Landmark · District 1
Independence Palace
Dinh Độc Lập
Is it worth visiting? Yes: it is where the war ended on 30 April 1975, when a tank broke through the gate, and the 1960s building is almost untouched inside. Allow 1–1.5 hours, go down to the basement command bunker, and pair it with the War Remnants Museum nearby.
Current status
Two ticket types: the palace alone, or a combo that adds the exhibition on the earlier Norodom Palace (1868–1966). Ticket sales stop at 3:30 pm (Vietnambooking, March 2026). The palace can close at short notice for state events.
At a glance
- Hours
- Main building 8:00 am – 4:30 pm; exhibition 8:30 am – 4:30 pm; tickets until 3:30 pm
- Entry
- 40,000 dong (palace); 65,000 dong with the exhibition. Students 20,000 / 45,000
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
Why go
- A rare, well-kept piece of 1960s modernist architecture, with the original meeting rooms, banquet hall and furniture.
- The basement still holds the war-room maps, radio equipment and tunnels of the presidential bunker.
- Replicas of the tanks that entered on 30 April 1975 stand in the grounds.
How to get there
- Walk: about 10 minutes from Ben Thanh Market or Notre-Dame Cathedral.
- Metro Line 1: Ben Thanh station, then about 10 minutes on foot.
- Ride-hailing: ask for “Dinh Độc Lập”; the visitor entrance is on Nam Ky Khoi Nghia street.
Local tips
- Arrive before 3:00 pm; the last ticket is sold at 3:30 pm.
- Don't skip the basement: the bunker is the most atmospheric part.
- Signs inside are short; a guided city tour or reading up beforehand adds a lot of context.
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Dinh Độc Lập
135 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa, phường Bến Thành (Quận 1 cũ), TP.HCM
Prefer a guided tour?
Many half-day city tours include this stop with transport and a guide.
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Last checked: 30 October 2026. Sources: Vietnambooking, March 2026 · Traveloka. Hours and access can change, so check on the day.