Presidential Palace Historical Site

The Presidential Palace is a complex in Hanoi containing French colonial-era buildings and traditional Vietnamese houses spread across spacious grounds. The site includes multiple structures, gardens, and Ho Chi Minh's famous modest residence where he conducted daily work.

The site was built as the residence of the French Governor-General of Indochina and later used by Ho Chi Minh from 1954 onwards as a workplace. The location served as a place of transformation from a colonial administrative center to a symbol of the modern Vietnamese state.

Ho Chi Minh's stilt house on the grounds shows his choice for simple living over grandeur, reflecting Vietnamese values of modesty. Visitors can see how the modest rooms were used daily and what personal items were kept there.

The complex offers guided tours where visitors can explore the various buildings and gardens; wearing comfortable shoes is recommended. Visitors should note that certain areas and opening times may vary depending on availability and special circumstances.

Within the grounds lies an underground military command center that was used during wartime to house strategic decision-making operations. This hidden system beneath the surface shows how government operations were conducted during that period.