The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi is a national memorial at Ba Dinh Square where visitors can pay their respects to President Ho Chi Minh. The visit is normally free, but entrance to the mausoleum is limited to Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday mornings; Mondays and Fridays are closed to regular visitors. Dress modestly, expect a security check and do not photograph inside the memorial chamber.
2026 reopening update: The mausoleum closed for scheduled maintenance from 4 September through 2 November 2026 and reopened on 3 November 2026, according to the Ministry of Defence. During the November–March season, standard visiting hours are 08:00–11:00, extending to 11:30 on weekends and public holidays. Check the official schedule just before going; the ability to enter a queue is not guaranteed until its published closing minute.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Hanoi: opening hours and essentials
| Visitor question | Practical answer |
|---|---|
| Where is it? | Ba Dinh Square, Ba Dinh district, Hanoi |
| Normal open days | Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday mornings |
| Closed for regular memorial visits | Monday and Friday; annual maintenance or special closures can also apply |
| 1 April–31 October | 07:30–10:30; Saturday, Sunday and holidays until 11:00 |
| 1 November–31 March | 08:00–11:00; Saturday, Sunday and holidays until 11:30 |
| Admission | Normally free; nearby museums and palace grounds follow separate ticket policies |
| General visitor gathering point | 17 Ngoc Ha Street under the management board’s official visitor regulations |
| What to wear | Clean, modest clothing covering shoulders and knees; follow security instructions |
| Photography | Prohibited inside the chamber; respectful outdoor photographs only where permitted |
Operating schedule: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Command. Reopening: Ministry of Defence announcement, 3 November 2026. Visitor assembly and behaviour: management regulations. Details reviewed 8 November 2026; official notices and staff instructions take precedence on the day.
Is the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum open now in November 2026?
Exceptional memorial days, including 19 May, 2 September and the first day of Lunar New Year, may open even on a Monday or Friday. These exceptions do not change the usual schedule. Check official Command notices before your visit.
What is the mausoleum and why is Ba Dinh Square significant?
President Ho Chi Minh (1890–1969) played a central role in Vietnam’s twentieth-century independence movement and state formation. At Ba Dinh Square on 2 September 1945, he read the Declaration of Independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. The square remains one of Hanoi’s most symbolically significant civic spaces. The Ho Chi Minh Museum’s historical account provides background to the declaration.
The mausoleum was constructed later and inaugurated on 29 August 1975. It houses his preserved body and serves a memorial purpose. The precise date and history are recorded by the Mausoleum Command’s construction chronology. A visit is therefore a solemn act of remembrance, not an ordinary museum tour in which visitors can linger in a gallery or take photographs inside.
Dress code, security and what to bring
Wear modest, comfortable clothing
Wear clothing covering shoulders and knees: trousers or a knee-covering skirt and a sleeved top are sensible. Avoid sleeveless tops or short shorts. The management board requires neat, clean and respectful clothing, so choose conservatively if unsure.
Expect screening and follow the queue
All visitors must follow security screening and staff directions. The official rules require luggage to be deposited as instructed, while certain small personal items may be carried. The written rules allow a switched-off mobile phone and ordinary small camera in specified circumstances, but they do not permit taking pictures in the chamber; professional cameras and larger equipment are handled differently. Conditions may be stricter on a particular day, so obey the security team’s instructions rather than treating an online packing list as permission.
Inside, stay quiet, follow the single-file queue and keep to the designated path. Avoid food, smoking, pointing or touching surfaces. Remove hats when directed, and travel light.
Photography rules are specific, not a blanket outdoor ban
Do not photograph or film the chamber containing Ho Chi Minh’s preserved body. Outdoor souvenir photos around Ba Dinh Square may be allowed in designated areas and at permitted times. Follow guards and signs, and never cross a barrier for a photograph.
Free admission, queues and where to arrive
Mausoleum memorial entry is generally free, unlike separate admission to nearby museum or palace grounds. Private tours may charge for a guide or transport, not for a standard memorial admission ticket. Confirm paid inclusions separately.
According to the Command’s rules, 17 Ngoc Ha Street is the general assembly point. 8 Hung Vuong Street serves specified registered or ceremonial groups. Use the currently signposted entrance and follow guards; traffic arrangements can change.
The chamber walk itself is brief, but queues and screening vary greatly. Arrive early, especially at weekends and holidays; published closing times do not guarantee last-minute queue admission. Keep a buffer before another booking.
Children, accessibility and health considerations
The Command’s published visitor regulations state that children under two are not admitted to regular memorial visits. The same rules allow staff to restrict admission for health or conduct reasons. Because these provisions come from published regulations rather than a new daily access notice, families with very young children should confirm the current policy with the Command before making plans.
If a visitor uses a wheelchair, has trouble standing or needs an accommodation, ask the site operator about assistance and route access in advance. The square, security line and chamber have different constraints; an exterior visit may be more suitable.
What else is near the mausoleum in Ba Dinh?
Ba Dinh Square
Ba Dinh Square is a significant ceremonial space, not simply a photo backdrop. Exterior viewing is distinct from entering the mausoleum and can be restricted during active memorial services and official ceremonies.
Presidential Palace grounds and Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house
The historic Presidential Palace area includes gardens and the stilt house associated with Ho Chi Minh’s later life. Its visitor circulation and admission are separate from the mausoleum. The palace building itself should not be presumed open for unrestricted touring. Check the site’s own ticket booth and current hours when you arrive.
One Pillar Pagoda
The small and well-known One Pillar Pagoda is close to the historical complex and offers a different religious setting. It is an active worship site. Respect the prayer space, dress appropriately and check any temporary restrictions before entering.
Ho Chi Minh Museum
The museum adds exhibitions and interpretation beyond the memorial visit. Its official opening schedule currently lists 08:00–12:00 and 14:00–16:30 on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday; Monday and Friday are closed. Importantly, the museum’s afternoon opening does not mean the mausoleum chamber can be visited in the afternoon. Ask the museum directly for ticket prices rather than relying on older figures quoted for other museums.
Choose the right way to spend your morning
Focused memorial visit: allow roughly 60–90 minutes or more
On a normal visiting morning, arrive at the designated assembly point, pass security, pay respects and consider the square where permitted. Allow around 60–90 minutes or more as a planning buffer, never a guaranteed queue time.
Ba Dinh history visit: plan a flexible half-day
Begin with the morning-only mausoleum, then choose the palace grounds, One Pillar Pagoda or museum according to their independent hours and tickets. A flexible half-day is more sensible than a tightly scheduled multi-site checklist.
If you are there on Monday, Friday or after closing
On a normal Monday, Friday or after morning visiting hours, interior entry is unavailable. Consider permitted exterior views and another independently open nearby site, or return on a regular morning.
How to combine the mausoleum with a wider Hanoi day
This page is designed to answer a specific memorial-visiting question. For neighbourhood choices, Old Quarter walks and full-day planning, see our Hanoi travel guide. If you want to contrast the capital’s civic history with its educational heritage, our Temple of Literature guide explains that separate historic site and its visitor logistics. Hoan Kiem Lake offers a more relaxed central-city walk later in the day.
For a longer itinerary, compare Haivenu’s published 12-day private Vietnam heritage tour. The mausoleum is not automatically included: request a confirmed proposal. Our tailor-made Vietnam tours and Plan My Trip let you share dates, group size, cultural interests and mobility needs before receiving a quotation.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum: frequently asked questions
Is the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum free?
Regular memorial entry is generally free. The museum and historic grounds nearby are separately managed and may charge admission, while private guiding or transport is a different service.
Can I visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum on Friday or Monday?
Not on a normal visiting schedule. Public memorial visits ordinarily run Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday mornings. Special commemorative days can have exceptions announced by the operator.
Can I visit the mausoleum in the afternoon?
No, the ordinary interior memorial visit is a morning-only programme. Some nearby attractions offer afternoon hours; their schedules should not be confused with the mausoleum’s.
Can I bring a phone or take photographs?
Official rules distinguish carrying a switched-off phone under security instructions from taking photographs. Photography and filming inside the chamber are prohibited. Outside, follow signs and staff instructions.
Is the mausoleum open after the 2026 renovation?
Yes. The Ministry of Defence confirmed that regular public visits resumed on 3 November 2026. This does not remove the normal closed days or seasonal morning hours.
Sources and what to check before your visit
Check the Mausoleum Command’s visiting schedule for days and times, its formal visitor rules for assembly and behaviour, the Ministry of Defence’s 2026 reopening notice, and the museum’s own opening hours. Details reviewed on 8 November 2026. Security, ceremonial schedules and maintenance notices can change; confirm shortly before travel and comply with instructions at the site.