KR
JP
VN
Read our ultimate guide to visiting one of the must-see attractions when traveling to Hanoi: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum – a sacred place built to honor Vietnam’s national hero: President Ho Chi Minh.
Location, Opening hours & Tickets
- Address: 8 Hung Vuong, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi
- Opening hours:
- Apr 1st – Oct 31st: 7:30am – 10:30am
- Nov 1st – Mar 31st: 8:00am – 11:00am
- Ticket price:
- Vietnamese visitors: Free
- International visitors: VND 25,000/ ticket
- Get direction
About President Ho Chi Minh
Ho Chi Minh (19/5/1890-2/9/1969) is considered as the father of Vietnam and the founder of the country’s Communist Party. He dedicated his life to fighting for Vietnam’s independence and driving foreign invaders out of the country.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
History
In contrast to the late president’s will that his body would be cremated, the ashes should be divided into 3 and buried in the northern, central, and southern part of Vietnam, the government has decided to preserve his body (with the support from Soviet Union) and placed it in the mausoleum so that people from any part of the country and foreign friends can visit, express their admiration and gratitude towards him.
The mausoleum began construction on September 2, 1973, and was formally inaugurated on August 29, 1975. The monument is located next to Ba Dinh Square, the place that witnessed the historic declaration of independence by President Ho Chi Minh on September 2, 1945.
Architecture
Although inspired by Lenin’s mausoleum in Moscow, the monument still bears distinctive Vietnamese features in its architecture. All the materials used to construct the mausoleum from the exterior granite to interior wood as well as the trees, bonsais & flowers surrounding the attractions were contributed by people & from all regions of Vietnam.
The structure of the Mausoleum consists of 3 parts, with a height of 21.6 meters and a width of 41.2 meters. The foundation is a traditional Vietnamese architecture – a three-step staircase. Looking from the outside, the center part of the building is crimson-red stones surrounded by twenty stout marble pillars which remind of the 5-room houses typically seen in the countryside of Vietnam. The roof of the Mausoleum has a triangular sloping shape, evoking the ancient architecture of the country’s temples & pagodas. On top of the main entrance side, there is the inscription: “PRESIDENT HO CHI MINH” written in crimson jade stone. The mausoleum is designed to be extremely sturdy: it can withstand floods, bombings, and up to 7.0 magnitude earthquakes.
Walking inside the mausoleum, you will find on the wall Ho Chi Minh’s famous quote “Không có gì quý hơn độc lập tự do“ (Nothing is more precious than Freedom and Independence), the and the gold-plated signature of him & 2 flags: Vietnamese national flag & The Communist Party flag. In the center, there is a glass box with the embalmed body of President Ho Chi Minh on a bronze bed with lotus patterns placed on a stone pedestal with an automatic lift system.
Do’s and Don’t’s – Rules & Tips when visiting the Mausoleum
Rules:
- Clothing: Dress neatly and politely. Do not wear shorts or revealing clothes. Take off your hat when entering the mausoleum
- Walk in line according to the instructions of the officers; do not jostle or disrupt the line
- Do not put your hands in your pockets.
- Do not take photos or record or make drawings in prohibited areas, especially inside the mausoleum.
- Children under 3 years old are not allowed to enter the mausoleum
Silk Path’s suggestion:
- There is a flag raising (April – October: 6 AM, November – March: 6:30 AM) & flag lowering (9 PM) in front of the mausoleum every day. Make sure to visit during this time to watch these ceremonies performed by guards.
- Arrive early to avoid long queues.
- Remember to check the opening time of the mausoleum because it is expected to be closed for two months in autumn (October and November) as the embalmed body is sent to Russia for some preventive maintenance and touching-up.
