President Ho Chi Minh (beloved name by Vietnamese is Uncle Ho and originally named Nguyen Sinh Cung) was born in May, 19^th 1890 in Nghe An province. He passed away on 2^nd of September in 1969 in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. UNESCO recognized him as the one who devoted his whole life to the national liberation of the Vietnamese people. To remind his devotion, the Government had the Ho Chi Minh Complex established inside capital Hanoi after he was gone. It was built in Ngoc Ha village, Ba Dinh District in Hanoi city. It consists of Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Ba Dinh square, Presidential Palace, and Uncle Ho’s House on stilt, One Pillar pagoda and Ho Chi Minh Museum. Ho Chi Minh   Mausoleum is one of the most attracting places.

Here is the place president Ho Chi Minh stated his wish and to have his ash buried on the hills of the North, the center, and the South of Vietnam. But with love for Uncle Ho, Vietnam Communist Government decided to keep his body there so that he can see the whole country’s reunion, and the following generations can come and visit him.

Vietnamese people as well as people in the world join the queues to see the embalmed body of Vietnam’s national hero: Ho Chi Minh, who led the country’s resistance forces and declared independence in 1954.

Mausoleum started to be built on September 2^nd, 1973 in Ba Dinh Square, where he read the Independence Declaration on September 2^nd, 1945, and it was completed on 22^nd of August in 1975, with the Soviet Union’s help.

The Mausoleum, which was made of marble and granite, features a three-stored structure. In the second store places, the famous President’s body, lying as if he were sleeping in the simple clothes worn when he was alive. On the top face of the mausoleum, visitors can see his famous quote “Khong co gi quy hon doc lap tu do” (meaning “Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom). In front of the mausoleum is the 79 cycad trees, symbolizing Uncle Ho’s 79 springs of life. Specially, the two bamboo ranges on the two sides whistle in the wind to commemorate the President!

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is opened: 5 days per week, except Monday and Friday
In cold seasons (from November to March): 8:00 a.m – 11:00 a.m
In hot seasons (from April to October): 7:30 a.m – 10:30 a.m
It is closed once per year in October/ November/ or December for the body maintenance

Note: No camera, cell phone, bare-shoulder T-shirts, or mini skirts are allowed inside the Mausoleum area

Now come to Vietnam to have  a chance to visit old cultural activities and places. It is a worth time  to see all  Ho Chi Minh complex or at least the Ho Chi  Minh Mausoleum.