The proposal was presented by Duong Duc Minh from the Institute for Tourism and Economic Development Research at a scientific seminar titled "Memory- Heritage-Contemporary Creativity" in HCM City on November 11.
Minh suggested that evening visits could follow themed routes, with designated areas, fixed durations and limits on visitor numbers.
The proposal draws on research conducted at Independence Palace between 2023 and 2026, including observations of visitor activities in 2025-2026 and in-depth interviews with 126 tourists, comprising 60 domestic and 66 international visitors.
Participants were asked what attracted their attention during visits, what additional experiences they wanted and how they could help conserve resources and reduce waste at the heritage site.
More than half of respondents in each group expressed interest in themed guided tours.
Interest in visits after 9pm was lower, at 43.3 per cent among domestic tourists and 63.6 per cent among international visitors.
Based on the findings, Minh recommended prioritising the 6pm-9pm period while separately assessing the feasibility and potential impact of later visits on the historic site.
He said the key question was what additional insights visitors could gain from extended opening hours.
A themed tour could begin with the palace's decorative stone screens, ceremonial rooms or gardens before exploring the building's architecture and history.
Minh recommended combining visitor feedback with expert advice and the experience of site managers, then refining tour programmes through trials.
Any new activities should enhance visitor experiences while ensuring the long-term preservation of the building, artefacts and surrounding landscape.
At the seminar, architect Ngo Viet Nam Son proposed organising cultural activities at Independence Palace throughout all 52 weeks of the year.
He noted that a visit to the palace might take only half a day, but additional attractions and programmes could encourage tourists to extend their stays in HCM City.
Regularly changing activities could also give local residents more reasons to return.
The seminar was held ahead of Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day on November 23 and Vietnam Culture Day on November 24.
Nguyen Minh Nhut, Deputy Director of the HCM City Department of Culture and Sports, acknowledged efforts by the Reunification Hall management to preserve, restore and showcase the site's heritage.
He also stressed the importance of cooperation among government departments, local authorities and cultural organisations to promote heritage values and support the city's socio-economic development.
