This is the Reunification Palace in Saigon. Before it got its present name, it used to be the seat of the South Vietnamese government. When I was two years old, a North Vietnamese tank mowed down the front entrance, an event that marked the end of the Vietnam War. For the people of Vietnam, this is known as a day of independence, and also as the end point of a long, long struggle.
The palace itself has been kept and maintained as it looked the day that the South Vietnamese capitulated. Even if you’re completely uninterested in its history, it is a fantastic place just because of its atmosphere – the 1970s have been captured and preserved here in all its glory; state of the art architecture and art blended with the symbols of power and government.
As a person with an interest in politics and history, it is a privilege to walk around in its rooms and corridors; places where decisions were made that shaped a generation of people in both the east and the west. I think it is great to know a bit about the historical context of the places you travel through – it makes it so much more enjoyable. I got to connect a bit with the news reports of my youngest years, and that made my day.
I would definitely recommend a visit here if you ever find yourself in Saigon.
Picture: The meeting room of the South Vietnamese cabinet.
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