Reunification Palace

Dinh Doc Lap or Independent Palace was completed in 1966 after three years of construction. The plans were drawn by Mr. Ngo Viet Thu, winner of the architectural excellence prize in Rome. The palace was built on the original site of the French governor's headquarters in the 19th century.

President Diem commissioned Mr. Thu to design the new palace and supervised its construction. Unfortunately, the president was assassinated shortly after construction started. The Palace became the home of then President of South Vietnam Nguyen Van Thieu until the fall of Saigon in 1975. It is now called the Reunification Hall with all the original furnishings still kept intact.

The Unification Hall, laid out on wind-water geomancy principles, is the most beautiful building of Vietnamese architecture of the 1960’s. The building is preserved almost as it was (presidential palace) under the old Saigon regime with the interior sophisticatedly decorated with fine Vietnamese art and crafts. Among its 100 rooms and chambers are president's reception room, credentials presentation room and banquet room