The Independence Palace National Historic Site

Location and General Information

The Independence Palace is located at No. 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Covering a total area of 12 hectares, the site is bounded by four major streets: Nam Ky Khoi Nghia to the Northeast, Huyen Tran Cong Chua to the Southwest, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai to the Northwest, and Nguyen Du to the Southeast.

The monument is known by several other names, including Norodom Palace, Governor’s Palace, Governor-General’s Palace, and Reunification Hall.

Historical Events and Evolution

• 1868 – 1873: Following the French occupation of Cochinchina, Governor Lagrandière laid the first stone on February 23, 1868, to build a new Governor’s Palace. Designed by architect Hermite, it was named Norodom Palace (after the then-King of Cambodia). Most construction materials were imported from France.

• 1887 – 1945: The palace served as the residence and workplace for the French Governors-General of French Indochina.

• 1945 – 1954: It briefly housed the Japanese administration in 1945 before the French returned. On September 7, 1954, the palace was handed over to Prime Minister Ngo Dinh Diem.

• 1955 – 1962: Ngo Dinh Diem renamed it the Independence Palace. Due to its “Dragon’s Head” location in Feng Shui, it was also called the Dragon’s Head Mansion (Phủ Đầu Rồng).

• 1962 – 1966: After a bombing in 1962 by two pilots of the Republic of Vietnam Air Force made the building irreparable, it was demolished. A new palace was built on the same site, designed by Ngo Viet Thu, the first Vietnamese architect to win the Grand Prix de Rome. The current structure was inaugurated on October 31, 1966.

• April 30, 1975: At 10:45 AM, tank 843 of the Liberation Army crashed into the side gate, followed by tank 390, which smashed through the main gate. At 11:30 AM, the revolutionary flag was raised on the roof. President Duong Van Minh and his cabinet surrendered unconditionally, marking the complete victory of the resistance war and the reunification of the country.

• 1976 – Present: In 1976, the government renamed the building Reunification Hall to commemorate the political consultative conference held there. It was classified as a National Historic Site in 1976 and a Special National Monument in 2009.

Architecture and Design Philosophy

Architect Ngo Viet Thu harmonized modern architecture with traditional Eastern philosophy. The layout of the palace incorporates various Chinese characters (Han characters) symbolizing prosperity and sovereignty:

• Character “Cát” (吉 – Good Fortune): The overall floor plan is shaped like this character.

• Character “Khẩu” (口 – Mouth/Speech): The upper floor represents freedom of speech and education. Combined with the flagpole, it forms the character “Trung” (中 – Fidelity/Centrality).

• Character “Tam” (三 – Three): Formed by the balconies and eaves, representing the three elements of democracy: Humanity, Wisdom, and Bravery (Nhân, Minh, Võ).

• Character “Vương” (王 – King) and “Chủ” (主 – Sovereign): Connecting the vertical lines with the horizontal “Tam” creates “Vương,” and with the flagpole on top, it becomes “Chủ,” symbolizing national sovereignty.

• Character “Hưng” (興 – Prosperity): The front facade represents a wish for the eternal prosperity of the nation.

Special Features:

• Stone Screens (Rèm Hoa Đá): Encircling the second floor, these are shaped like elegant bamboo segments, inspired by the Hue Citadel’s style to let in natural light while adding aesthetic beauty.

• Dimensions: The building is 26m high, with 4,500 $m^2$ of floor area and 20,000 $m^2$ of total usable space. It features over 100 rooms, including the Cabinet Room, the President’s Office, and the Ambassador Chamber.

• The Basement: A fortified bunker system designed to withstand heavy bombing, equipped with modern air conditioning and communication systems.