The Thống Nhất Hall opened a themed exhibition called Từ bản vẽ đến biểu tượng (From Drawings to Symbol) at Independence Palace in Ho Chi Minh City on 28 October, Báo Văn Hóa reported. Timed ahead of Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day on 23 November and Vietnam Culture Day on 24 November 2026, it presents drawings, photographs and documents from the design and construction of the palace, a special national relic.
The opening was attended by Trần Thế Thuận, director of the city's Department of Culture and Sports, Đinh Thị Thanh Thủy, deputy head of the city Party Committee's Propaganda and Education Commission, Lê Tú Cẩm, chair of the HCMC Cultural Heritage Association, architect Ngô Viết Nam Sơn and researchers and representatives of museums and heritage, architecture and tourism bodies.
Drawings set against the real building
According to Báo Văn Hóa, the material is displayed in relation to the existing spaces of the palace, so visitors can compare the original ideas with the building in front of them, from the overall plan down to interior details.
Ngô Viết Nam Sơn, vice president of the Asian Cultural Landscape Association, told the paper that the exhibition helps the public understand how the palace was designed and built, especially between 1962 and 1966. The hand-drawn sketches of architect Ngô Viết Thụ and records of his collaborators and builders show a shift away from Indochinese and French influences towards a modern architectural approach in Vietnam, he said, calling the palace a total work of art that combined design, engineering and craftsmanship.
From building to national symbol
The palace is closely tied to Ngô Viết Thụ and his team, blending modern architecture with traditional Eastern cultural values. Báo Văn Hóa stresses that its significance goes beyond architecture to its role in national history.
| When | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1962-1966 | Design and construction of the palace |
| 30 April 1975 | The liberation flag flies over the palace, marking the liberation of the South and national reunification |
| 28 October 2026 | The exhibition opens |
| 23 November | Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day |
| 24 November 2026 | Vietnam Culture Day |
Trần Hữu Phước, deputy director of the Thống Nhất Hall, told the opening that the palace is an outstanding architectural achievement showing the talent of Ngô Viết Thụ and his colleagues, and that researching and preserving it is a long-term responsibility. Trần Thế Thuận said protecting the site is also a key task for the city, which will keep supporting presentation formats suited to contemporary audiences, especially young people.
Visiting and what comes next
The organisers say the exhibition will run for three months at Independence Palace, 135 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa Street, Bến Thành Ward, HCMC. Báo Văn Hóa did not give ticket prices or separate opening hours for the show. It will be on view through Heritage Day on 23 November and Culture Day on 24 November. Ngô Viết Nam Sơn hopes the material can later be compiled into a multilingual publication about the palace for visitors.