– Hundreds of valuable images, documents, and historical artifacts related to the Independence Palace were displayed for the first time in Ho Chi Minh City.
This morning, at the Reunification Hall, the Independence Palace — a special national relic — inaugurated the exhibition titled ‘From Norodom Palace to Independence Palace 1868 – 1966,’ featuring hundreds of historically significant documents and images.
 |
| The Ribbon-cutting Ceremony for the Exhibition Opening |
The exhibited materials were sourced from the national archives of Vietnam, the United States, and France. Furthermore, the research and exhibition design team comprises both domestic and international experts.
On the first floor, the display is divided into four themes: Building the City of Saigon in the Colonial Era; Norodom Palace; Faces of Saigon; and Dynamic Saigon.
Notably, the second floor introduces the formation and collapse of the Ngo Dinh Diem regime and the construction process of the Independence Palace through six themes: Family Rule (or Nepotism); The Struggle for Power in Saigon; Life in Saigon; The 1962 Bombing and Coup Attempt; The 1963 Crisis; and Building the New Independence Palace.
 |
| Reception Room of the Wooden Palace in 1982 |
Visitors will be able to discover over 60 images illustrating the process by which Ngo Dinh Diem became president and the complex power-sharing arrangements within the Ngo family, featuring many mysteries and complications involving figures such as Ngo Dinh Diem, Ngo Dinh Nhu, Ngo Dinh Can, Tran Le Xuan, and the struggle for power in Saigon…
 |
| Concert and Ball(room) of the Wooden Palace in 1862 |
In addition, there are several contemporary artifacts or simulated objects, such as personal items related to the figures of the Ngo family: a turban/traditional headwear (khăn đóng), a camera (belonging to Ngo Dinh Diem), an ashtray, a tobacco pipe (Ngo Dinh Nhu), a betel box (cơi đựng trầu) (Ngo Dinh Can), a handgun (belonging to Mrs. Tran Le Xuan)…
 |
| Dinh Norodom 1873 |
 |
| The Independence Palace during Construction |
 |
| The Independence Palace bombed on February 27, 1962 |
 |
| Replica of the Camera Frequently Used by Ngo Dinh Diem |
 |
| A Corner of Old Saigon Recreated in the Exhibition Area |
 |
| Visitors to the exhibition photograph Ngo Dinh Diem’s camera. |
