Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum

In spite of his own wishes to be cremated, the body of Ho Chi Minh was preserved and put on display in a monumental mausoleum facing Ba Dinh Square in front of the Presidential Palace. While materials of the highest standard were used in its construction, and the design is supposed to resemble a lotus flower, unfortunately it looks like a plain gray concrete box.

Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum
Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum

The mausoleum is a place of pilgrimage for Vietnamese, but it's worth noting that it's usually closed from early September to the end of December while Ho's body is sent to Russia for maintenance. Other than that, you can gain access to the body in the mornings on Tuesday to Thursday and weekends. Photography is not allowed inside the building.