Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
The resting place of Ho Chi Minh on Ba Dinh Square, where Vietnam declared independence — with the One Pillar Pagoda and museum next door.
- Hanoi
- Included in 10 tours
- Tours from $25
- Updated October 2026
About the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is the resting place of President Ho Chi Minh, who led Vietnam’s struggle for independence and died on 2 September 1969. His embalmed body lies in a glass case inside the grey granite building, and every week thousands of Vietnamese visitors file past in silence to pay their respects. For many it is a pilgrimage; for international visitors it is one of the most solemn and memorable experiences in Hanoi.
Ho Chi Minh asked to be cremated, but the government decided to preserve his body. The mausoleum was built from 1973 and opened in 1975, inspired partly by Lenin’s Mausoleum in Moscow, with Vietnamese touches such as the lotus-like shape of the roof and stone from all over the country. Every year it closes for about two months while Vietnamese and foreign specialists carry out maintenance — in 2026 from 4 September to 2 November.
Ba Dinh Square and the National Assembly
In front of the mausoleum lies Ba Dinh Square, a huge lawn divided into grass squares, where on 2 September 1945 Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence that founded the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Every morning a guard of honour raises the national flag here, and every evening at 21:00 they lower it. Across the square stands the modern National Assembly House, completed in 2014 on part of the old Thang Long Citadel, and the Ba Dinh Hall where many state events take place.
One Pillar Pagoda and the Ho Chi Minh Museum
Behind the mausoleum are the Presidential Palace grounds and Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House, the small One Pillar Pagoda — first built in 1049 and rebuilt in 1955 after French troops destroyed it — and the Ho Chi Minh Museum, which opened in 1990. Together they make the Ba Dinh complex, the political heart of Vietnam.
Our jeep, electric scooter, female-rider and e-bike city tours pass Ba Dinh Square and the mausoleum, and the food tours ride past when it is lit up at night. On the sunrise scooter tour we watch the flag-raising ceremony when it is held. Our tours do not go inside the mausoleum, which needs a separate morning visit.
Planning your visit to the Mausoleum
The Mausoleum is a place of national mourning, so the rules are strict: dress respectfully with shoulders and knees covered, stay silent and orderly, leave bags, cameras and phones at the security deposit, and take your hat off inside – no photography is allowed in the building. It opens only in the morning and is closed on Mondays and Fridays, and for annual maintenance from 4 September to 2 November 2026. Arrive at opening time on a Tuesday to Thursday to avoid the longest queues. Our tours pass Ba Dinh Square but do not go inside, which needs a separate morning visit.
Worth it?
Why visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum?
- A national pilgrimageFile past Ho Chi Minh’s body in silence alongside visitors from every corner of Vietnam.
- Ba Dinh SquareWhere Vietnam’s independence was declared on 2 September 1945.
- Flag ceremoniesThe guard of honour raises the flag at dawn and lowers it at 21:00.
- One Pillar PagodaA tiny lotus-shaped pagoda on a single column, first built in 1049.
- Ho Chi Minh MuseumA large museum on his life and the revolution, in a striking 1990 building.
- The whole complex in one morningMausoleum, Presidential Palace, Stilt House, pagoda and museum are all within a few hundred metres.
Make the most of it
Things to do at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ba Dinh Square
Visit the mausoleum
Free. Queue at the visitor entrance on Hung Vuong / Ngoc Ha side, pass the security check, leave large bags and cameras at the deposit and walk past in a slow, silent line. The visit inside lasts only a few minutes, but the queue can take 30–90 minutes.
Watch the flag-raising ceremony
Daily at 6:00 in summer and 6:30 in winter on Ba Dinh Square; the flag-lowering is at 21:00. Arrive 15–20 minutes early, stand quietly and dress neatly.
Walk around Ba Dinh Square
See the mausoleum, the National Assembly House and Ba Dinh Hall. Keep to the paths — walking on the grass squares is not allowed.
Visit the One Pillar Pagoda
A short walk behind the mausoleum. Free; usually open from early morning to early evening. Cover shoulders and knees.
Visit the Ho Chi Minh Museum
19 Ngoc Ha. About 40,000 VND for international visitors; usually 8:00–12:00 and 14:00–16:30, closed Monday and Friday afternoons. Allow 1–1.5 hours.
See the Presidential Palace and Stilt House
The ticketed relic site behind the mausoleum, with the yellow palace, Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House and the fish pond (about 40,000 VND).
Pass by at night
The square and the mausoleum are lit up after dark and much quieter — a different, peaceful mood.
Ride through with a local guide
Our city tours by jeep, electric scooter, with female riders and by e-bike pass the mausoleum and Ba Dinh Square, with the guide explaining the history.
Good to know
Opening hours: when can you visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum?
| Summer (1 Apr–31 Oct), Tue–Thu | About 7:30–10:30 |
|---|---|
| Summer, Sat, Sun and holidays | About 7:30–11:00 |
| Winter (1 Nov–31 Mar), Tue–Thu | About 8:00–11:00 |
| Winter, Sat, Sun and holidays | About 8:00–11:30 |
| Closed | Every Monday and Friday (except some national holidays) |
| Annual maintenance | About two months a year; in 2026 closed 4 September to 2 November, reopening 3 November |
| Flag-raising / lowering | 6:00 (summer) or 6:30 (winter) / 21:00 daily |
| Entry fee | Free — no ticket needed |
Times and closure dates are set by the Mausoleum Command and can change for state events and national holidays. The maintenance period moves from year to year, so check the latest announcement before you plan.
Timing
Best time to visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
The queue is shortest in the first 30 minutes, and it is cooler before 9:00.
Usually quieter than weekends, when many Vietnamese school and family groups visit.
For the flag ceremonies on Ba Dinh Square — moving and very photogenic.
Ho Chi Minh’s birthday and National Day bring huge crowds and special arrangements.
You can still see Ba Dinh Square from outside, the One Pillar Pagoda and usually the museum.
Plan your visit
Route: a morning at the Ba Dinh complex
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
Arrive at opening time, join the queue and file past.
Presidential Palace grounds
Exit straight into the gardens and see the yellow palace from outside.
Stilt House and fish pond
Ho Chi Minh’s simple wooden house where he lived and worked from 1958.
One Pillar Pagoda
A few steps from the exit of the palace site.
Ho Chi Minh Museum
Next to the pagoda — finish here before it closes for lunch.
Ba Dinh Square
Walk back to the square for a final view of the mausoleum and the National Assembly.
Map & directions
How to get to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
- From Hoan Kiem LakeAbout 2.5 km: 10–15 minutes by Grab (about 25,000–40,000 VND by motorbike) or a 35-minute walk.
- By busSeveral city buses stop on Hung Vuong and Ngoc Ha streets; Grab is usually easier.
- From West LakeAbout 2 km south of Tran Quoc Pagoda along Thanh Nien Road and Hung Vuong.
- With a local guideOur city tours pass Ba Dinh Square, with free pickup from Old Quarter hotels.
Eat like a local
Where to eat near Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
- Banh tom on West LakeCrispy shrimp and sweet potato fritters, a Hanoi classic near Thanh Nien Road — about 10 minutes away.
- Pho and noodle stalls on Doi Can and Ngoc HaSimple local breakfasts near the mausoleum, ideal before or after a morning visit.
- Cafés on Phan Dinh Phung StreetCoffee under the trees of Hanoi’s most beautiful street, 5–10 minutes by Grab.
- Quan An Ngon, 18 Phan Boi ChauVietnamese dishes from every region in a villa garden, about 10 minutes by Grab.
For your camera
Best photo spots at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
- Ba Dinh Square from Hung Vuong streetThe mausoleum with the guards in front, from the public side of the road.
- Flag-raising at dawnThe honour guard marching across the square in the first light.
- One Pillar PagodaThe pagoda reflected in its square lotus pond.
- National Assembly HouseModern white building across the square, best in afternoon light.
Local advice
Tips for visiting Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
Do
- Cover shoulders and knees — no shorts, short skirts or sleeveless tops
- Arrive early and expect a security check
- Walk slowly, keep silent and keep your hands out of your pockets inside
- Check the annual maintenance dates before you plan
- Follow the guards’ instructions immediately
Don’t
- Take photos or videos inside the mausoleum
- Bring large bags, drinks or food into the queue
- Walk on the grass of Ba Dinh Square
- Wear hats or sunglasses inside the mausoleum
- Come on a Monday or Friday, when it is closed
Visit with a local
Tours that visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
Hanoi · Electric Scooter
Hanoi Electric Scooter City Highlights Tour
234+ booked
From $45
$38
per adult
Hanoi · Electric Scooter
Hanoi Half-Day Electric Scooter City Tour
463+ booked
From $60
$51
per adult
Hanoi · Electric Scooter
Hanoi Sunrise & Sunset Electric Scooter Tour
678+ booked
From $60
$51
per adult
Hanoi · Electric Scooter
Hanoi Female Riders City Highlights Tour
345+ booked
From $47
$40
per adult
Hanoi · Electric Scooter
Hanoi Street Food Tour with Female Riders
786+ booked
From $72
$62
per adult
Hanoi · E-Bike
Hanoi Self-Ride E-Bike City Tour: Lakes, Riverside & Hidden Gems
576+ booked
From $60
$45
per adult
Good to know
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum: questions & answers
What are the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum opening hours?
Tuesday to Thursday and weekends in the morning only: about 7:30–10:30 from April to October and 8:00–11:00 from November to March, with 30 extra minutes at weekends. It is closed on Mondays and Fridays.
Is the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum open now?
It closes for about two months each year for maintenance. In 2026 it is closed from 4 September to 2 November and reopens on 3 November. Ba Dinh Square and the One Pillar Pagoda can still be seen.
How much does it cost to visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum?
Nothing — entry is free. The Ho Chi Minh Museum and the Presidential Palace and Stilt House site each charge about 40,000 VND for international visitors.
What is the dress code for the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum?
Shoulders and knees must be covered: no shorts, short skirts, sleeveless or see-through tops. Remove hats and sunglasses inside. Guards will turn away visitors who are not dressed correctly.
Can you take photos at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum?
Not inside. Cameras and large bags are deposited before you enter. Photos of Ba Dinh Square and the outside of the mausoleum from public areas are fine.
What time is the flag ceremony at Ba Dinh Square?
The flag is raised at 6:00 in summer and 6:30 in winter, and lowered at 21:00 every day.
How long does a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum take?
The walk past the body takes only a few minutes, but with the queue and security allow 1–2 hours. Add 2–3 hours to see the palace, Stilt House, pagoda and museum.
Can I visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum on a tour?
Our city tours pass Ba Dinh Square and the mausoleum and explain its history, but do not go inside. For the inside visit, go on a Tuesday–Thursday or weekend morning.
What should I know before visiting the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum?
Dress respectfully (shoulders and knees covered), stay silent and orderly, keep your hat off inside, and leave bags, cameras and phones at the security deposit – no photography inside. It opens mornings only, closes on Mondays and Fridays, and shuts for maintenance from 4 September to 2 November 2026. Arrive at opening time to beat the queues.
What else is there to see around Ba Dinh Square?
The whole Ba Dinh complex: Ho Chi Minh's Stilt House and the Presidential Palace gardens behind the Mausoleum, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Ho Chi Minh Museum, and the National Assembly House across the square. You can easily spend a half-day seeing them together.
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