About Presidential Palace
The Presidential Palace in Ba Dinh, Hanoi is a French colonial palace built between 1900 and 1906 as the Palace of the Governor-General of Indochina. Located at 1 Hung Vuong Street in Ngoc Ha Ward, the bright yellow three-storey building was designed by architect Auguste Henri Vildieu. Although it serves as an official state venue, its interior is not open to the public and visitors view the exterior and gardens as part of the Presidential Palace Historical Site.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect to view the exterior of the mustard-yellow colonial palace from outside the gates and explore the surrounding Presidential Palace Historical Site. The site includes landscaped gardens, a carp pond, tree-lined paths, and nearby structures such as House No. 54 and the Ho Chi Minh Stilt House. The palace interior is not accessible to tourists. Guided tours of the historical site grounds are available, with opportunities for sightseeing and exterior photography.
Key highlights
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French colonial architecture designed by Auguste Henri Vildieu with distinctive yellow facade and Italian Renaissance influences
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Exterior view of the three-storey palace with formal gardens and grounds
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Part of the Presidential Palace Historical Site including Ho Chi Minh's House No. 54 and Stilt House
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Landscaped gardens, mango-lined pathways and carp pond within the complex
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Located in the Ba Dinh political and historical area near Ba Dinh Square
History of Presidential Palace
Constructed from 1900 to 1906 as the Palace of the Governor-General of Indochina during the French colonial period, designed by French architect Auguste Henri Vildieu. After 1954, it became the Presidential Palace and part of the Presidential Palace Historical Site associated with President Ho Chi Minh, who chose to live in the nearby House No. 54 and Stilt House rather than in the palace itself.
Culture & Context
An important example of French colonial architecture in Hanoi and a central component of the Ba Dinh historical complex. The palace and its grounds are preserved as part of the Presidential Palace Historical Site, reflecting early 20th-century architectural heritage and the historical landscape of central Hanoi.