Things to Do at Reunification Palace

Complete Guide to Reunification Palace in Ho Chi Minh City

About Reunification Palace

On April 30, 1975, a North Vietnamese T-54 tank crashed through the iron gates of the Presidential Palace and a soldier ran to the rooftop to raise the Viet Cong flag. The war was over. Today, that tank sits in the front garden, the gates have been repaired but you can still see where the hinges bent, and the palace is preserved almost exactly as President Thieu left it when he fled - ashtrays on the conference table, rotary phones on the desk, a 1960s-era disco room in the basement. Admission is VND 65,000 (about USD 2.60). The building is a masterpiece of 1960s modernist architecture by Ngo Viet Thu, Vietnam's first Paris-trained architect. The ground floor has the ceremonial rooms and Cabinet chamber. The second floor holds the president's private quarters and a gambling room. The basement is where it gets interesting: a war command center with original maps, communication equipment, and a network of tunnels. The rooftop helipad is where the famous last-helicopter evacuation photos were actually staged for film (the real evacuation happened from the US Embassy nearby). What most people miss: the basement telecommunications room with original radio equipment and a massive war strategy map showing troop positions at the moment of surrender. Best time is 8:00-9:30 AM before tour groups arrive. Allow 90 minutes to two hours. Only a local would know: the palace gardens are popular with local families on weekends, and the cafe on the grounds serves decent Vietnamese coffee for VND 25,000 while you sit in the shade of the same trees Thieu walked under. Worth it? The palace is the physical full stop at the end of the Vietnam War. Go.

What to See & Do

Presidential Reception Halls

The grand ceremonial rooms on the ground floor where diplomats were received, decorated in 1960s South Vietnamese official style - polished wood, lacquerwork, and dragon motifs. The cabinet room's oval table with name plates still in position. The state dining room seats 100. The architecture itself tells the story of a government trying to project permanence

Underground Bunker Complex

The basement war command center with original communications equipment, strategy maps showing troop positions at the war's end, and narrow concrete corridors connecting rooms. The telecommunications room has banks of radio equipment and a direct line to Washington. The claustrophobic scale of the bunker contrasts sharply with the airy rooms above

President's Private Quarters

The second floor contains the president's bedroom, a private cinema, a card room where Thieu reportedly gambled, and a rooftop terrace garden. The decor is preserved 1960s-70s: heavy curtains, a record player, a cocktail bar. It feels like walking through a time capsule of a government that didn't know it was about to collapse

Rooftop Helipad

The rooftop landing pad where a UH-1 Huey helicopter sits - a reproduction of the aircraft used in evacuation attempts. The famous 'last helicopter' photo was actually taken at the US Embassy, not here, but the palace helipad was used in the final days. The rooftop view over the palace grounds to the city beyond is worth the stair climb

Tank Display

The North Vietnamese T-54 tank number 843 that crashed through the palace gates on April 30, 1975, ending the Vietnam War. It sits in the front garden behind the famous iron gates, now repaired but bearing the marks. The second tank, number 390, actually entered first - 843 got stuck on the gate and arrived second, but the photograph made it famous

Practical Information

Opening Hours

Daily 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM (last entry at 3:30 PM). Closed on certain national holidays, so worth checking ahead

Tickets & Pricing

Adult tickets around 65,000 VND (about $3 USD). You can buy tickets at the entrance - no need to book in advance for most visits

Best Time to Visit

Early morning (8:00-9:30 AM) tends to be less crowded, or late afternoon around 2:30-3:30 PM. Avoid midday when tour groups are most active

Suggested Duration

Plan for 1.5-2 hours if you want to see everything properly, including the bunkers. You could rush through in an hour, but you'd miss the atmosphere

Getting There

The palace is at 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, District 1 - in the center of the city. Walking from Notre Dame Cathedral takes 5 minutes south. From Ben Thanh Market, it's a 10-minute walk northwest. Grab from anywhere in District 1 costs VND 15,000-25,000. Bus routes 02, 03, and 04 stop on nearby streets. The entrance is on Nam Ky Khoi Nghia street through the iron gates.

Things to Do Nearby

Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon
French colonial cathedral just a 5-minute walk away, though currently under renovation - still worth seeing from the outside

Saigon Central Post Office
Gorgeous French colonial building designed by Gustave Eiffel, right next to the cathedral and still functioning as a working post office

War Remnants Museum
Powerful and sobering museum about the Vietnam War, about 10 minutes away on foot - heavy subject matter but important context

Nguyen Hue Walking Street
Pedestrian boulevard that comes alive in the evenings, lined with cafes and often hosting cultural events - good for unwinding after the palace visit

Bitexco Financial Tower
The city's most recognizable skyscraper with an observation deck offering panoramic views, about 15 minutes walk through the city center

Tips & Advice

The guided tour (included in admission) runs every 30 minutes and covers history that the signage alone doesn't explain. English tours are available. The basement bunker tour is the most interesting section

Visit the War Remnants Museum (600 meters north, VND 40,000) on the same morning. The museum provides context for the war, and the palace provides the ending. Together they're the most powerful half-day in Saigon

The palace gardens are a peaceful break from District 1 traffic. Local families picnic here on weekends. The cafe near the entrance serves Vietnamese iced coffee for VND 25,000

Photography is allowed everywhere including the bunker. The basement corridors are dimly lit - a phone camera with night mode handles it better than a flash. The rooftop helipad offers the best city views