From Norodom Palace to Independence Palace

(Baoquangngai.vn) - Independence Palace ( Ho Chi Minh City) is a popular destination for both domestic and international tourists. It commemorates the moment of the complete liberation of Southern Vietnam and the reunification of the country, marking the end of 30 years of arduous and heroic war for the Vietnamese people.

For every Vietnamese person, the Independence Palace is a familiar place, even if many have never set foot there, because it marks the moment of peace and reunification of the entire country. The image of the Liberation Army's tanks advancing to capture the Independence Palace, the last stronghold of the Saigon puppet regime, completely liberating the South and unifying the country on April 30, 1975, is etched in the minds of every Vietnamese person with pride and emotion.

From here, after 30 years of arduous and heroic war for the Vietnamese nation, our people can live in peace. Currently, within the grounds of the Independence Palace, there are still two tanks, numbered 843 and 390, of the liberation army, as a testament to the glorious history of the great victory of Spring 1975 of our nation.

Independence Palace.

Independence Palace is one of the first 10 special national monuments in Vietnam, officially recognized by the Prime Minister in 2009. On major national holidays and anniversaries such as National Day (September 2nd), Liberation Day (April 30th), etc., visitors from all over the country come to visit Independence Palace. Through these visits, they gain a deeper understanding of the nation's history, especially appreciating the value of peace. Many international visitors come to Independence Palace to better understand the resilient and indomitable Vietnamese people in their war of national defense, a nation rich in patriotism and a love for peace.

Independence Palace is a unique architectural masterpiece. Here, visitors can learn about the centuries-long history of Vietnam, marked by many ups and downs, from Norodom Palace to Independence Palace. The site of today's Independence Palace was formerly the residence of the Governor of Cochinchina. In 1868, the French colonialists built a mansion in the heart of Saigon to serve as the residence of the Governor of Cochinchina, named Norodom Palace. Because its facade faced Norodom Avenue, it was called Norodom Palace.

Tourists visit the Independence Palace.

The Norodom Palace was completed in 1871. The construction cost approximately 4,700 French francs, equivalent to one-quarter of the colonial public works budget. Most of the construction materials were imported from France. For the first seventeen years, it served as the residence of the Governor of Cochinchina, and from 1887 onwards, it was the residence of the Governor-General of Indochina. From 1887 to 1945, several French governors-general used this palace as their residence and workplace throughout the period of their invasion of Indochina.

In 1954, after the French colonialists' defeat in the Battle of Dien Bien Phu and their subsequent signing of the Geneva Accords and withdrawal from Vietnam, Norodom Palace became the residence and workplace of Ngo Dinh Diem, President of the Republic of Vietnam, and was renamed Independence Palace. In 1962, the palace was severely damaged by bombing, prompting Ngo Dinh Diem to demolish the old building and construct a new one on the site. Independence Palace was designed by architect Ngo Viet Thu, the first Vietnamese to win the Rome Prize. A highlight of this design is the harmonious blend of modern European and traditional Asian architectural elements. The building comprises three main levels: a ground floor, a mezzanine, two basements, and a helipad. Inside, there are over 100 rooms, each decorated in a unique style.

Following the coup that assassinated the Ngo Dinh Diem brothers on November 2, 1963, construction slowed down, and the palace was finally inaugurated on October 31, 1966. In October 1967, Nguyen Van Thieu became President of the Republic of Vietnam. From then on, the Independence Palace served as the workplace of the Republic of Vietnam government and the residence of Nguyen Van Thieu's family until the end of April 1975.

The building bears the hallmarks of French architectural style, a remnant from the time of Norodom Palace within the grounds of Independence Palace.

Visiting the Independence Palace, tourists will gain a clear understanding of a historical period in Vietnam associated with the name of a mansion that existed for nearly 100 years in Saigon (1868-1966), a symbol of the French colonial government in Southern Vietnam and also a place that witnessed the formation and collapse of the Republic of Vietnam government. All of this is vividly recreated through the exhibition "From Norodom Palace to Independence Palace" in a small house within the Independence Palace grounds, a building with French architecture, a remnant from the time of Norodom Palace.

Text and photos: MINH Anh

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Source: https://baoquangngai.vn/van-hoa/202309/tu-dinh-norodom-den-dinh-doc-lap-76710a8/