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Thursday, December 14, 2017

Saigon Reunification Palace (Independence Palace) 16 Nov 2017

It was the second last day in Saigon, and we still have a few places that we need to visit and tick off from our bucket lists in this trip.

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The Reunification Palace is one of them. Reunification Palace was the base and former home of the president of South Vietnam. It made its name in global history in 1975.

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A tank belonging to the North Vietnamese Army crashed through its main gate, ending the Vietnam War. You can see two of the original tanks used in the capture of the palace parked in the grounds.

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Today, it is a must-visit for tourists in Saigon. The palace is like a time capsule frozen in 1975. Reunification Palace was the home and workplace of the French Governor of Cochin-China.

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It has lush gardens, secret rooms, antique furniture, and a command bunker. It's still in use to host important occasions in Saigon, including APEC summits.

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After buying the ticket we then go inside, and walk around a few of the floors to see all sorts of rooms including meeting rooms, dining rooms, and lounges that are fit for royalty.

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On the third floor, there is a card playing room while the fourth houses a casino. Reunification Palace's rooftop terrace is fitted with a heliport.

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Every room and space within the Independence Palace is still furnished with original chairs and tables.

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The round dragon carpet, located on the second floor, a huge circular red carpet with a dragon etched into the middle, was something I thought was pretty amazing.

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After navigating through a few floors and seeing the helicopter pad, you can then head to the basement where we found some slightly scary offices, control rooms, and bunkers.

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It was very interesting to visit the Independence Palace in Saigon, and I think the highlight for me was strolling through the dark and creepy basement.

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And also, the palace kitchen, still equipped with old school machines, was pretty cool.

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Visiting the Independence Palace is one of the top things to do in Saigon and it is one of the most visited attractions in the city.

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