving room, and more. In the basement you’ll find the war rooms - full of 1970s phones, radios, office equipment, and maps – and a shooting range. From the balcony is a nice view of the surrounding park. Tours are available (in English, French, Chinese and Japanese) and are free - but not necessary...