State Guest House, Hanoi

Historic Building in Hanoi

The State Guest House is a historical monument located in the Hoàn Kiếm District of Hanoi, Vietnam. Currently, it serves as a state guest house.

This building exemplifies French Colonial architecture in French Indochina. Originally, it was the Residential Palace of the Tonkin Governor, constructed between 1918 and 1919 to accommodate the French Governor of Tonkin. After the Viet Minh took control of northern Vietnam, it was renamed the Tonkin Palace.

The palace was built by Auguste Henri Vildieu between 1918 and 1919 to house the French Governor of Tonkin. It played a significant role during the Viet Minh’s takeover of northern Vietnam following the August Revolution in 1945.

On December 20, 1946, the French Army engaged in a fierce battle to capture Tonkin Palace from the Viet Minh. This marked an early stage of the Indochina War, with the French Army occupying the palace after six attacks, 122 casualties, and the destruction of four tanks.

Following the partition of Vietnam, it became the state guest house of North Vietnam, while South Vietnam had its state guest house on Nguyễn Du Street, Nhà khách 108 Nguyễn Du, near the Independence Palace.

Today, the building continues to function as the State Guest House of the Vietnamese Government.

The State Guest House, Hanoi appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Hanoi!

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