Reunification In Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.
The Reunification Palace (formerly known as the Independence Palace; and even more formerly known as the Norodom Palace) in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, once served as the home and workplace for the President of South Vietnam, Ngo Dinh Diem, during the Vietnam War.
It was here that the president lived, planned, met with, and delivered various orders to members of his government and army before falling to a coup on November 1, 1963, orchestrated by General Duong Van Minh, leader of the Revolutionary Military Committee.
The stunning architecture and visual aesthetic of the palace is not only home to various picturesque offices and eloquent meeting spaces (something you would expect from any presidential building), but it also comes complete with its own helipad, located on the rooftop of one of its connected buildings. Despite all of this, the most fascinating aspect with regards to the palace's architectural design is found in its on-site living quarters; more akin to miniature villas opposed to dormitories. Connecting each, an internal courtyard; all well-hidden away within the central structure of the building.
In the basement, one can also find old war rooms, still maintained for tourism's sake, with replica communication towers to signify what was once used during the war for intercepting and receiving transmissions. Presently, the palace also comes with its own gift shop and historical movie theatre — something probably not included in its initial design...
