A guide to one of the Best Things to do in Hanoi, Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Story of Vietnamese Great Father, the Independence of Vietnam, French architecture blend with traditional Vietnamese architecture, spectacular views with lotus-shaped pagoda and gardens. All can be found in one place!!!


I. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Necessary Information

1. Ho Chi Minh mausoleum opening hours and entrance fee.

Information Details
Opening Hours Summer & Fall (April 1 – October 31): Tuesday – Thursday & Saturday – Sunday, 7:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Winter & Spring (November 1 – March 31): Tuesday – Thursday & Saturday – Sunday, 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Extended hours by 30 minutes on weekends and public holidays.
Closed on Mondays and Fridays (except for special occasions).
Ticket Prices VND 25,000 (approx. US$1.07) – Foreign visitors
Free – Vietnamese citizens
Address Dien Bien Phu Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, Vietnam
Website Official website unavailable (consider searching online for updates)
  • Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Information

    On May 19th, September 2nd, and the 1st day of Lunar New Year, if they fall on Monday or Friday, the commemoration ceremony for President Ho Chi Minh will still be held.
  • In 2024, the 1st day of Lunar New Year falls on Saturday, February 10th, so the commemoration ceremony for President Ho Chi Minh will still be held.
  • The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum will be open on the holidays of April 30th and May 1st. In 2024, the opening hours for the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum during the April 30th – May 1st holiday period will be extended to 5 days. Therefore, you can plan to visit the Mausoleum from 7:30 AM to 10:30 AM during this time.

2. Ho Chi Minh mausoleum dress code 

  • Modesty: Dress modestly to show respect for the cultural significance of the mausoleum. Avoid clothing that is revealing or inappropriate.
  • Conservative Attire: Wear conservative clothing that covers the shoulders and knees. This includes long pants or skirts and tops with sleeves.
  • Hat and Sunglasses Etiquette: Remove hats and sunglasses before entering the mausoleum out of respect for the late leader and the solemn atmosphere.
  • Footwear: Wear comfortable shoes suitable for walking, as visitors may need to traverse the mausoleum grounds. Avoid wearing flip-flops or sandals.
  • Behavior: Maintain a quiet and respectful demeanor while inside the mausoleum. Refrain from loud conversations, photography, or any behavior that may disrupt others.

3 . Overview of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

Located in the center and also one of the most beautiful areas of the capital, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is a cannot-be-missed place for tourists visiting this city.

The area around the mausoleum is known to be the quietest and guarded area in the city since it consists of many government buildings and workplaces.

In the past, or even nowadays, Vietnam has been famously known for the Vietnam War. During the struggles of war and for the country’s independence, the one who plays the most important role was Ho Chi Minh.

This is the person who sacrificed, fought for the country and declared the independence of Vietnam to the world. Vietnamese people call him as the Great Father of the country to show love and respect.

ho-chi-minh-mausoleum-overview

Touring around Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum will be perfectly suitable for secret-seekers and history-explorers out there. Because tons of secrets are waiting for you to discover:

  • What are the secrets behind the Vietnam War from the perspective of the native people?
  • What are the recipes for the victory? How did a small and poor country can do such a thing?
  • How was the life of the biggest leader of Vietnam and how did he lead the country to independence?

If you’re curious enough, there’s no time to hesitate anymore.

COME HERE and DISCOVER by yourself or if you want a tour guide to help you out: CHECK OUT Tours in Hanoi by us +84 034 8765 223

5. Where is Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and How to get to?

Address: Hung Vuong Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi

How to get there: The easiest way for you is to catch a traditional taxi or Grab. Or you can choose to go with a FREE Hanoi Tour.

The tour guide will tell you the stories and the secrets that only the locals know about. In this way, you can get explore this area to the fullest and not missing anything interesting.

If you choose to go by yourself,  follow Trang Thi road to the junction, then turn to Dien Bien Phu street. Go along Dien Bien Phu street is to Ba Dinh square.

To find the parking lot, turn left to Le Hong Phong street (crossing Dien Bien Phu – Hoang Dieu 20 meters), go straight  Le Hong Phong to Ngoc Ha street,  you will see the entrance to Uncle Ho’s mausoleum here.

Or if you want to combine this visit with other Hanoi tourist spots in the most efficient and flexible way, feel free to ask out local experts for a FREE Itinerary Planning. Check this out!

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6. Do And Don’t in Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex

Now come to the Do and Don’t things in Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. As this is a sanctuary, you MUST and SHOULD follow all of these:

Don’t take pictures. Actually, you won’t be able to – the guards collect all cameras before you enter the mausoleum. You will be able to reclaim your belongings as you leave the area.

Don’t wear shorts. Wearing shorts, tank tops, singlets, sleeveless shirts or hats are NOT permitted. Dress up with a modicum of decency, and wear clothes that cover you up, even in warm Vietnam weather.

Do maintain an attitude of respect. Don’t talk, don’t laugh, and walk slowly along with the queue into the darkened inner sanctum. The guards will not hesitate to single you out if you don’t maintain the proper attitude.

Do come early. If you want to be ahead of the queue, it’s important to avoid the rush of people who line up early to pay their respects. The mausoleum opens at 8 am, but be there by 7 am.

Do And Don’t in Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex

Or you can come extra early, around 6:00 am (or 9:00 pm) to witness the flag raising and lowering ceremony

In addition, you should follow some regulations:

  • Putting your hands in your pockets and taking photographs is prohibited.
  • Carrying out luggage in accordance with the regulations and arrangements of the management of the mausoleum
  • Do not carry out food, electronics, jewelry or you may not be allowed to post items.
  • Children under 3 are not allowed to enter.

7. How long does it take to visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex?

If you don’t plan to go inside the mausoleum to visit Ho Chi Minh embalmed body, a tour around the complex can take 1 to 1.5 hours.

If you want to go inside the mausoleum, you have to queue at least 30 minutes and more if crowded. So the tour can take about 2.5 to 3 hours.

So with that duration, what will you explore? Don’t miss all the places we have listed below!

II. Highlights of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex You Cannot Miss

  • The embalmed body of President Ho Chi Minh inside the mausoleum
  • The traditional stilt house of Northern Vietnamese people used by Ho Chi Minh
  • The unique architecture of One Pillar Pagoda as a lotus rising from the water

>>> Discover all the highlights of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex in Ho Chi Minh Complex FREE Walking Tour!

Overall, there are 6 main constructions in the site:

However, for a clearer image and make it easier to plan your trip, I’d like to break it down to only 2 main parts: the outer part and the inner part.

The outer part is also the front area which consists of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ba Dinh Square. You can visit this area without paying any fees.

The inner part lies behind the Mausoleum and to our surprise, this area is much bigger than outer space. Like stepping into a magical world, this area is more like a complex with everything: gardens, lakes, workplaces, buildings and the stilt house and even a pagoda. However, to visit this place, you will have to pay an entrance fee.

Highlights-of-Ho-Chi-Minh-Mausoleum-Complex-You-Cannot-Miss

Ba Dinh Square – where many important national historical events in modern history took place. 

1. Get inside Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum to see the embalmed Ho Chi Minh body

One interesting fact is that the construction of this mausoleum was against Ho Chi Minh’s wish before he passed away.

The founder of the Vietnam Communist Party specified that his body is cremated, with his ashes scattered over the north, center, and south of his country. In this way, he can be present everywhere in his beloved country.

However, The Vietnamese Government did the absolute opposite of his wish.

Instead, they embalmed his body and installed it in an imposing concrete-and-granite block that stands before a vast square with dim lights.

The purpose behind this action is that people can come to the place, pay a visit and contribute to him so that the Great Father will live forever in the heart of Vietnamese people.

The door of the mausoleum is guarded by armed honor guards. To enter the Mausoleum, you’ll have to join a snaking queue.

The queues to visit the inner sanctum can get quite long, and the wait can be interminable – visiting the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is a highlight for both locals and tourists.

In my opinion, you shall not miss the chance to go inside the mausoleum to observe the embalmed body. However, you must obey the rules and keep walking as told since this is a privately guarded place and they require you to pay respect.

2. Ba Dinh Square -Places of important national historical events. 

Ba Dinh Square is the first thing you will see once you arrive at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. It’s the huge square right in front of the mausoleum.

In fact, you have to cross Ba Dinh Square to reach Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. This place became a historical witness of some milestones in the history of Vietnam.

3. The Presidential Palace Hanoi – the luxury and expensive headquarter of Indochina Governor

The Presidential Palace was Indochina Governor Palace – the headquarter of Indochina for a period of time. This palace has a symbolic architectural design of the French during the Indochina period.

Almost every building that the French colonists built in Hanoi have the same noticeable architecture with yellow color and green domes. The Presidential Palace is the same.

The Presidential Palace was the fussiest and expensive construction at that time. Rock, tile, and brick were tailor-made at some factories in Vietnam while fir, window bar, glass… were imported from French and other European countries.

The yellow palace stands behind wrought iron gates flanked by sentry boxes. It incorporates elements of Italian Renaissance design, including:

  • aedicules
  • a formal piano nobile reached by a grand staircase
  • broken pediments
  • classical columns
  • quoins

There’s also an interesting story behind this palace. When Vietnam achieved independence in 1954, Ho Chi Minh’s subordinates advised him to move into the palace to live and work for the comfortability and suitability of his position as president of a country.

Ho Chi Minh turned down the offer with a very plain and unexpected reason, just like his humble personality: He doesn’t like the “smell” of colonists in the palace!

Instead, he lived and worked in a small place with only 2 rooms, 1 was his workroom and 1 was his bedroom.

Long after that, due to the condition of the place and the health of president Ho Chi Minh, they built a stilt house for him to live in. It’s the Ho Chi Minh Stilt House that will be mentioned right below.

To hear stories and get proper knowledge about these places, it will be better if you have a professional guide from one of the best Hanoi Travel Agency!

4. Ho Chi Minh Stilt House – the traditional house of Northern Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh Stilt House was where he spent the rest of his life working and living until his death in 1969.

The stilt house is a kind of traditional house in the North of Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh wanted the house just like the traditional ones and not with any modern equipment, even a modern toilet.

The stilt house was constructed in a corner of the Presidential Palace’s gardens, in front of a small pond. It’s a small wood 2-story house with a simple design with a couple of rooms for working and resting.

The visit to the house simply allows us to see the grounds and rooms, without allowing entry them.

Not just the house itself, the surrounding area is also very beautiful with a garden and a fish pond right in front of the house.

Thanks to the greenery, the whole area is cool all year round even in hot summer and has this quiet and peaceful feeling – something that can be hardly found in the middle of chaos city like Hanoi.

5. Ho Chi Minh Museum – Further look into Vietnamese history

Ho Chi Minh Museum opening hours

Destination  Entrance fee Time Opening hours
Ho Chi Minh Museum

 

Vietnamese : 0 VND

Foreigner : 40 000 VND

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday Morning 8:00 – 12:00
  Afternoon 14:00  – 16:30
Monday, Friday Closed

Ho Chi Minh Museum is where they display everything related to President Ho Chi Minh. The museum opened on 2nd September 1990, to celebrate the 100th birthday occasion of Ho Chi Minh.

The museum was built in the shape of a white lotus flower. It has a priceless collection of military orders, mementos, photos of the Communist Party’s earlier achievements, the great August and October revolutions, exhibits related to Ho Chi Minh’s political activities, etc.

6. And the most unique pagoda in Asia – One Pillar Pagoda

  • Opening hours : from 7h00 to 18h00 daily
  • Entrace fee : Free for Vietnamese , 25 000 VND/pax for foreigner

The final place of the whole Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex is One Pillar Pagoda. One Pillar Pagoda is the most unique pagodas in Asia.

What makes this pagoda more special than many others is its unique architectural structure with a square structure lying on a stone pillar.

Besides Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex, there’re many other destinations in Vietnam waiting for you to discover.

Let us know if you’re interested and in case you’re planning an itinerary to suit your plan, let AZ Local Trip help you out with FREE Itinerary Planning Service.