Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (Hanoi) - Opening Hours, Dress Code

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hanoi Overview

The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, located in Ba Dinh Square, is the final resting place of the most popular leader of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh, known to his people as Uncle Ho. It is also where Uncle Ho read the Declaration of Independence on September 2nd, 1945. It was opened to the public in 1975. Visitors are allowed a short time to look at the casket.

The grey granite building of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is strictly guarded. The leader's body is preserved in a glass case in the mausoleum. Modeled on Lenin's mausoleum in Russia, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is home to perfectly preserved remains of 'Uncle Ho' in a glass case, despite his will, which clearly stated that he wanted to be cremated. It's a must-visit for everyone planning a trip to Hanoi because it gives you a sense of the unique history of Vietnam and brings you up close to their greatest hero.

Architecture of the Mausoleum

The museum is a granite building with a rectangular structure. The khaki bearing Ho Chi Minh is kept in a glass sarcophagus. The complex also includes Ho Chi Minh's residences and cars, a temple and a museum. You will walk across a large courtyard before actually entering the beautiful interior made out of grey, red and black polished stone. You then walk around and might have just approximately three to five minutes to spend time looking at Uncle Ho's body in the dimly lit glass casket. Even with such less time in your hand, this bizarre experience of seeing a world leader's body can be overwhelming.

The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is located in close proximity to the Presidential Palace, and the Palace Grounds, with its beautifully maintained gardens, are popular among the crowds! Another prominent attraction is the traditional Vietnamese stilt house built by Ho Chi Minh. The area in front of the mausoleum is divided into 240 green squares with a garden that contains many different species of plants and flowers.

Ho Chi Minh Museum

Just a small walk away from the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, you can visit the Ho Chi Minh museum, one of the largest museums in Vietnam. With the aim to express gratitude to Uncle Ho, the former Chairman of Vietnam, this museum was opened on May 19th, 1990, on his 100th birthday. You can find many artifacts, gifts, historical photographs and documents talking about Ho Chi Minh’s early life, youth, politics, career and death, about the Vietnamese lives that were lost in the war, and also about the Lenin influence on Ho.
Timings: 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM, 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM, Closed on Mondays and Fridays
Entry Fee: VND 10,000

Attractions near Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

1. One Pillar Pagoda

One Pillar Pagoda Hanoi Vietnam — The One Pillar Pagoda is 200-metres away for the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi (Source)

Just a 200 meter walk from the mausoleum, the One Pillar Pagoda is a unique little wood temple stands on one stone pillar. The shrine is dedicated to the Vietnamese deity Quan Am Bo Tat.
Timings: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Entry: Free

2. Presidential Palace

Presidential Palace Hanoi Vietnam — The Presidential Palace is the Former Office of Ho Chi Minh (Source)

The Presidential Palace in Hanoi is a national monument from where Ho Chi Minh used to work between 1954 and 1969. Here he met many representatives of political parties, peasants and intellectuals among others.
Timings: Monday to Friday: 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Entry: VND 25,000

3. Ho Chi Minh's Stilt House

The Ho Chi Minh Stilt House, Found in the Courtyard of the Presidential Palace, Where Ho Chi Minh Stayed During His Tenure as President of Vietnam (Source)

Uncle Ho loved simplicity and nature, so in 1958 his officials and soldiers built a two floor stilt house in the garden of the presidential palace, now known as Ho Chi Minh's Stilt House. Located right next to a fish pond, surrounded by orchards, this idyllic natural landscape was perfect according to his inspiration.
Timings: 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Entry: VND 25,000 (Included in Presidential Palace fee)

4. Temple of Literature

Temple of Literature Hanoi — The Temple of Literature in Hanoi is Considered the First National University of Vietnam (Source)

Originally built as a university dedicated to Confucius and scholars, the Temple of Literature is a perfect example of beautiful traditional Vietnamese architecture. It exudes the culture and history of Vietnamese education.
Timings: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Entry: VND 10,000

History

Modelled on Lenin's mausoleum in Russia, the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum construction started in 1973 and was opened to the public in 1975. On his death in 1969, Uncle Ho gave clear instructions that he wanted his ashes to be buried in the hills of Vietnam. However, the Communist government wanted to respect him like Lenin, so they decided to preserve his body in a building making it open for locals and tourists to come and pay their respects. It is a symbol of nationalist pride and patriotism for the citizens of Vietnam.

Important Information For Travellers

Dress respectfully since you're going to pay your respects to Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam's most important leader. Wear something that covers your knees and shoulders, which means no shorts, sleeveless tops or miniskirts.
Photography is not allowed inside. You will have to deposit your bags and cameras outside before entering.
Food is not allowed.
Do not talk, smile, fold your hands while inside, just walk slowly with the queue.
Arrive early. The mausoleum opens at 8:00 AM, so reach by 7:00 AM in order to be ahead of the queue.

How To Reach Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

The Ho Chi Minh mausoleum provides you with information about how this leader's political beliefs might not be perfectly aligned with the rest of the world. However, he intended to free his people. Not necessarily loved by all the Vietnamese people today, Ho Chi Minh was ultimately the founder of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, and therefore, his influence can be seen all across the country.