Independence Palace - A place that preserves the special significance of the nation's historic victory.

Prior to the historic day of April 30, 1975, the Independence Palace was one of the key institutions of the Saigon government, witnessing the brutal military intervention of foreign powers that caused the devastating war in Vietnam.

The gate of the Independence Palace 50 years after the complete victory. (Photo: Hong Dat/Vietnam+)

After liberation, this unique architectural work and special historical site preserved the imprint of the victory that marked the end of the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign, liberating the South and unifying the country.

This is also the meaning of the building's current name - the Reunification Hall.

The mark of the historic April 30th

In the final days of April 1975, the Ho Chi Minh Campaign, with five army units advancing from five directions, launched a general offensive against Saigon-Gia Dinh. These units, brimming with enthusiasm and employing a "lightning-fast" attack strategy, caused significant internal divisions within the Saigon puppet government.

Colonel Nguyen Van Tau (alias Tran Van Quang - Tu Cang), Hero of the People's Armed Forces, at that time the Political Commissar of the 316th Special Forces Brigade, a unit that, along with the 3rd Corps (Central Highlands Army), launched attacks from the Northwest towards the Independence Palace, is now 98 years old but still remembers all the important historical events, especially April 30, 1975.

Mr. Tu Cang recalled that as the troops advanced towards Saigon like a "waterfall," at 9:30 a.m. on April 30, 1975, at the Independence Palace, President Duong Van Minh broadcast a statement on Saigon radio announcing a unilateral ceasefire and the handover of power to the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam. However, the statement was no longer valid at that time.

At the same time, the spearhead of the 2nd Corps, after crushing several key targets in Thu Duc, successively crossed the Saigon Bridge and the Thi Nghe Bridge, advancing straight towards the Independence Palace.

At exactly 11:30 AM on April 30, 1975 - the moment that signaled the complete victory of the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign.

Independence Palace has become a historical "witness," preserving the imprint of the glorious victory and marking the end of the Saigon regime.

Recalling that historic moment, Captain Vu Dang Toan, former company commander and tank commander who rammed through the gates of the Independence Palace on the afternoon of April 30th, shared: "That was the most wonderful, most heroic, and unforgettable moment for me and my comrades. So many soldiers and compatriots sacrificed their lives for our tanks to reach the gates of the Independence Palace. I myself never imagined that I would witness those glorious historical moments of the great Ho Chi Minh Campaign."

A monument symbolizing reunification.

Built in 1868, the Independence Palace was originally named Norodom Palace. In 1962, it was rebuilt according to the design of architect Ngo Viet Thu, the first Vietnamese to win the Rome Prize (a prestigious award for young talents in music, painting, sculpture, and architecture).

According to architect Ngo Viet Nam Son, son of Ngo Viet Thu, his father skillfully incorporated a message about Vietnam's sovereignty into the overall design of the Independence Palace's facade.

“The etymological meaning incorporated into the facade of the Independence Palace includes: the character “tam” (three horizontal strokes, representing humanity, enlightenment, and martial prowess); the vertical stroke representing the character “chủ” (master), emphasizing Vietnam's sovereignty; at the top is the character “trung” (loyalty to the country); and the overall facade forms the character “hưng” (prosperity), expressing the designer's aspiration for a perpetually prosperous nation,” architect Ngo Viet Nam Son explained.

The architectural beauty of the Independence Palace is further showcased by the elegant stone curtain resembling bamboo stalks surrounding the second floor. At that time, architect Ngo Viet Thu created a building with a modern architectural style based on distinctly Eastern philosophical thinking. The curtain also drew inspiration from the ancient architectural style of the ornate doors in the Hue imperial palace.

Another difference is that instead of using a curved roof to replicate classical Vietnamese architecture, Mr. Ngo Viet Thu proposed a design with a slightly recessed concrete roof shaped into a curve, evoking the image of ancient architecture but with a completely modern spirit.

Dr. Ta Duy Linh, Director of the Institute for Economic and Tourism Research of Ho Chi Minh City, believes that the Independence Palace is not only a special national monument but also a unique symbolic space of modern Vietnamese political culture.

From a historical center of power, this place has transformed into a focal point of national memory, aspirations for peace, territorial unity, and community harmony in a nation that has experienced division.

From a cultural perspective, the Independence Palace not only symbolizes the end of the war but also opens up a larger discourse on national unity and reconciliation.

According to Dr. Ta Duy Linh, at its symbolic depth, the Independence Palace is the embodiment of the will for harmony and unity, a place where the past is commemorated, not merely rehashed.

This is a space of Vietnamese resilience, knowing how to overcome pain, resolve differences with a spirit of tolerance, and transform historical memory into a driving force to build a nation united in will and cohesive in action.

Therefore, preserving and promoting the value of the Palace today needs to be placed within a modern cultural strategy, aiming to revive the symbol rather than simply "confining" it to nostalgia.

"The Independence Palace could become a civic education center, a heritage experience space, where the younger generation is inspired to understand that peace, unity, and harmony are not something that has ended, but a journey that needs to be continuously nurtured through each generation," said Dr. Ta Duy Linh.

According to Huu Duyen (VNA/Vietnam+)