The Independence Palace, also known as the Reunification Hall, is one of the must-see history attractions in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. It’s a great place to visit for history buffs and first-timers to the city.
The Independence Palace has a rich history and beautiful architecture style. It’s a witness to major historical events of Vietnam in the 19th and 20th century.
The Independence Palace was recognised as a National Historical and Cultural Site in 2009. It welcomes many visitors and high-ranking officials from around the world come here to visit.
In this article, I’ll show you the location of the Independence Palace, the highlights of the Independence Palace, things to do, and where to stay near the Independence Palace. I’ll also share my personal experience on whether it’s worth visiting the Independence Palace.
Is the Independence Palace HCMC worth visiting?
I highly recommend visiting the Independence Palace when visiting Ho Chi Minh City, especially if you are first-timers to the city. It’s one of the must-see attractions in the city for sightseers, history buffs, and those who are interested in architecture.
It is not only a significant historical site marking the ending of the war in Vietnam in 1975, but also impresses visitors with its unique architecture, lush green surroundings, and mysterious wartime bunkers.
This palace was not only the workplace of the President of South Vietnam, but also a site that witnessed many of the city’s important historical events from the French colonial period.
The Palace has unique architecture and feng shui. It was designed with a harmonious blend of modern style and Eastern philosophy. According to feng shui, the palace is located at the “head of the dragon”, one of the most auspicious positions in Ho Chi Minh City.
You can visit the original functional rooms and an underground bunker system from the war time, which have all been kept almost entirely intact. You can see the former President’s office, bedrooms, meeting rooms, reception rooms, and old communication equipment.
The grounds of the Independence Palace have models of the tanks (843 and 390) that crashed the gates of the Palace on April 30, 1975, marking the end of the war. There is also the F5E jet that bombed the palace on April 8, 1975. These are great spots for taking photos.
Other factors to consider visiting the Independence Palace is its central location in the heart of the city. It’s walking distance or short a Grab Bike from all hotels in district 1 and district 3, where most visitors stay. This makes it convenient to take a look at the palace while in the city center.
Unlike the Saigon skydeck, the entrance ticket to Independence Palace is very cheap (only 40- 80k VND), so the entrance ticket is not the problem when you are wondering whether it’s worth it visiting the place.
The Independence Palace is often included in the city tour, so if you’re planning to take a guided tour, you’ll be likely to visit the Palace, War Museum, and the Cu Chi Tunnel, which give you a deeper understanding of the war in Vietnam.
The ground of the Palace is massive, but most people will see the main building, the tanks, and maybe have a drink at the cafe. It’ll take around 1-3 hours to explore depending how much you want to read and see in each room.
I recommend taking the electric car service to go around the ground and listen to the guided audio for around 10 minutes. After that you can explore the Palace at your own pace.
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Where is Independence Palace?
The exact location of the Independence Palace is at “135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia street, district 1, HCMC”. It’s bounded by four major streets, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia street in the front, Huyen Tran Cong Chua street in the back, and Nguyen Du & Nguyen Thi Minh Khai streets on the sides.
The Independence Palace is located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, near the central area of district 1 and district 3. These two districts are the most popular districts in HCMC for tourists.
The Independence Palace is within walking distance or a short Grab ride to other major sights in the city such as The War Remnants Museum, Museum of Ho Chi Minh City, Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon, Central Post Office, or Nguyen Hue Walking Street.
History of the Independence Palace
French Colonial Period (1858-1954)
The location of the current Independence Palace was the location of Norodom Palace, built from the French colonial period. The construction of Norodom 1868, after the French captured the six provinces of Cochinchina (South Vietnam).
It was designed by architect Charles Hermite and completed in 1871. Norodom was the name of the Cambodia King, who ruled Cambodia from 1834 to 1904. The original purpose of Norodom was the residence and workplace of the French Governor in South Vietnam.
The Norodom Palace covers an area of 12ha, including a large mansion with a façade 80m wide, a main hall that can accommodate 800 people, and spacious grounds with many trees and lawns. Most material was imported from France.
In March 1945, The Japanese took control of Vietnam and the Norodom became the office of Japanese administration. In September same year, The French came back to Vietnam, took control of the Norodom after Japan was defeated in World War II.
After the French colonialists were defeated in 1954, Vietnam was divided into regions: North Vietnam and South Vietnam under different governments.
Vietnam-American War (1955 – 1975)
The Norodom Palace became the office of the President of South Vietnam, Ngo Dinh Diem, from 1955 to 1962. He changed the name of the Norodom Palace to Independence Palace. During the war period, it was also known as the President Palace.
In February 1962, the two coup pilots Nguyễn Văn Cử và Phạm Phú Quốc used AD-6 fighter planes to bomb the Palace. The left wing of the Palace was heavily damaged and could not be restored, so Ngo Dinh Diem built the new Palace.
The New Palace was designed by Vietnamese architect Ngô Viết Thụ, the first Vietnamese win the prestigious Grand Prix de Rome. He combined modern European design with traditional Vietnamese architecture to design the building.
The construction of the New Palace started in July 1962. During the construction period, Ngo Dinh Diem and his family moved to stay in Gia Long Palace (now Ho Chi Minh City Museum).
The project was still unfinished when Ngô Đình Diệm was assassinated by the coup faction on November 2, 1963. The Independence Palace was inaugurated in October 1966.
It became the residence and work office of South Vietnam’s President Nguyễn Văn Thiệu from 1967 to mid April 1975. According to feng shui, this New Palace is located at the dragon’s head, and is therefore also called “Phủ Đầu rồng”.
The new Palace faced bombing raids by pilot Nguyen Thanh Trung on 8th April 1975, but it remained relatively intact.
April 30, 1975 – The Fall of Saigon
One of the major events of the Independence Palace was April 30, 1975 when two North Vietnam’ tanks crashed into the gates of the Palace. The T54B tank number 843 crashed into the side gate, and the T59 tank number 390 crashed into the main gate.
This event ended the 30 years of war, and unified the country. That explained why the Palace was named Unification Palace. After 1975, Independence Palace became a historical site.
Overview of the Independence Palace
The Independence Palace has unique architecture with a harmonious combination of modern architectural design and traditional East Asian architecture.
The whole ground of the Independence Palace covers an area of 4.500m². The Place has three main floors, 2 mezzanines, 2 basement, and a rooftop helipad for helicopter landings. The basement is able to withstand heavy bombing and artillery fire.
The Palace has nearly 100 rooms with different decorations according to its purpose. There is the reception hall, the cabinet meeting room, the offices of the President and Vice President, and the banquet hall….
The wide facade on the second floor is decorated in stone latticework. It’s shaped like bamboo segments, which is similar to traditional doors of the palaces in the ancient capital of Hue.
This bamboo-like detail not only serves to bring in natural light and ventilation, but also carries the imagery of Vietnamese culture.
Entering from the main gate, the path into the Palace is divided into two, curving in a semicircular shape. At the center of the semicircular path is a fountain, surrounded by the 102m diameter lush oval lawn.
Architecture: Chinese Character Shape
The shape of the Palace has different Chinese characters from different angles. Each character has its meaning.
The entire layout of the Palace has the shape of of the Chinese character 吉 (CÁT), which means good fortune and luck. The rooftop has the shape of the character 口 (KHẨU), which means freedom of speech.
The layout in the shape of the character ‘KHẨU’ has a flagpole in the center, forming the character 中 (TRUNG), symbolizing that to have democracy, one must be loyal and integrity.
The the front of the Palace, you can find shape of character 三 (TAM), 王 (VƯƠNG), 主 (CHỦ), and 興 (HƯNG).
“TAM” means the three tenets of democracy which include “humanity, wisdom, and courage”. “VƯƠNG” means king, “CHỦ” means, to symbolize sovereignty. “HƯNG” means prosperity.
Size and Limit
The Independence Place covers an area of 120.000 sq. m, 300m high and 400m width. The front of the Palace with the main gate and ticket booth faces Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street.
The back of the Palace is located on Huyen Tran Cong Chua street. The left side of the Palace is on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai street and the right side of the Palace is on Nguyen Du street.
What to do at Independence Palace?
The main thing to do at the Independence Palace is explore its explore the main building with different rooms where the 2nd President of the Republic of Vietnam lived and worked from 1967 to 1975. Make sure to check out the rooftop terrace and the underground areas.
In the area between the main entrance and the Palace, you can see the model of two tanks that crashed the Palace’s gates in 1975 and the F5E fighter aircraft model that was used by Lieutenant Nguyen Thanh Trung to bomb the Palace in 1975.
If you have time, you can visit the exhibition about the history of the Palace from Norodom Palace to Independence Palace from 1868 to 1966. It’s located in the only French-era building on the ground of the Palace.
There are several cafes in the grounds of the Independence Palace, you can take a break, have a drink or meals after or before exploration.
Explore rooms in the main building (3 floors, a rooftop, and basements )
1. The 1st Floor
The 1st floor is home to the Cabinet Meeting Room, Conference Reception Room, Banquet Room, Information Desk, and the Central Staircase.
The Cabinet Meeting Room (Phong Noi Cac)
The Cabinet Meeting Room is covered in green and sea blue. According to Feng Shui, green symbolizes growth, energy, youthfulness, and renewal, while sea blue represents calmness, stability, and peace.
The room has a large oval shaped table to promote closeness and understanding among the members.
The Conference Reception Rooms (Phong Khanh Tiet)
The Conference Reception Room is the largest room in the Independence Palace. It covers an area of approximately 500 m² and can accommodate up to 500 people.
This room has red color, symbolizes luck and the power of the owner. The left corner of the room has a statue of Ho Chi Minh and the two red Vietnam flags.
The floor is covered by a single-piece red carpet, which took over three months to complete, with more than 80 artisans working together to finish it.
At one end of the room is the large watercolor painting “Quốc Tổ Hùng Vương”, created by artist Trọng Nội in 1966. The painting is 5,4 m wide and 2.34m high. It depicts King Hùng, the founder of Vietnam, holding the word “Văn Lang”, which was the name of the first Vietnamese nation.
This room has witnessed many historical events, such as April 21, 1975, when the former regime’s president resigned, and the Conference on the Reunification of North and South Vietnam.
The Banquet Room (Phong Dai Yen)
The banquet room was used for hosting foreign guests and features a dominant gold and bronze color scheme. In East Asian culture, this color is the color of emperors and royalty. This shows the elegance and prestige of the most powerful mansion in Southeast Asia at the time.
The room has a long European style. The capacity of around 100 guests. The hosts sit on the left of the painting, while the guests sit on the right.
This room also contains many Biên Hòa ceramics. According to Feng Shui, these ceramic vases symbolize luck, wealth, and prosperity.
During the French colonial period, the French established Biên Hòa School of Fine Arts in 1903 as a training center for artisans in ceramics and wood carving. The distinctive Biên Hòa ceramic style has a blending Western techniques with traditional culture.
This room is also decorated with a large oil painting, around 7m wide and 2m high. The “sơn hà cẩm tú” was painted by the architect Ngo Viet Thu, who designed the Palace.
The painting was painted in 1966, when this Palace was inaugurated. It depicts the landscapes of Vietnam, showcasing a blend of Western techniques with the Vietnamese spirit.
2. The 2nd floor
The 2nd floor is the offices and reception rooms of the President and Vice President. The Presidential bedrooms and private apartments are also in this area.
The National Security Council Chamber room (Phòng hội đồng an ninh quốc gia)
This room served as a national security advisory office for South Vietnam’s president, providing analysis on political security, economic security, and defense matters.
This room has a world map, and maps reflecting the military situation in South Vietnam. There is a map analyzing the Domino Effect in the room. The U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower introduced the Domino Theory in 1954.
After World War II, the world was divided into two blocs, led by the Soviet Union and the United States, marking the beginning of the Cold War.
The Domino Theory was aimed at preventing the spread of communism and socialism in Southeast Asian countries.
The President Office (Phòng làm việc của tổng thống)
This room was the work office of President Nguyen Van Thieu from 1963 to 1975. He was the 2nd President of South Vietnam when President Ngo Dinh Diem was assassinated in 1960.
This room has a painting by the artist Phạm Cơ, depicting the Tri Thủy Bridge and Ninh Chu Beach, the hometown of President Thiệu.
In the right corner of the room, you can see a hand-embroidered velvet painting of cranes, symbolizing good health, longevity, and good fortune.
There is a brown door on the left side of the room, leading to an underground bunker and alternate exit used in case of conflict.
The foreign reception room (Phòng tiếp khách nước ngoài)
This room was used for the President to receive foreign guests. The room has a president’s desk, with the stylized flag of the Republic of Vietnam behind it, featuring the three red stripes.
At one end of the room is an elephant tusk pair. In Feng Shui, elephant tusks symbolize wealth, status, and strength. They are believed to ward off evil spirits and bring positive energy into the room.
The domestic reception room (Phòng tiếp khách trong nước)
This room has distinctive furniture, all crafted by some of the most famous Vietnamese lacquer artisans of the time. The patterns on the chairs blend Eastern and Western motifs.
At the grand hall of The second-floor lies a giant dragon carpet, manufactured in Hong Kong in 1973. The carpet features four dragons around the edges and a phoenix in the center.
In East Asian culture, the dragon symbolizes male strength and authority, while the phoenix represents beauty and femininity. The “Shou” characters on the carpet symbolize longevity.
You will see many cracks in the walls in the Independence Palace. It was purposely designed to avoid the bombing. If this building is bombed, it won’t collapse entirely, only the parts directly hit by the bombs will be damaged.
The Vice President Office (Phòng làm việc của phó tổng thống)
Vice President born in 1930 and died in 2011 in Malaysia.Phó tổng thống Nguyễn Cao Kỳ. Inside the room, you can see memorabilia of Nguyễn Cao Kỳ from his time in office.
There is a painting of the Central Highlands in Đà Lạt, his favorite art work. It was photographed by Nguyễn Cao Đàm and printed in Japan.
Th room has a portrait of his wife, Đặng Thị Tuyết Mai, who was once a flight attendant, and their daughter, Nguyen Cao Ky Duyen, who is now a well-known MC in Vietnamese music programs abroad.
Mezzanine floor
The President Bedroom (Phòng ngủ của tổng thống)
This room has a large space to store shoes and clothing of the President and the First Lady. There is the living area, featuring a tea table, a black and white TV, with a family portrait of President Thiệu, his wife, and their two children.
The bedroom has sofas, make up tables, a large bed, and a bathroom. There are two bed rooms for the children of the President next to the President bedroom, but not open for visitors.
Ambassador Chamber room (Phòng trình quốc thư)
This room was used for ambassadors from various countries presenting their credentials to the President of the Republic of Vietnam before 1975. The room was designed by artist Nguyễn Nhân Minh, and is heavily influenced by Japanese style.
The highlight of the room is the large lacquer painting “Bình Ngô Đại Cáo”. It is 14 m long and 9 m high, composed of 40 panels, depicting a total of 15 scenes.
This painting shows the peaceful life of the Vietnamese people in the 15th century, with King Lê proclaiming victory over the enemy.
The Private Apartment (Khu gia dinh tong thong)
This area where the president’s family lived and carried out daily activities. Upon entering, you will see a relief of Lieutenant General Nguyễn Di Hinh, from the 3rd Division, established in 1971, was one of the elite combat units of South Vietnam.
This area has a skylight, which brings in natural light and allows air to flow. This Feng Shui element is very important in traditional Vietnamese and Chinese homes.
You will see another bedroom of the President’s family, a western style and an Asian style dining room. There are also many gifts from various sectors that were presented to the President.
3. The 3rd floor
The 3rd floor is home to the library, cinema, game room, and The First’s Lady Reception Room.
The First’s Lady Reception Room (Phong khach phu nhan Tong Thong)
This room has two dining tables with Western style and Asian style. The room has an oil painting on canvas depicting Princess Ngọc Trân. It was created by the artist Văn Ba in 1971.
The entertainment room and Cinema
The cinema features a stylish design, seating 48 people, and was equipped with modern technology for its time.
The decorated card-playing room for playing mạc trược and the four-color chess game. You can see a piano and a billiard table outside of the entertainment room.
4. The rooftop area
On the rooftop, you can see the model of the UH-1 helicopter, which was used by President Nguyen Van Thieu. It was manufactured by Bell (USA) and supplied to the US in 1959. It was used in Vietnam from 1962 onward.
Beside it are two red circles and a remaining fragment of a bomb, commemorating the bombing of the Independence Palace by Lieutenant Nguyễn Thành Trung on 8th April 1975.
The rooftop has a good view of the city. There is also a small shop selling traditional Vietnamese souvenirs, snacks, water, and ice-cream at the rooftop terrace.
5. The basement (2 levels)
The basement area has two levels. The first level is 0.6 m below ground and can support a load of 500 kg of bombs. The second level is 2.5 m deep and can withstand up to 2 tons of bombs.
The width of this basement ranges from 0.8 to 22 meters, and the total length of the underground area is approximately 72 meters.
The basement has the War Strategy Rooms, the command bunker, a tunnel system, and a telecommunications centre. You can see detailed maps of Vietnam, old equipment, and personal items of people who worked there.
You can see the display of President Nguyễn Nhân Thiệu’s Mercedes. These are early-model Mercedes cars, made by the famous German automobile brand.
Take photos with the two tanks, 843 and 390
The two tanks are displayed in front of the palace courtyard. These are the models of the tanks that crashed down the side gate and main gates of the Palace on 30th April 1975, marking the end of the war.
The T54B tank with serial number 843 was manufactured by the Chinese and the T59 tank with serial number 390 was manufactured by the Soviet Union.
The original tanks were displayed at the Museum of Military History in Hanoi. The ones displayed at the Palace are the models of the same type and are used to represent the historical event.
See the F5E Fighter Aircraft
This helicopter is located in between the main entrance and the palace, within a short walk from the tanks, so you can take a look and take some photos with them.
It’s the model of the fighter aircraft which was used by Lieutenant Nguyen Thanh Trung to bomb the palace on 8th April in 1975. The location of the bombload dropped on the palace was marked with two red circles on the roof of the palace next to the helicopter pad.
The Octagonal house
The Octagonal house is the remaining structure from the French colonial period. It is located on the left side of the palace, near the area of the tanks and Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street. It’s built on a high mound with a curved tile roof, surrounded by old trees, creating a relaxing atmosphere.
Cafe 30/4
These are lovely cafes surrounded by old trees, creating a relaxing atmosphere. It’s a great stop after a long walk around the Palace.
The cafe is located in the back of the Palace, near Huyen Tran Cong Chua street. You can have nice smoothies or traditional Vietnamese food at the cafe.
Exhibition Hall
You can visit the Independence Palace to learn more about the palace’s formation, construction, and its changes throughout different historical periods.
This includes original images and documents of the former Norodom Palace and the current Independence Palace from French colonial Period to American-Vietnam war from 1868 to 1966.
The Exhibition Hall is located on the ground of the Independence Palace, on Nam Ky Khoi nghia street side. If you plan to visit this hall, you need to pay a combined ticket to the hall and the palace.
It’s located in a two story building that dates back to the French colonial era. On the first floor, you learn about the history of Saigon during the French colonial period, and on the 2nd floor, you will learn the establishment of Ngo Dinh Diem regime, its fall, and the construction of the new palace.
Opening Hours and Entrance Ticket
Opening Hours
The Independence Palace opens everyday from 7am to 6pm, including weekends and public holidays. You can visit anytime of the day, I recommend visiting early to avoid the heat.
If you visit late afternoon, allow yourself enough time to explore the whole ground. It’s a huge compound, so it’ll take 2-4 hours if you want to see everything slowly.
Entrance Ticket
There is the combo ticket and the single site/ service ticket. I recommend buying the Independence Palace + Exhibition + Electric car tour ticket. The ticket is 105k VND for adults and 45k for children from 6-17 years old.
The Electric car tour means you sit in the electric car and the driver will drive you around the palace for one round ( around 10 minutes). Along the way you’ll see the tanks, the airplane, the palace, and the exhibition halls from outside.
It’s not necessary to take the electric car because, after one driving around the ground for 10 minutes, you’ll have to walk to the Palace and explore it at your own pace. It’s still good to have experience and not too expensive, only 25k per ride per person.
I don’t think hiring the audio guide is necessary. Whenever I rent one, I always find distractions listening to them. In each place you visit, there will be clear writing to explain about it in Vietnamese and English. It’s expensive to rent one too, 90k VND per person.
The Palace is the main attraction of the compound but the Exhibition Hall is also well worth checking out, I suggest including it to the ticket. The ticket to visit the only Exhibition Hall is 40k VND.
You can buy tickets onsite at the main gate on Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street or the side gate on Nguyen Du Street. Tickets are only sold from 8am to 3.30pm each day. There are counters and automatic machines at the main gate.
How to get to Independence Palace?
Depending on your location in the city, you can walk, take a Grab Bike/ Taxi, or cyclo ride to the Independence Palace.
You can walk to the Independence Palace if your hotel is located in some popular areas of district 1 and district 3 such as the area around the War Museum, Nguyen Hue Walking Street, Ben Thanh Market, Ben Nghe street food, Central Post Office, or Book street.
If you want to avoid the heat, you can easily take a reasonable Grab Bike from your location to the Independence Palace. Grab is similar to the Uber app in the western countries, so you can easily order the ride with just a click and without the need of bargaining the price.
Taking a leisure cyclo ride to get to the Place is also a great idea. It’s a bit more expensive than taking Grab, but it’s a good experience to try. You can find cyclo drivers at all major sights of the cities in district 1 and 3.
How to explore the Independence Palace?
There are several to explore the Independence Palace, which include exploring at your own pace by walking, using an electric car tour, or taking guided tours. I visited the places once with a tour guide and another time by myself.
Electric Car service
The ground of the Palace is huge, around 12ha, so it’s hard to get around especially on hot days. You can consider taking electronic car services to see all major sites on the ground. The ride is around 10 minutes and costs 25k VND a ride.
In the car, there is guided audio to help you understand the sites you pass. After the ride, you can explore the rooms in the main building at your own pace.
Walking
Walking is a popular choice to explore the Independence Palace. It allows you to see things at your own pace, spend time taking photos, and it’s free.
I recommend taking the map to check sites you want to see to avoid walking too much. Some nice stops are the tanks, the main building, and the cafe.
Guided tour
Taking a guided tour is a great way to learn more deeply about the Independence Palace. There are many full day/ half day tours taking you to major attractions around the city including the Independence Palace.
I took the sightseeing jeep tour and highly recommend it. These tours include a pick up/ drop off from the hotel, and visiting popular sites such as Independence Palace, War Remnants Museum, Jade pagoda, Ben Thanh Market, and the City Hall.
Where to stay near Independence Palace HCMC?
There are hundreds of hotels in district 1 and district 3 that are close to Independence Palace. This is central location of Ho Chi Minh City, making its a great location for sightseeing, shopping, and enjoying the nightlife.
Best Hotels near Independence Palace HCMC:
La Siesta Premium Saigon (luxury)
This is a 5-star hotel located in district 1 of Ho Chi Minh City, a block away from the Independence Palace. The hotel has a central location for sightseeing, shopping, and dining. The famous Ben Thanh market and the peaceful Tao Dan Park is a short walk from the hotel.
The hotel has a rooftop with beautiful views of the city. Other facilities such as comfortable spacious bed rooms, rooftop terrace, gym, spa services, and buffet breakfast.
Rex Hotel (luxury)
This 5-star hotel with French colonial style is located in prime location on the trendy Nguyen Hue street, right next to the City Hall. It’s an 11 minute walk to the Independence Palace. There are plenty of stylish bars, restaurants, and French colonial sites close to the Rex Hotel.
The hotel has a beautiful central courtyard filled with greenery. It has a rooftop pool, a nice onsite restaurant with city views, and a fitness center.
Mai House Saigon Hotel (luxury)
This luxury hotel is located in Nam Ky Khoi Nghia street, only 10 minutes walk from the Independence Palace. It’s also a short walk from the War Remnant museum.
Similar to many other high-end hotels in the city, this hotel features spacious rooms, a rooftop, and buffet breakfast with extensive options.
Au Lac Legend Hotel (mid-range)
This hotel is a 4-star mid-range hotel located in a prime location on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai street, only 5 minutes walk from the Independence Palace. It’s also very close to The War Museum, Book Street, the Big Cathedral, and the Central Post Office.
The hotel has a small pool with several sunbeds around it. The pool has city views. There are also airport shuttle series and 24h front desk. You can choose the high floor rooms for the views.
Garden View Court Suites (mid-range)
This 4-star hotel is located right next to the Independence Palace, on Nguyen Du street. The hotel has apartment style accommodation which is ideal for families and groups of friends. There are options for a Four-Bedroom Suite with city views and private kitchen area.
Orchids Saigon Hotel (mid-range)
I had a good time staying at this hotel. It’s in a quiet but pretty central location, very close to Ben Nghe Street food and the Independence Palace. If you like to walk, you can easily walk to Book Street, the Cathedral, the Post Office, and the War museum.
The hotel has a nice indoor pool, a lovely breakfast buffet area, and comfortable rooms with quality facilities and lots of natural life. I recommend this hotel for mid-range travelers who want to stay in a quiet central area of HCMC.
Sanouva Saigon Hotel (budget)
This is a good 3-star hotel in district 1 HCMC, close to Independence Palace. It’s also very close to shopping hubs such as Ben Thanh Market, Saigon Square, and Saigon Central. The hotel has comfortable private rooms for families, couples, and solo travelers.
The Turtle Lake
Turtle Lake, also known as “Cong Truong Quoc Te”, is located around 2 blocks from the Independence Palace.
It’s a traffic roundabout with a water fountain, connecting three streets, Phạm Ngọc Thạch, Võ Văn Tần, and Trần Cao Vân. It’s a nice place to hangout with street food stalls in the evening.
According to word of mouth, in 1967, when General Nguyễn Văn Thiệu became President of South Vietnam, he invited a famous Chinese feng shui master to assess the land at the Independence Palace.
The feng shui master said the location of the Palace is on the dragon vein. The Palace is at the head of the Dragon. Hence the Independence Palace is also called the “Phu Dau Rong” (Dragon’s Head).
The tail of Dragon is at the “Công trường Chiến sĩ” (changed name to Công trường Quốc tế in 1972). The tail often stirs and struggles, so success is not lasting.
To stabilize it, a large turtle needed to be cast as a talisman to suppress the tail’s movements, ensuring the president’s position would be secure.
Nguyễn Văn Thiệu followed this advice and had an octagonal pond built, modeled after the Bagua formation, which is a feng shui symbol traditionally used to restrain energy. He placed a large bronze turtle at the center of the pond.
Top attractions near Independence Palace?
The War Remnants Museum
The War Remnants Museum is a popular museum in the heart of HCMC to learn about the history of the war and consequences of war. It’s located just 1 block away from Independence Palace, so you can combine a visit to these two places within a single trip.
Everyone visiting HCMC visits this museum, so don’t miss it. You can see real equipment used during the war such as tanks, helicopters, fighter jets, bombs. There are also Agent Orange exhibits, which shows long-term health effects and deformities caused by chemical exposure.
Tao Dan Park
Tao Dan Park is a huge park and one of the green heart of the city. It’s located right behind the Independence Palace and is a good spot to relax and people watching.
Ben Nghe Street food
Ben Nghe Street food is one of the great food complex areas in central HCMC. It’s a short walk from the Independence Palace. You can find many stalls selling a variety of food in one place.
It can be quite touristy, but in my opinion, it’s worth checking out due to in cleanies and wide choice of dishes in one place. It also has a great international atmosphere from the food and visitors.
Ben Thanh Market
This is a must-see market in HCMC with beautiful French colonial architecture style. The market is located around 7 minutes walk from the Independence Palace. It was built in 1913 and still remains in its original design.
You can buy everything at the market including clothing, bags, suitcases, and traditional Vietnamese specialties and souvenirs. It’s a fun place to bargain and experience the bustling local life.
Central Post Office and Big Church
These two attractions are located next to each other and they both were built from the French colonial period. You can go inside the post office and admire its architecture with high ceilings, and big world maps. The Big Church can be viewed from the Central Post Office area.
Nguyen Hue Walking Street
This street was built from the French colonial period by feeling the Grand Canal, connecting Saigon River and the Citadel. It’s now an unscale area of the city with lots of high-end bars, restaurants, cafes, and some beautiful buildings such as the City Hall and Apartment Cafe.
Bui Vien Walking Street
This is the backpacker street, in district 1 of HCMC, around a few minutes taxi ride from the Independence Palace. This area is best visited from late afternoon to mid-night for nightlife. You can sit at the bars on the side of the road to enjoy the atmosphere and people watching.
So, here is my introduction to the Independence Palace. If you’re visiting Ho Chi Minh City for the first time, make sure to put it in the top list of places to visit in the city.