Nostalgic travel with 9 historical destinations.

INDEPENDENCE PALACE (HO CHI MINH CITY)

Independence Palace was once the residence and workplace of the President of the Republic of Vietnam. The palace has had several different names throughout history, including: Norodom Palace (1889-1954), Prime Minister's Palace (1954-1956), Independence Palace (1956-1976), and today it is known as the Reunification Hall. Independence Palace is not only a unique architectural masterpiece but also closely associated with many significant historical events of the nation, and has been classified by the Government as a Special National Monument.

Built by the French, Independence Palace was once considered one of the most beautiful government buildings in East Asia. Its 80-meter-wide facade, a reception hall capable of accommodating up to 800 people, and surrounding gardens filled with a variety of plants and trees further enhance its majestic appearance. In front of the palace, at the foot of the flagpole, stands an antique-style cannon, adding to the building's imposing presence.

Since its completion in 1873, the Palace has always been chosen by the Saigon government as the location for its headquarters and witnessed the brutal foreign military intervention that caused war in Vietnam. It wasn't until 10:45 AM on April 30, 1975, that tanks of the liberation army rammed through the gates, entering the Palace and paving the way for the reunification of North and South Vietnam. Due to its profound historical significance, in 1976, the Palace was specially recognized by the state as a historical and cultural relic of Independence Palace.

Today, Independence Palace serves as a meeting place for the Government, a venue for receiving heads of state, and a national historical and cultural monument that attracts a large number of domestic and international tourists.

Cu Chi Tunnels historical site (Ho Chi Minh City)

The Cu Chi Tunnels are a famous revolutionary historical site located in Phu My Hung commune, Cu Chi district, 70 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City. The tunnels were built in 1940 during the resistance war against French colonialism and served as a shelter for the Viet Minh army. Today, the Cu Chi Tunnels are one of the tourist attractions in Ho Chi Minh City, frequently visited by both locals and tourists from near and far.

The tunnel system is divided into three different levels, with long and short branches radiating from the main tunnel, connecting to each other and extending for over 200 km. Level 1 is 3 meters below the surface and can withstand artillery fire and the weight of armored vehicles and tanks. Level 2 is 5 meters below the surface and can withstand small bombs. Level 3 is quite safe and is 8-10 meters above the surface; even large bombs cannot reach it.

Above ground and inside the tunnels, there were numerous fighting positions, minefields, spike pits, and booby traps... arranged in interconnected clusters, creating a solid battleground in guerrilla warfare. National Geographic television channel selected the Cu Chi Tunnels as "one of the greatest man-made tunnel systems in the world."

CON DAO HISTORICAL SITE (CON DAO, VUNG TAU)

Historically, the French colonial and American imperialist governments built 127 prison cells, 42 solitary confinement cells, and 504 isolated cells ("tiger cages") in the Con Dao area. After the complete reunification of the country (1975), the prison system in Con Dao was dissolved. In 1979, the Con Dao Historical Site was classified as a National Monument by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The Con Dao Historical Relic Site includes the Con Dao prison system and cemeteries belonging to this prison system. Among the 17 component relics, the following are noteworthy: the Governor's House - with a total area of 18,600 m².²The former residence and workplace of 53 generations of Island Lords during the time the prison system in Con Dao was in operation; the Pier, located in the center of the main beach of Con Dao town (in front of the Island Lord's house), built in 1873, witnessed the first humiliations of those imprisoned on the island; 9 prison camps numbered from 1 to 9; the isolated "cow shed" area, also considered the "prisoner's cemetery"; Hang Duong Cemetery, with an area of about 20 hectares, the resting place of tens of thousands of revolutionary soldiers and Vietnamese people who sacrificed their lives under the yoke of imprisonment...

Con Dao Prison was the most concentrated example of the notorious French and American prison system, a prime example of coercion, imprisonment, torture, and massacre of revolutionary fighters. But at the same time, it was also a "Communist school" forging the character and will of Communist fighters on the prison front.

Given the exceptional historical, cultural, and scientific value of the site, the Prime Minister decided to classify the Con Dao Prison Historical Site as a Special National Monument in 2012.

TRUONG SON ROAD - HO CHI MINH ROAD

During the war against the US to save the nation, the Truong Son Road - Ho Chi Minh Trail in Quang Binh, Quang Tri, and Thua Thien Hue provinces played a crucial role in transporting and supplying manpower and resources to the Southern battlefield, contributing to national liberation. Now that the war is over, the historical sites of the Truong Son Road - Ho Chi Minh Trail have become destinations for tourists on their journey back to their roots.

Many historical sites along the Truong Son mountain range are associated with the glorious and heroic achievements of the soldiers, youth volunteers, and people of this war-torn land. Places like A So, A Luoi, and Khe Ho airfields (Vinh Linh), Ben Tat suspension bridge, the Forward Command Post of the 559th Command, the Truong Son National Martyrs' Cemetery, and Ta Con airfield... have been and are being actively developed and promoted by local authorities to attract tourists.

Every year, provinces develop plans to protect, restore, and preserve historical relics. Many relics along the Truong Son Road are must-see destinations for tourists and travel companies. These sites are managed by well-organized teams, with guided tours and attentive service for visitors, and are given significant investment in their preservation.

VUNG CHUA - YEN ISLAND (QUANG BINH)

Vung Chua - Yen Island, with its fan-shaped topography, is surrounded by Hon La, Hon Gio, and Hon Nom islands. Because it is enclosed by these islands, wind cannot easily penetrate, hence the name "Vung" (meaning "valley" or "coastal bay"). In the past, there was a very sacred temple here, so the locals named it Vung Chua. This pristine natural tourist spot is the burial place of General Vo Nguyen Giap - "the outstanding and close disciple of President Ho Chi Minh," one of the 10 greatest generals in world history of all time.

The General's burial site is located at an altitude of 110 meters, on a headland jutting out into the sea, facing Yen Island, with Vung Chua Mountain behind it, about 1 km from Dragon's Head Cape. From the General's mausoleum, one can gaze out at the vast sea, enjoying a gentle, cool breeze all year round.

When visiting the tomb of General Vo Nguyen Giap, you will have the opportunity to visit and offer incense at the temple of Princess Lieu Hanh, explore Yen Island, Dragon Mountain, Da Nhay Beach, or enjoy local dishes and fresh seafood from the Quang Binh coastal region.

HO CHI MINH PRESIDENT MEMORIAL AREA (KIM LIEN, NGHE AN)

The Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site in Kim Lien - Nam Dan is considered one of the four most important historical sites in Vietnam related to President Ho Chi Minh. Located in the two communes of Kim Lien and Nam Giang, it preserves many documents, artifacts, and cultural and historical spaces about President Ho Chi Minh's childhood and his family members.

The memorial site comprises two main clusters of relics: the cluster at his paternal hometown (Sen village, Kim Lien commune) and the cluster at his maternal hometown (Hoang Tru village, Kim Lien commune). Every year, on holidays, especially on President Ho Chi Minh's birthday, people from all over the country come here to visit the memorial site to commemorate his contributions. The memorial site is also the venue for many major political events and ceremonies of various levels of government and organizations, and is also an attractive tourist destination for both domestic and international visitors.

Dien Bien Phu battlefield historical site (Dien Bien Phu)

The Dien Bien Phu battlefield complex is a collection of historical sites located in Dien Bien province, commemorating the victories of the Vietnamese People's Army in the Dien Bien Phu campaign. Notable relics of the former Dien Bien Phu battlefield include: A1 Hill, C1 Hill, C2 Hill, D1 Hill, Hong Cum stronghold, Him Lam stronghold, Doc Lap Hill, Muong Thanh Bridge, Muong Thanh airfield (now Dien Bien Phu airfield), and the command bunker of the Dien Bien Phu fortified complex.

In 2014, the Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum, part of the Dien Bien Phu historical site complex, was inaugurated to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory, covering a total area of 22,000 m². It displays nearly 1,000 artifacts related to the years of resistance against French colonialism in general and the Dien Bien Phu campaign in particular.

Currently, the Dien Bien Phu battlefield site has been included in the list of 23 special national historical sites.

PAC BO HISTORICAL SITE (CAO BANG)

The Pac Bo historical site is a special national revolutionary historical site of Vietnam, marking the starting point (km 0) of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The site includes: the Ho Chi Minh Memorial House, Coc Po Cave, Lung Lan Cave, Nguom Vai Cave, Lenin Stream, the stone table where Ho Chi Minh worked, the foundation of Mr. Ly Quoc Sung's house, the foundation of Mr. La Thanh's house, etc.

On February 8, 1941, upon returning to Vietnam, President Ho Chi Minh lived and worked in Coc Bo Cave (the local name means "headwaters"). He named the stream in front of the cave Lenin Stream and the mountain where the cave is located Karl Marx Mountain.

Before 1979, Coc Po cave was approximately 15 meters wide.²In front of the cave, there is a large stream flowing underground from the rocky mountain. The source of the stream is on the north side of this mountain and is in Chinese territory. During the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese border war, Chinese troops detonated mines to destroy Coc Po cave.

Today, Coc Po Cave has been partially restored to serve tourists. The Pac Bo historical site has also been classified as a Special National Monument by the Prime Minister.

HOA LO PRISON (HANOI)

Hoa Lo Prison is a famous landmark because it was once the place where many prominent Vietnamese revolutionaries were imprisoned during the Indochina War and American pilots during the Vietnam War.

The prison was built by the French colonialists in 1896 on land belonging to Hoa Lo village (which specialized in making earthenware teapots, kettles, and various types of earthen stoves, which were sold throughout the capital), then on the outskirts of the city. It was one of the largest and most fortified prisons in Indochina, with a total area of 12,908 m².²The prison's French name was Maison Centrale, which in Vietnamese was Nhà tù Trung ương (Central Prison), and it was commonly known at the time as Hanoi Prison.

Here, the colonial authorities implemented a harsh prison regime, using every means of torture, brutal beatings, and imprisonment to hold tens of thousands of Vietnamese patriotic and revolutionary fighters. Many revolutionaries sacrificed their lives, but many others transformed the prison into a "school," a place of enlightenment and propagation of the Party's revolutionary ideology.

In 1997, the site was recognized as a historical monument by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Today, Hoa Lo Prison remains one of the must-see destinations for foreign tourists visiting the capital city.