Drawing Saigon: Reunification Palace

The Residence of the Governor General of Indochina

This gracious building was started in 1868. Built many form materials imported from France, it was completed in 1863 and named The Norodom Palace after the the king of Cambodia - Norodom I, a fact that as always mystified me.

It appears that that poor, ill-fated sovereign was pushed around, ordered to be the puppet of the French Administration who he had asked for help when he saw his little country under threat from Siam (Thailand) and Vietnam. He was ordered to become a Christian and his capital was moved, without consent, from Oudong to Phnom Penh. He died in exile in Bangkok where they gave him a Buddhist burial.

It was the residence of the Governor General of Cochinchine and later of Indochine

During World War 2 it was occupied by the Japanese administration and after that, the French regained Saigon but after their defeat at Dien Binh Phu in 1954, the Palace was handed over to the Vietnamese and was renamed 'Independence Palace'. It became the home of Ngo Dinh Diem, the Prime Minister who deposed the last emperor. But he was unpopular and corrupt and in 1962 there was a bomb attack on the palace - an assassination attempt apparently. The building was badly damaged and it was decided to demolish and build something new.

Ngo Viet Thu was the appointed Vietnamese architect. He created a modern facade with a startling resemblance to the old palace in all its proportions and detailing. The same three major windows in the central section, the same division of space between the wings, the same three windows in the wings, the same curving ramp to the entrance and so on. the modern lines, however, incorporated some key Chinese symbols as you see here.

It may be contrary to popular opinion, but I find neither of these buildings attractive from the outside. From the inside, however, the new palace has some completely beautiful features especially the the way the light falls through the pierced concrete facade onto the large open floor spaces and wide corridors. The whole creation has been perfectly preserved as well. The original decor, furniture and fittings have been kept in fantastic condition. It makes a wonderful museum and is still a very elegant meeting and reception house.

Nam Ky Khoi Nghia:

Nam Ky Uprising was the armed uprising against the French and the Japanese people of South Vietnam in 1940 , commissioned by the South Land of the Indochinese Communist Party advocate and leader. ^[1]

^{Rue Mac-Mahon - president of France 1873-79}