For most Vietnamese, a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is a pilgrimage, and for visitors it is one of the most striking experiences in Hanoi. The grey granite monument stands on Ba Dinh Square, the vast parade ground where Ho Chi Minh read the declaration of independence in 1945, and inside, in a cool, dim chamber, his embalmed body lies in a glass case watched by an honour guard in white. Entry is free and the visit is short, but the ritual around it, the long orderly queue, the strict dress code and the complete silence, says a great deal about modern Vietnam. The mausoleum is the centrepiece of a wider complex. Behind it are the yellow French colonial Presidential Palace, which you see from outside, and the simple stilt house where Ho Chi Minh chose to live and work, beside a carp pond in the palace gardens. Nearby stand the One Pillar Pagoda, a tiny temple raised on a single column, and the Ho Chi Minh Museum. The mausoleum reopened on 3 November 2026 after its autumn restoration closure.
How it works: the mausoleum opens in the morning only and is closed on Monday and Friday. From 1 November to 31 March the winter hours apply, roughly 8:00 to 11:00 on weekdays and to 11:30 at weekends and on holidays. It closes for about two months most years for maintenance; in 2026 it was shut from 4 September to 2 November and reopened on 3 November. Entry is free, with no tickets needed. The stilt house and palace grounds and the Ho Chi Minh Museum charge a small fee, and the One Pillar Pagoda is free.
What to expect: you join the queue near the square, pass a security check, and hand in large bags and cameras at the storage counters. The line moves steadily in single file, and the time inside the chamber is only a minute or two. Shoulders and knees must be covered; shorts, sleeveless tops and short skirts are not allowed, and there is no loan clothing. Hats come off, hands stay out of pockets, and phones must stay away. Guards enforce the rules firmly.
Making the most of it: arrive early, especially at weekends and on public holidays, when the queue is longest. After the mausoleum, follow the signed route through the palace gardens to the stilt house, then walk to the One Pillar Pagoda and the museum. The changing of the guard and the daily flag ceremonies on the square are worth seeing if your timing allows.
What to expect
The experience
A free, silent, single-file visit past Ho Chi Minh’s body in the mausoleum, followed by a walk through the palace gardens to the stilt house, the One Pillar Pagoda and the museum.
Best time
Early on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday morning in winter, when queues are shorter than at weekends.
How long
A few minutes inside the mausoleum, but allow one and a half to two hours with the queue and the rest of the complex.
Tips
Cover shoulders and knees, leave big bags and cameras at your hotel, and check the opening days, since it is closed on Monday and Friday.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Visitors who want to understand the history and national memory of modern Vietnam.
- Families
- Fine for older children who can stay silent in the queue and chamber; the gardens and carp pond are a good reward afterwards.
- Couples
- Less romantic than reflective; combine it with a coffee by West Lake afterwards.
- Pair with
- The Temple of Literature, a short taxi ride away, on the same morning.
- Time needed
- Most of a morning.
Good questions
Is the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum open in November 2026?+
Yes. It closed for restoration from 4 September to 2 November 2026 and reopened on 3 November, with winter morning hours.
When is the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum open?+
It opens in the morning only on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. In winter it opens at about 8:00 and closes at 11:00 on weekdays and 11:30 at weekends.
How much does it cost to visit the mausoleum?+
Entry to the mausoleum is free and no ticket is needed. The stilt house area and the museum charge a small fee.
What should I wear to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum?+
Cover your shoulders and knees, and avoid shorts, sleeveless tops and short skirts. There is no loan clothing at the gate, so dress correctly before you go.
Can I take photos inside the mausoleum?+
No. Photography and phone use are forbidden inside, and large bags and professional cameras must be left at the storage counters.