Unveiling the “Secrets” of the Independence Palace

On the morning of March 9, at the Reunification Hall (Ho Chi Minh City), the Independence Palace – a special national historical relic – officially opened a large-scale exhibition showcasing more than 500 valuable historical documents and artifacts, the largest of its kind to date.

The Independence Palace during its construction period

Special Documents from the Reunification Hall

The exhibition, entitled “From Norodom Palace to Independence Palace (1868–1966)”, is the result of four years of extensive research and document collection. It is held in the only remaining building of the former Norodom Palace complex, originally constructed during the French colonial period, and aims to shed light on lesser-known aspects of history.

During the Second Republic of Vietnam, this building served as the headquarters of the Democratic Party and was located at a corner of the palace grounds along Nguyen Du Street (District 1).

The exhibition has attracted a large number of visitors, demonstrating its strong public appeal.

Photos: Quynh Tran

According to documents from the Reunification Hall, in 1868 the French colonial government selected a 12-hectare site in the heart of Saigon to build a residence for the Governor of Cochinchina, as part of its long-term colonial strategy in Vietnam. Construction began on February 23, 1868, the palace was inaugurated on September 25, 1869, and interior decoration was completed in 1875.

After its completion, the building was named Norodom Palace. When the French established the Indochinese Federation, it also served as the residence of the Governor-General of French Indochina. Before leaving Saigon, French High Commissioner Paul Ely formally handed over the palace to the Saigon government, represented by Prime Minister Ngo Dinh Diem.

On September 8, 1954, Norodom Palace was officially renamed Independence Palace, becoming the supreme seat of power as well as the residence of President Ngo Dinh Diem and his family.

The exhibition presents a series of rare images documenting the formation of Norodom Palace, daily life in the Wooden Palace, reception halls, music and ballroom spaces dating back to the late 19th century.

Notably, more than 60 photographs trace Ngo Dinh Diem’s rise to the presidency and the concentration of power within the Ngo family. These are accompanied by original artifacts such as traditional turbans, cameras, ashtrays, tobacco pipes, betel nut boxes, and handguns, closely associated with key historical figures.

Following the death of Ngo Dinh Diem, Saigon’s political landscape fell into turmoil with a series of coups. Photographic materials from 1963 to 1966 vividly reflect these power struggles, culminating in the inauguration ceremony of the Independence Palace on October 31, 1966, co-chaired by Nguyen Van Thieu and Nguyen Cao Ky.

The exhibition also displays rare images of events such as the bombing of the Independence Palace in 1962, along with important diplomatic meetings and political negotiations aimed at finding solutions for South Vietnam.

With the permission of the leadership of the Reunification Hall, Thanh Nien newspaper introduces to readers a selection of representative images from this exhibition.

Le Cong Son
Source: Thanh Nien