Reunification Palace, Saigon, Vietnam

Reunification Palace or Independence Palace was built on the former site (map) of  Norodom Palace at 135, Nam Ky Khoi, Nghia Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. It was also the home and workplace for the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War era. This is where the North Vietnamese Army tanks crashed through its gates on the Fall of Saigon, 30 April 1975.

Nearby attractions include War Remnants Museum which is only several minutes walk from the Palace. I visited the Palace on 30 July 2014 with an admission fee of VND 30,000.

Visitors can view the following rooms which is preserved almost exactly as it was in 1966:

• Presidential's Reception Rooms
• Cabinet Room
• State Banqueting Hall
• Conference Hall
• Ambassadors Chamber
• First Lady's Reception Room
• Vice President's Reception Salon
• War Room
• Mini Theater

There is a UH-1 Huey helicopter parked on the rooftop which was once used as helipad. Before exiting the gates, you will find 2 Russian made T-54 tanks (nos 390 and 843) parked on the lawn (tank no. 843 led the final assault through the gates at 11.30 am, 30 April 1975), You can also see F-5E fighter jet just next to the tanks. A rebel pilot, Lt. Nguyen Thanh Trung flew this jet on 8 April 1975 and dropped 4 x Mk 82 bombs on the Palace, The locations were marked by two circles painted on the helipad.