Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum history and overview

The mausoleum is the last resting place of Ho Chi Minh also known as Uncle Ho. When the President was alive, he wanted to be cremated and laid ashes in three regions of the country. However, with a wish that Vietnamese people, especially the southern ones can see Ho Chi Minh’s body. Government officially decided to build Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum on on September 2, 1973 on the grounds of the Ba Dinh Square. In there, Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence announcing the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam on September 2, 1945.

Architecture and Construction

Constructors used marble and granite to build the Mausoleum. They are from many places of the country including sands taken from Kim Boi stream (Hoa Binh province). Muong ethnic people took boulders from streams in Son Duong, Chiem Hoa, Ngoi Thia, Tuyen Quang, stones from Thanh Hoa, Ha Tay, Yen Bai, etc. Besides, the people has been living in the Truong Son Mountain Range also sent 16 kinds of precious wood. Many rare plants from the different regions such as: Dipterocarpus retusus trees which from Phong Chau in Phu Tho Province, Orchid Tree from Dien Bien – Lai Chau, bamboo from Cao Bang, etc…

Vietnamese people complete Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum with the Soviet Union’s help on August  22nd, 1975. Consequently, it is the combination between Lenin Mausoleum’s architecture and distinct architectural elements of Vietnam.

Architecture of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum from outside

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum consists of three layers with 21.6 meters high and 41.2 meter wide. They use granite to make the exterior as gray, black, and red stone. When standing in the front of the mausoleum, you cam the words “Chủ tịch Hồ Chi Minh”, meaning “President Ho Chi Minh”. You can see the gold-inlaid sentence “Không có gì quý hơn độc lập tự do” (Nothing is more precious than Independence and Freedom) and the signature of of President Ho Chi Minh at the lobby.

Ho Chi Minh’s Body

In the second store places the famous President’s body pressed by marble from Ha Tay province. On the wall, the national flag and the Communist party flag are grafted from 4,000 pieces of rubies from Thanh Hoa province. The body lies in a glass case with dim lights. He is wearing the simple clothes with the Kaki costume and a pair of rubber sandals which he worn when he was alive. The coffin is a work of art made by the craft master of the two countries Vietnam – Soviet. Beds are manipulated from bronze with lotus patterns, and placed on a rock pedestal with automatic lift system. Lighting and air conditioner system is automatically on bedhead. To view the President’s body, visitors must climb a stairway lined with security guards dressed in starchy stiff, white military uniforms.

Entrance

On the two sides of the entrance, there are two frangipani trees, symbolizing the purity, nobility of President. In the rear and the back of the Mausoleum, 79 cycas revoluta symbolizing for 79 years in the life of Uncle Ho. South and north side of the Mausoleum, there are two ranges of bamboo, consider as a symbol of Vietnam. In front of the mausoleum there is a 30 metre flag pole and the plaza, 240 green squares with pathways respectively. Surrounding the mausoleum is nearly 250 different species of plants and flowers, it is from all different regions of Vietnam.

People on the line to visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

Opening and closing hours

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is the most important monument to the great father of Vietnam who completely changed the life of Vietnamese people. Rules regarding dress and behavior are strictly enforced by staff and guards. Legs must be covered (no shorts or miniskirts). Local and foreign visitors must be silent, and walk in two lines. Hands must not be in pockets, nor arms crossed. No permission for smoking, photography, and video taping anywhere inside the mausoleum. Except for the time for restoring and preserving the body, it is normally open daily from 8:00 am to 11.30 am, but you can be there at 7.00 am if you want to be ahead of the queue. Government close the Mausoleum on Monday for maintenance.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum inside and surrounding

Ba Dinh square

The square is in front of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is the place to organise important events. There President Ho Chi Minh read the Independence Declaration of Vietnam on September 2^nd, 1945. Originally, Ba Dinh is the name of a village in Thanh Hoa province where the first resistance against the French colonialist of Vietnamese people took place.

The house-on-stilts

After leaving Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, you will walk closely to Uncle Ho the house-on-stilts. There Vietnam’s great President used to live and work from 1958 until he passed away. The wooden house surrounded by full of fruit trees and a peaceful fish pond shows his simple and pure lifestyle.

Uncle Ho used to the ground floor welcome visitors. Upstairs there were a bed room, a wardrobe, a study room with a table and a chair and a bookshelf. The outside of his house is a garden with the trees from all over the country.

In front of the house, “Uncle Ho’s fish-pond” is teeming with fish that he fed with great care. At the same time, he clapped his hands, they heard his sound and coming up on the surface for the foods.

Presidential Palace

Walking a few steps from Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, visitors will pass Presidential Palace from 1900 – 1906. This was a palace of the General Indochina Governor in colonial French architectural style. In 1954, the new government renames the building as “the Presidential Palace”. Uncle Ho live and work there. After he passed away in 1969, the Palace became a historic relic related to 15 years living and working of Ho Chi Minh.

One Pillar Pagoda

Travelers should visit the One-Pillar Pagoda behind Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. It is an ancient one relate to King Ly Thanh Tong’s dream in 1049, telling that  Quan Yin Buddha sitting on the throne led him to Buddha’s throne. Therefore, the pagoda architecture  consists of a pagoda and a tower built in the middle of a square lake. It looks like a lotus blossoming from the square pond.

Ho Chi Minh Museum

Ho Chi Minh Museum is the largest museum in Vietnam. It express the deep gratitude of Vietnamese people to the great contributions of Ho Chi Minh President. It stores more than 12 thousand documents, artifacts, original film about the life and revolutionary career of the President.

Tours include Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum: Hanoi City Tour

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