When traveling to the capital Hanoi, the first thing that tourists want to do is visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum – the great leader of the Vietnamese people and an outstanding cultural figure of humanity. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is a work of special cultural and historical value that any tourist should visit once. Let’s learn more about this special place with Origin Vietnam.
1. Where is Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum?
Uncle Ho’s Mausoleum locates at 2 Hung Vuong Street, Dien Bien Ward, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi City, Vietnam. They built this mausoleum on the old stage in the middle of Ba Dinh Square. Where President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
2. How is Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum unique?
The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum also has many other names such as Uncle Ho’s Mausoleum, Bac’s Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. This is where the kept the body of President Ho Chi Minh and where people from all over the country and international tourists come to visit. The great leader of the Vietnamese people and an outstanding cultural celebrity of humanity.
According to his will, Uncle Ho wanted to cremated and his ashes placed in the three regions of Vietnam after his death. However, the Party and the people at that time wished to preserve his body intact and place it in the Mausoleum. So that people from all over the country could come to commemorate him.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is a historical structure of great significance, expressing the deep affection of the Vietnamese people for the great leader. This is a cultural and historical symbol of the capital Hanoi and is a tourist attraction where attracted many tourists whenever they have the opportunity to come to Hanoi.
3. History and unique architecture of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
The construction of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum began on September 2, 1973 and completed on August 29, 1975. This place is famous as the place where the body of President Ho Chi Minh is. The great leader of the entire Vietnamese people. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is a complex including structures. Such as Ba Dinh Square, the Presidential Palace area, and Uncle Ho’s stilt house.
The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is built in 3 layers, 21.6 meters high and 41.2 meters wide. Below is a three-step staircase leading up to the central structure with the remaining room and corridors and stairs. The top part is the mausoleum roof designed in a three-level shape.
The structure in the center of the mausoleum will be the place to put Uncle Ho’s body, the corridor and the area of stairs going up and down. On top will be the roof of Uncle Ho’s mausoleum designed in the shape of a blooming lotus. The outside of the mausoleum is covered with gray granite, surrounded by four rows of square granite columns and in the middle stands out the words “PRESIDENT HO-CHI-MINH” in pink stone the color of ripe plum.
Uncle Ho’s mausoleum currently has a total of 200 doors made from many types of precious wood collected from all over the country. The inside area is made of polished gray and red stone. The grounds around the mausoleum are planted with many species of trees and flowers typical of regions across the country.
4. Entrance fee and opening hours of Uncle Ho’s Mausoleum
4.1 Entrance fee to Uncle Ho’s Mausoleum
According to the latest information, the entrance fee to Uncle Ho’s Mausoleum is:
- Adults: 25,000 VND/person/turn.
4.2 Opening hours to visit Uncle Ho’s Mausoleum
Here is a detailed update of the schedule and opening hours to visit the mausoleum:
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- Summer (April – October): From 07:30 to 10:30. On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, opening hours are from 07:30 – 11:00.
- Winter (November – March of the following year): From 08:00 to 11:00. On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, opening hours are from 08:00 – 11:30.
- On Mondays and Fridays: The mausoleum is closed for maintenance.
5. How to get to Uncle Ho’s Mausoleum?
To get to President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, you can easily travel by many means such as:
- By private car, rent a car: you can park your car opposite the Mausoleum Protection Command on Ong Ich Khiem Street. Or the gate of Ho Chi Minh Museum on Ngoc Ha Street.
- By bus: you can choose one of the following routes: 09 (departing from Hoan Kiem Lake), route 33 (departing from Yen Nghia Bus Station), route 22 (departing from Gia Lam Bus Station), and route 45 (departing from Times City), 50 (departing from Long Bien).
- By bus from the provinces to Hanoi: you move to the bus station closest to Uncle Ho’s Mausoleum, which is Gia Lam bus station. Then, you can take a bus or taxi to Uncle Ho’s Mausoleum.
6. Activities and experiences when visiting Uncle Ho’s Mausoleum
6.1 Witnessing the Flag Raising and Lowering Ceremony at Ba Dinh Square
Every day, at 6am and 9pm, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Flag Raising and Lowering Ceremony will take place at Ba Dinh Square. This is an extremely solemn moment that any visitor would want to witness if they have the opportunity to visit this place. The honor guard of 37 people will perform a series of rituals to the heroic music of the National Anthem and the fluttering national flag. After they raised the National Flag, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum will open.
6.2 Exploring the architecture of Uncle Ho’s Mausoleum
The overall architecture of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is a solid square with three layers, 21.6m high and 41.2m wide, helping to resist floods, bombs and earthquakes of magnitude 7 on the Richter scale. The exterior of the mausoleum is covered with gray granite, surrounded by rows of marble columns with the words “CHU TICH HO – CHI – MINH” in deep red jade standing out on the top of the mausoleum.
The lobby of the mausoleum is covered with pink-red marble, with a profound message: “Nothing is more precious than Independence and Freedom” and the gold-plated signature of President Ho Chi Minh. This is a symbol of the passion and aspiration of an independent nation.
6.3 Visiting inside the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
Many visitors wonder where the construction materials inside the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum are? The answer is that the 200 doors in the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum are made from precious woods collected from all over the country. The focal point of the mausoleum is the chamber where the body is placed, a sacred and solemn space. The room is covered entirely with marble, creating a unique and luxurious beauty.
Where is the body of President Ho Chi Minh in the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum? In the center of the mausoleum, his body is preserved in a glass box, placed on a bed, with a stone pedestal underneath. On special occasions, when visitors visit the mausoleum, four guards will stand guard inside the room where the body is placed, adding solemnity to this important event.
6.4 Visiting the Presidential Palace
Where is the Presidential Palace in Uncle Ho’s Mausoleum? This building is part of the mausoleum complex, built in classical French architecture, originally a building for the Governor General of Indochina. When the French colonialists left Vietnam, Uncle Ho came to work here from 1954 until his death in 1969.
Currently, the Presidential Palace has become a place to welcome officials and organize important state-level events. The Presidential Palace grounds are planted with many trees, especially many large ancient trees, creating a fresh and relaxing space.
6.5 Walking around Uncle Ho’s Stilt House and Fish Pond
With his inherent simplicity, President Ho Chi Minh chose to live in a simple stilt house instead of the luxurious Presidential Palace. Where is Uncle Ho’s stilt house in the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum? Not far from the Presidential Palace, this place still retains the artifacts from his lifetime. Built of wood following the architecture of the Tay – Thai ethnic stilt houses in Viet Bac, the stilt house is simple but contains the soul and lifestyle of a great leader.
The stilt house was built according to Uncle Ho’s wishes, based on a discussion with architect Nguyen Van Ninh. The house has two floors with a spacious first floor and a second floor divided into two rooms with partitions used as bookshelves. Surrounding the house is a corridor, creating a comfortable and convenient living space. Uncle Ho’s stilt house is not only his permanent residence, but also contains important marks in the country’s history.
Where is the fish pond in the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum? Right in front of the stilt house is the fish pond, where Uncle Ho often spent time relaxing. Before breakfast, he left some bread or rice to dry as food for the fish. When the weather was cold, he always cared and reminded his brothers to find duckweed and put it in the northern corner of the pond to ensure the fish had shelter. On every holiday, he often gave fish to the leaders as well as the security unit.
6.6 Visiting the Ho Chi Minh Museum
The Ho Chi Minh Museum is one of the tourist attractions in Hanoi that cannot be missed. The building has a very impressive architecture with a square block, nearly 20 m high, placed diagonally to create the elegant shape of a white lotus. With an area of up to 18,000m2, the Ho Chi Minh Museum has become the largest and most modern museum in the country.
The exhibition floors in the museum are closely connected to each other. The solemn space with a vaulted ceiling over 9m high, decorated with flowers and leaves of the four seasons of the country. It contains a full-body bronze statue of President Ho Chi Minh. The exhibition space is nearly 4000m2 wide with more than 2000 documents, artifacts and images, recreating the life and career of Uncle Ho associated with important historical events of Vietnam and the world.
6.7 Learning about One Pillar Pagoda
Located in the grounds of Uncle Ho’s Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda originated from the Ly Dynasty and is a unique symbol of the capital Hanoi. The special architecture of One Pillar Pagoda lies in the simulation of the shape of a lotus flower, a symbol of purity and steadfastness. One Pillar Pagoda has become a meaningful destination for tourists who want to explore the cultural and spiritual beauty of Hanoi.
7. Enjoying Hanoi specialties when visiting Uncle Ho’s mausoleum
If you have the opportunity to visit Uncle Ho’s mausoleum, try Hanoi’s delicious dishes at the restaurants nearby.
7.1 Beef noodle soup
Bowl noodle soup is not only a dish, but also a culinary art, closely associated with Hanoi. They made this dish from soft rice noodles, beef, green onions, onions, herbs, lemon, chili,…People served it with a broth that has a distinctive, rich flavor.
7.2 Banh cuon
Banh cuon is a light dish filled with aroma with a thin, smooth rice flour crust. Inside is wrapped a delicious filling of meat, shiitake mushrooms and shallots. The dish becomes even more flavorful with a unique dipping sauce combined with raw vegetables, bean sprouts, pork roll, grilled meat and nem chua.
7.3 La Vong Fish Cake
La Vong Fish Cake is a typical dish of Hanoi, made from carefully marinated catfish meat. Then, people grilled it on the stove, served with vermicelli, herbs and a special dipping sauce.
7.4 Bun Cha
The delicious golden fish balls served with crispy pickled vegetables, a little spicy chili creates a special blend of flavors. Of course, the bowl of fragrant amber-colored dipping sauce, fresh fresh vegetables and hot, crispy spring rolls are indispensable.
8. Accommodation when visiting Uncle Ho’s Mausoleum
When visiting Uncle Ho’s Mausoleum, you can refer to some of the hotels below:
- First Eden Hotel Hanoi. Address: No. 45 Hang Bun, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi City.
- Anise Hotel & Spa Hanoi. Address: 22 Quan Thanh, Quan Thanh Ward, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi City.
- AIRA Boutique Hanoi Hotel & Spa. Address: No. 38A Tran Phu Street, Dien Bien Ward, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.
- Daewoo Hotel Hanoi. Address: No. 360, Kim Ma Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.
- Fortuna Hotel Hanoi. Address: 6B Lang Ha, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.
- Flower Garden Hotel Hanoi. Address: 46 Nguyen Truong To Street, Truc Bach Ward, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.
- Le Jardin Hotel Haute Couture Hanoi. Address: 105 Nguyen Truong To, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.
- Grandiose Hotel & Spa. Address: No. 9-11 Lieu Giai Street, Lieu Giai Ward, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.
- Hanoi Le Jardin Hotel & Spa. Address: No. 46 Nguyen Truong To, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.
- Army Hotel. Address: 1A Nguyen Tri Phuong, Dien Bien, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.
- Hung Vuong Hotel. Address: 37 Hung Vuong, Dien Bien Ward, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.
- Bi Eco Suites Hanoi. Address: 28B Dien Bien Phu, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.
- Lotte Hotel Hanoi. Address: 54 Lieu Giai Street, Cong Vi, Ba Dinh, Hanoi.
9. Some important notes when visiting Uncle Ho’s Mausoleum
When visiting President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, all visitors must strictly and respectfully comply with the following regulations:
- Attitude and dress: All visitors to the mausoleum must have a serious attitude, dress neatly, cleanly and tidily.
- Security check: Before entering the mausoleum gate, everyone must check their luggage for security check. Only carry a handbag to hold money, precious metals, phones and small cameras that have been turned off. They do not allow you bring specialized cameras inside.
- Follow the instructions: On the way to visit, all visitors must follow the instructions of the organizing committee, avoid jostling and pushing, creating conditions for everyone to participate safely and orderly.
- Respect when arriving at the Mausoleum door: When arriving at the Mausoleum door, everyone should hold their hat or cap in their right hand and turn the cap or cap outward, showing respect and dignity.
- Maintain order and silence in the Mausoleum: During the process of entering the Mausoleum, everyone must remain quiet, not make noise, not point or touch the wall, and not put their hands in their pockets or shirt pockets. They do not allow you smoke here.
- Things that are not allowed to be brought into the Mausoleum: It is forbidden to film, take photos or draw any images in the room where President Ho Chi Minh’s body is placed. They alsso forbid you to post these images on the mass media. This helps protect the solemnity of the area.
It is worthy visiting Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
Through the ups and downs, rain and sunshine, Uncle Ho’s Mausoleum still stands tall and majestic in the middle of Ba Dinh Square. Like the image of the great leader always present in the mind of every citizen of the capital. Please contact Origin Vietnam – a professional tour operator, for more useful information about other beautiful destinations in Vietnam. We also accompany you on the Hanoi city tour to explore Hanoi and don’t forget to visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum to explore this meaningful architectural work.
