Reunification Palace, Saigon/HoChiMinh City (must see)

The Reunification Palace is a historic landmark in Ho Chi Minh City. It was here that North Vietnamese tanks breached the gates and were declared victorious in the Vietnam War resulting in the reunification of the country.

The Reunification Palace was built on the site of the former Norodom Palace. The Palace was the former residence of the French Governor of Cochin China and was also called the Governor’s Palace at the time. It was occupied by Japanese army during World War II. After the independence of Vietnam, it became the residence and office of the president of South Vietnam. The building was bombed by two rebellious pilots in 1962. The present building was designed by architect Ngo Viet Thu and opened its doors in 1966.

Visitors to the Reunification Palace are welcomed in the front lawn by the tank that breached its gates and signaled the end of the Vietnam War. The rooms of the building are preserved as they were during the war. The recreation room has many pieces of period furniture. The War command room is the most interesting part of the museum displaying early communication equipment and maps used during the war. There are also a series of underground tunnels leading to the Gia Long Palace including a basement wartime communications room. Visitors can also view a video about the Vietnam War in English at the Reunification Palace.

Tip:
When you enter, explore the ground floor first and then venture upstairs. Do the bunkers last as they exit right out of the building.
Free guided tours are available in English, French, Japanese and Chinese (invaluable as there are not many signboards inside).