A secret basement in a hundred-year-old building in Saigon

A secret basement in a hundred-year-old building in Saigon

The basement in museum Ho Chi Minh City of 1,400 m2, has six layers of iron doors, withstand the 500 kg guns and bombs.

The building of the Ho Chi Minh Museum (Ly Tu Trong Street, District 1) was once named Dinh Gia Long, designed by French architect Alfres Foulhoux, built between 1885 and 1890.

The building was used as the Commercial Museum and then as a residence for the governor of Nam Ky Hoefel. In 1962, when the Independence Palace (now the Unification Palace) was completely destroyed by bombing, the project became the temporary residence and residence of the President of the Republic of Vietnam Ngo Dinh Diem.

While waiting for the newly independent Palace to complete, fearing a coup or bombing, the Ngo family thought of designing a shelter in Gia Long Palace.

Architect Ngo Viet Thu was assigned to design the basement but later he went to the US, the work was Phan Dinh Tan engineers take over. The tunnel was started from 5/1962 to 30/10/1963 completed. Entrance is located at the two ends of the corridor, about 2 m high, just one person walking.

The tunnel was dug deep into the ground 4 m, cast by reinforced concrete with 170 kg of iron per m3 of concrete, with walls up to one meter thick. By design, the tunnel can withstand 500 kg guns and bombs.

The tunnel has 6 iron doors are molded monolith, rudder to lock, large iron pin to install when trouble.

If there are problems, only after 5 minutes the essence is brought down the tunnel. Inside the tunnel full of external communication system.

The total area of ​​the tunnel is approximately 1400 m2. The space is divided into 6 rooms through the corridors. The base is cemented or paved with flowers.

Guest room of President Ngo Dinh Diem under the basement. By design, the tunnel can withstand 500 kg guns and bombs.

At present, large rooms are displayed many pictures of the formation, development of Dinh Gia Long.

The design of the basement below the Gia Long Palace is on display. According to calculations, complete tunnel with a total cost of more than 12.5 million - a huge amount of money at that time.

An old article about the coup of November 1, 1963. At that time, two Ngo Dinh Diem brothers - Ngo Dinh Nhu fled to the shelter and moved by car through Cho Lon, hiding in Father Tam's church. Later, the cousin of Wu was arrested by the opposition.

Entrance of the basement is located in the back of the mansion. There are two roads leading to Nam Ky Khoi Nghia and Pasteur streets, which are camouflaged by small blocks of potted plants.

Currently, Gia Long Palace is preserved quite intact. Due to the flooded sections being repaired, tunnels are only partially open for visitors.

Ho Chi Minh Museum is a tourist attraction attracting many domestic and foreign tourists. Recently, the building became an interesting point of interest for young people and many couples.


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