Presidential Palace in Hanoi: Legacy of Vietnam History & Culture

The Presidential Palace (Phu Chu Tich) is the mustard-yellow French colonial palace just north of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi. You can’t go inside, but the grounds where Ho Chi Minh lived from 1954 to 1969 are normally open (40,000 VND for foreigners). Visit on the same morning as the Mausoleum.

Closed until 14 November 2026 for repair and landscaping work; its management expects to reopen on 15 November.

Hanoi Presidential Palace – a part of Ho Chi Minh Complex, was built as the Palace of the Governor-General of Indochina. It is a French-style building completed in 1906 that is now used for official receptions.

Presidential Palace opening hours and ticket price

The grounds open every day except Monday afternoon. Unlike the Mausoleum, they also open on Monday and Friday mornings and most afternoons. Foreign visitors pay 40,000 VND, the price in the site’s latest ticket notice (January 2024); Vietnamese visitors go in free. E-tickets are also sold in the Vietnam Travel app.

I. Overview of Presidential Palace

Hanoi Presidential Palace was constructed from 1901 to 1906; most sources name Auguste Henri Vildieu – a French architect – as its designer. This building was intended to become President Ho Chi Minh’s official residence but he chose a small house in the garden instead. Inspired by French architecture style, this yellow three-story building has 30 rooms surrounded by a lush garden, an orchard, a long boulevard, and a carp pond.

In 2017, Hanoi Presidential Palace was listed among the 13 most beautiful palaces in the world by Architectural Digest – the US magazine. With its unique style and beauty and historical values, Presidential Palace has become an attractive destination for both domestic and international visitors.

II. History of Presidential Palace

When this palace was completed, it was called “Indochina Governor Palace”. Today this building is named “The Presidential Palace” (Phu Chu Tich).

After 1954, this palace was meant to be the living and working place of President Ho Chi Minh. But, the great Vietnamese leader refused and he believed that it would be inappropriate to stay in such a large and luxury building while the others were homeless and starving.

Therefore, Uncle Ho decided to live in House 54 from 19 December 1954, and in a small stilt house in the garden from mid-May 1958. The palace itself was used only as a place for meeting important delegations and receiving guests.

Nowadays, The Presidential Palace is mainly used for official welcome ceremonies for foreign heads of state as well as important guests from all over the world coming to Vietnam.

III. Highlights of Presidential Palace

This historical site was constructed under French colonial rule, and today it is used as a reception facility for foreign dignitaries. Located in the north of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, this palace is a remembrance of the French contribution to Indochina architecture.

This palace features European architecture. The building has no signature Asian architectural features.

The building is surrounded by a luxuriant garden, a fish pond, an orchard, a boulevard and the famous Mango Alley which leads to the stilt house of President Ho.

IV. Extra Tips

Can you go inside the Presidential Palace?

No. Because political meetings are still organised at Hanoi Presidential Palace, tourists are not allowed to enter the palace, but they can visit the gardens where Ho Chi Minh lived from 19 December 1954 until his death on 2 September 1969. The main stops are:

• House 54, facing the fish pond, his home until mid-May 1958;
• Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House, his home from 1958 to 1969;
• House 67 (1967), where he worked during the US bombing and died;
• the Mango Alley, the Politburo meeting room, two kitchens and the cars he used.

The site’s rules ask for neat, respectful clothes, with no shorts, tank tops, short tops or hats at places of worship. Smoking is banned anywhere in the grounds. The Travelviet app gives an English audio guide via QR codes at the main stops.

The palace is 2.1–2.2 km by road from Dong Xuan Market, so it takes only a short taxi or Grab ride to get to Presidential Palace from Hanoi 36 Old Quarter. There are several popular tourist spots that tourists should pay a visit to while traveling to the palace such as One Pillar Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ho Chi Minh Museum. You can easily access some of these destinations with our Legendary Hanoi City Tour, which covers the Mausoleum, the palace grounds, One Pillar Pagoda and Tran Quoc Pagoda.

Sources: Presidential Palace relic site; Department of Cultural Heritage; Hanoi government portal