Presidential Palace, Hanoi

The Presidential Palace in Hanoi was built as the residence of the Governor General under French colonial rule. Today it is used as a guest house and reception facility for foreign dignitaries.

The Presidential Palace is a yellow three storey building constructed in Renaissance and Beaux Art style. The French colonial rulers had a civilizing mission and believed that European architectural styles were superior to traditional Asian housing design. The building has no Asian architectural feature. It was built in 1900 by Auguste Henri Vildieu, who was the official architect of Vietnam. The building stands behind strong wrought iron gates with sentry boxes on either side.

The palace is surrounded by expansive grounds including an alley with mango trees that leads to a humble structure on stilts occupied by Ho Chi Minh. After independence, Ho Chi Minh refused to live in the presidential palace and chose to stay in the servant’s quarters till his small cottage was constructed in the grounds. The cottage called uncle Ho’s cottage or the Nha San Bac Ho, is designed like the traditional houses in North West Vietnam that offered shelter to revolutionaries during their struggle for independence from the French rulers.

The presidential palace is off limits to visitors but the grounds and the cottage of Ho Chi Minh can be viewed for a small fee.