Ho Chi Minh City Sights

Reunification Palace

#1 of 304 things to do in Ho Chi Minh City

#59 of 21668 things to do in Asia

4 reviews | Write a review

Good for: history, vietnam war

  • Address
    • 106 Ð Nguyen Du
  • Phone
    • 08 3829 4117
  • Price
    • admission 15,000d
  • Hours
    • 7.30-11am & 1-4pm

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Lonely Planet review for Reunification Palace

Time has stood still here since 30 April 1975, a slightly scary thought. The striking modern architecture and the slightly eerie feeling you get as you walk through its deserted halls make Reunification Palace one of the most fascinating sights in HCMC. The building was once the symbol of the South Vietnamese government, which hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese and 58,183 Americans died trying to save.

 

Traveller reviews for Reunification Palace (4)

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    History in one building

    drdadams recommends this,

    I LOVED this place. It says everything I expected to hear about this country. From the tanks sitting quietly in the grounds to the elegance of the formal rooms, it's Vietnam as those of my generation know it. Don't go in the early morning 'cos it's filled with the Vietnamese groups who tend to tour early. Try about 3 pm in the afternoon - it's generally quieter and you'll have more of a sense of the space, grandure sadness and pride that surrounds this building. Stand at the very top floor and imagine what it must have felt like in '75 as your world changed forever. Great place, great atmosphere.

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    1960's decor

    hotnacho recommends this,

    Interesting time capsule of a building... from roof to basement.

    http://timvan.com/blog/2011/10/saigon-reunification-palace/

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    Check it out for annteresting look at North Vietnam history

    steveomac recommends this,

    Good for: history, vietnam war

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    The Uncanny

    markbroadhead recommends this,

    I was surprised how interesting the palace was. You go up each level, seeing all the reception rooms (everyone except the cleaners seemed to have a reception room). This is interesting enough just for the decor, which hasn't been changed since 1975.
    On the roof is a Huey helicopter next to the two spots where the bombs were dropped by a South Vietnamese fighter pilot, in his failed attempt to kill Diem.
    A small kiosk sells drinks on the roof. I had a quick beverage then proceeded to the real reason to visit the palace -- the basement. It is not exactly as it was in 1975 as the desks have been cleared of paper (the first casualty of war is the forest), making the rooms feel clinical. Desks are empty, except for typewriters or teletext machines. It is like reading a dry history textbook in a haunted house. Or, to be more precise, It is an uncanny experience in the Freudian sense of the term -- it feels both real and unreal at the same time.

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