The Independence Palace, Ho Chi Minh City

Captured in the historic 1975 photograph of a North Vietnamese military tank crashing through its gates, The Independence Palace played a pivotal role in the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War. The interior of the palace has remained nearly intact since it was built as a residence of the South Vietnamese president in 1966. Its desolate halls and rooms are time capsules, displaying period-style furnishings and motifs--conference rooms, reception halls, a war room, a telecommunication center, and tunnels in the basement. Check out the president's living quarters, featuring bizarre decorations, such as actual elephant feet. At the entrance you can see a Vietnamese T-54 tank and the roof is topped with a model of a presidential helicopter. Plan to visit The Independence Palace during your Ho Chi Minh City vacation using our convenient Ho Chi Minh City trip planner.