In the heart of Hanoi's Ba Dinh Square stands a solemn granite monument that embodies the very soul of modern Vietnam - the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. This imposing structure serves as the eternal resting place of Ho Chi Minh, the revered leader who dedicated his life to Vietnamese independence and is affectionately known to his people as "Uncle Ho." In today’s blog, let’s find out more about this meaningful monument with Traveloka during your journey here at Hanoi!

Ho Chi Minh is recognized as a significant leader in Vietnamese history, playing a crucial role in the nation's journey toward independence. His strong resolve and commitment to his people led him to spearhead a revolutionary movement against colonial powers, particularly the French and later the Americans. Ho Chi Minh's efforts were instrumental in Vietnam's struggle for liberation, establishing him as a respected statesman. His dedication to social justice and equality continues to inspire future generations.

For many Vietnamese people, visiting the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is seen as a remarkable honor. It is an meaningful activity through which they will understand more about who Ho Chi Minh is, his lifelong achievements and also the history of the nation. For tourist travelers around the world, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is a must-visit historic monument in Hanoi for those who is interested in learning more about Vietnam’s people and history.

The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum has specific opening hours, typically in the mornings, and is closed on Mondays and Fridays.

*Note: The mausoleum closes annually for maintenance, and for 2025, it's scheduled to be closed from June 2nd to July 31st. Visits are expected to resume on August 2nd, 2025. It will still open on certain holidays like Ho Chi Minh's birthday (May 19th) even if they fall on a Monday or Friday. It’s advised that you should check the date before going.

The ticket price for entering the mausoleum (as of date) is totally free for Vietnamese citizens as well as foreign tourists. You would only have to pay the entrance fee for nearby attractions (which are all included in one big spot) such as Phủ Chủ tịch (Presidential Palace) and Chùa Một Cột (One Pillar Pagoda).

For the address, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is located on 2 Hung Vuong, Ba Dinh Ward (previous address: 2 Hung Vuong, Dien Bien Ward, Ba Dinh District). You can get here by private vehicle or public bus. If you’re driving, remember these two parking spots: one is on Ong Ich Khiem Street, across from the Mausoleum Guard Command, and the other is on Ngoc Ha Street at the entrance to the Ho Chi Minh Museum. If you prefer taking the bus, you can use routes that go by Ba Dinh Square. The buses you can take are numbers 09, 33, 22, 45, and 50.

Before his eternal farewell, President Ho Chi Minh had expressed his heartfelt wish to be cremated, desiring that his ashes be scattered across all three regions of Vietnam since the country was then united. However, the farewell was too hard to say with the overwhelming sentiment among the Party and the people. That had eventually led to the decision to preserve his body for generation. This thoughtful choice resulted in the creation of a Mausoleum, allowing the public to pay their respects and honor his legacy.

In January 1970, representatives from both the Soviet Union and Vietnam came together to collaborate on the Mausoleum's design and construction techniques. This initiative received enthusiastic approval from the Politburo of the Central Committee, with precious support from Soviet experts. Eventually, the official groundbreaking ceremony took place on September 2, 1973, and the Mausoleum was inaugurated with great pride on May 19, 1975. While its design was influenced by Lenin's Tomb in Moscow, it beautifully integrates Vietnamese customs and aesthetic values.

Today, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum stands as a powerful symbol of the deep love and respect the Vietnamese people hold for their leader. It not only serves as a significant historical and cultural landmark in Hanoi but also as a vibrant destination for tourists. Since its opening in 1975, it has welcomed countless generations of Vietnamese citizens and millions of international visitors, celebrating a legacy that continues to inspire.

It is without doubt that President Ho Chi Minh’s embalmed body would be the thing you should expect the most during your visit here at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. To preserve the leader’s body throughout the flow of time was indeed not an easy task.

Following the passing of President Ho Chi Minh on September 3, 1969, measures were taken to preserve Ho Chi Minh body for posterity. In a joint effort between the Soviet Union and Vietnam, a team of Soviet scientists, renowned for their success in embalming Lenin's body, collaborated with a dedicated Vietnamese medical team to embalm Ho Chi Minh's remains. Ho Chi Minh's embalmed body found its resting place in a glass coffin within Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi, a site that draws thousands of visitors annually.

However, when the Soviet Union disbanded in 1991, the departure of all Soviet scientists posed a challenge for the preservation of President Ho Chi Minh body. In response, the Vietnamese government initiated negotiations with Russia to relocate the production of the necessary preservation chemicals to Vietnam. Initially guarded by the Russian scientists, the formula for the preservation cocktail was finally shared in 2004, coinciding with Vietnam's official adoption of the technology.

President Ho Chi Minh's embalmed body stands as a testament to the Vietnamese people's admiration and respect for their beloved leader, preserving his memory and allowing visitors to pay their respects to this revered figure in Vietnamese history.

The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is a powerful and impressive structure, built as a solid, three-layered square block. It stands 21.6 meters tall and is 41.2 meters wide, designed to be incredibly sturdy. This robust construction means it can endure challenges like floods, bombings, and even earthquakes up to a magnitude of 7.

The mausoleum's exterior is covered in gray granite, with elegant marble columns adding to its grandeur. Boldly displayed at the top, the words "CHỦ TỊCH HỒ-CHÍ-MINH" are crafted from striking crimson jade stone. Inside, the mausoleum features 200 sets of doors, all made from rare and precious woods gathered from across Vietnam.

Upon entering, visitors will find a lobby adorned with red and pink marble. This vibrant backdrop highlights the famous quote: "Không có gì quý hơn Độc lập Tự do" (Nothing is more precious than Independence and Freedom), alongside President Ho Chi Minh's gold-plated signature. Outside the mausoleum, two soldiers always stand guard, their shifts changing hourly.

The main chamber inside the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is a serene room, also covered in marble. Here, President Ho Chi Minh's body rests within a glass case, placed on a bed atop a stone pedestal. This sacred space is constantly guarded by four soldiers. Finally, adding to the mausoleum's unique character is its beautiful surrounding landscape. Over 250 different plant species create a lush, green environment. Each tree and flower planted here holds special meaning, often connected to stories from Ho Chi Minh's life.

The daily Flag-raising and Flag-lowering ceremonies at Ba Dinh Square, in front of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, are deeply moving and highly anticipated events for both locals and visitors. Every morning, precisely at 6:00 AM in summer and 6:30 AM in winter, soldiers perform the solemn Flag-raising ceremony, a precise and dignified display of national pride.

Similarly, as dusk settles, the Flag-lowering ceremony takes place at 9:00 PM, bringing another day to a respectful close. These ceremonies are performed with meticulous precision by an honor guard, making them powerful and visually striking spectacles that underscore the profound reverence the Vietnamese people hold for their nation and its history.

After visiting the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, you can continue the day by exploring more of Hanoi’s iconic landmarks such as:

The Presidential Palace stands as one of Hanoi's most magnificent examples of French colonial architecture, its golden-yellow facade and manicured gardens creating an atmosphere of imperial grandeur. Built between 1900 and 1906 to serve as the residence of the French Governor-General of Indochina, this opulent structure ironically became a symbol of Ho Chi Minh's humble leadership philosophy. Despite its luxurious appointments and sprawling grounds, President Ho Chi Minh chose to reject the palace as his residence, preferring instead a modest wooden house nearby.

Today, the palace serves as a venue for important state ceremonies and diplomatic receptions, while its surrounding complex offers visitors a fascinating glimpse into both colonial history and the character of Vietnam's founding father, who valued simplicity over ostentation.

The Temple of Literature is Vietnam's first university, emerging from the bustling streets of Hanoi as a tranquil oasis of learning and Confucian tradition. Established in 1070 and dedicated to literature, education, and the veneration of Confucius, the Temple of Literature represents over a millennium of Vietnamese scholarly pursuit. Its five courtyards unfold like chapters in a book, each revealing layers of architectural beauty and historical significance.

The temple's most treasured features include the ancient stelae of doctorate holders, stone tablets honoring Vietnam's earliest scholars that have survived centuries of war and weathering. Visitors today can wander through peaceful gardens where ancient trees provide shade for contemplation, examine traditional Vietnamese architecture at its finest, and gain insight into the deep respect for education that has shaped Vietnamese culture for generations.

Behind the innocuous name "Hoa Lo," which translates to "fiery furnace," lies one of Vietnam's most emotionally charged historical sites. Originally constructed by French colonial authorities in 1896 to house Vietnamese political prisoners fighting for independence, this fortress-like structure later gained international notoriety as the "Hanoi Hilton" during the Vietnam War, where American prisoners of war were held.

The museum's exhibits chronicle the harsh conditions endured by Vietnamese revolutionaries under French rule, displaying cramped cells, leg irons, and the guillotine once used for executions. The complex narrative continues with displays about American POWs, presenting Vietnam's perspective on this controversial chapter while acknowledging the human cost of conflict.

Today, this sobering museum serves as both a memorial to those who suffered within its walls and a powerful reminder of the price of freedom, challenging visitors to confront the darker aspects of colonial rule and wartime imprisonment.

Imagine walking through 1,000 years of history in a single afternoon. The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long is like a giant time capsule buried beneath modern Hanoi, where archaeologists have uncovered layer upon layer of Vietnam's imperial past. This UNESCO World Heritage Site served as the country's political headquarters for eight centuries, hosting everything from royal coronations to military strategy meetings that shaped Southeast Asian history.

What makes this place truly remarkable is that you can literally see different time periods stacked on top of each other—ancient palace foundations from the 11th century lie directly beneath French colonial military buildings, which in turn sit above secret underground bunkers used during the Vietnam War. The towering Doan Mon gate, with its distinctive curved rooflines and intricate carvings, once welcomed foreign ambassadors and dignitaries to the imperial court.

Today, visitors can touch 900-year-old ceramic tiles decorated with dancing dragons, then walk a few steps to examine radio equipment used by Vietnamese generals in the 1960s. It's history you can actually feel, where each excavated layer tells a different chapter of Vietnam's incredible story of survival and reinvention.

Apart from these stunning landmarks, you can check out more of Hanoi’s interesting activities to learn more about the culture and history of Vietnam:

1. Is the entrance free?

Yes, the entrance ticket to he Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is totally free for both Vietnamese citizens and foreign tourists.

2. Is Ho Chi Minh’s body real or a wax figure?

Yes, the body displayed in the mausoleum is real and has been embalmed. It lies in a glass sarcophagus, carefully preserved by a dedicated maintenance team.

3. Where is the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum located?

The mausoleum is located in Ba Đình Square, Hanoi, Vietnam — a historic site that also houses the Presidential Palace and One Pillar Pagoda nearby.

4. Can tourists visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum?

Yes. Both domestic and international visitors are welcome. Entry is free, but visitors must follow dress codes and remain silent during the visit.

5. What days is the mausoleum open?

Typically, it opens from Tuesday to Sunday mornings (7:30 AM - 10:30 AM), and it is closed on Mondays and Fridays. It also closes for maintenance from September to December annually.

6. Is photography allowed inside the mausoleum?

No. Photography, filming, and even phone usage are strictly prohibited inside the chamber where the embalmed body is kept.

7. How long does a visit to the mausoleum take?

The visit inside lasts about 5–10 minutes, but queuing can take 30–60 minutes, especially on weekends or holidays.

8. Why was the mausoleum inspired by the Lenin Mausoleum?

The structure follows Soviet-style monumental architecture as a tribute, reflecting historical ties between Vietnam and the former Soviet Union.

9. What should I wear when visiting the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum?

Dress modestly: long pants or skirts, covered shoulders, and closed-toe shoes. Security may deny entry to those dressed inappropriately.

10. Are there any ceremonies or flag-raising events to watch?

Yes! The daily flag-raising (6:00 am) and lowering (9:00 pm) at Ba Đình Square are solemn and symbolic events worth witnessing.

11. Is the mausoleum wheelchair accessible?

Yes, there is a designated path and support for elderly and disabled visitors.

We hope the blog has given you great information that you need to know for your upcoming visit to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. If you’re planning to explore more places around the city, don’t forget to read our blogs tailored to your interests. And remember, you can always book flights, hotels and travel activities with amazing deals here on Traveloka!

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