Ho Chi Minh Museum, Hanoi

The Ho Chi Minh Museum is located in Hanoi, constructed in 1990 and is dedicated to the late Vietnamese Leader Ho Chi Minh, a crucial figure in the Vietnamese struggle for independence. He played a pivotal role in leading Vietnam against colonial powers, including the French and later the Americans. Ho Chi Minh served as the founding father of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) and became its first president in 1945. His leadership and commitment to communism shaped the course of Vietnamese history. Ho Chi Minh passed away in 1969, leaving a legacy as a national hero and revolutionary leader. His influence on Vietnam’s political landscape and fight for independence is profound and enduring.

The entrance of the Museum

There are so many people coming to visit the museum but it is really well organized and we did not have to wait that long to get in.

Large group of students wearing black and yellow outfit. They have their own area to get in the museum.

We got our tickets and we are getting inside the park.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex

Ba Dinh Square is where Vietnamese First day of Independence was celebrated on Sept. 2, 1945.

President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence in 1945, giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, opening a new era in the history of Vietnam. The event was also witnessed by many foreigners and was a pivotal moment in the Viet Minh Revolutionary Government's ascent to power.

The Mausoleum is a large building located in the center of Ba Dinh Square. Construction work began on September 2, 1973, and the mausoleum was formally inaugurated on August 29, 1975. It was inspired by Lenin's Mausoleum in Moscow.

The mausoleum's portico has the words "Chủ tịch Hồ-Chí-Minh" (President Ho Chi Minh) inscribed across it. The banner beside says "Nước Cộng Hòa Xã Hội Chủ Nghĩa Việt Nam Muôn Năm" (en: "Long live The Socialist Republic of Vietnam").

No pictures are allowed inside but people are lining up to see the embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh inside.

We are now entering Ho Chi Minh's residental area.

Museum with a collection of Ho Chi Minh's cars.

President Ho Chi Minh (Uncle Ho) had some cars for official and personal use, including Peugeot 404, ZIS 115 and Pobeda. Russian cars IS 115 and Pobeda were gifted to Ho Chi Minh City by the government of the Soviet Union

ZIS 115 car was presented by the Soviet Government in 1954 to President Uncle Ho. It is a special armored car used by official activities.

On the left is a Pobeda car that was gifted to President Ho by the Soviet government in 1955

On the right is a Peugeot 404 was used to travel in the city in 1967

Uncle Ho's living quarters from 1954 to 1958.

Living room and dining room are sparse and simplistic.

Ao ca Bac Ho (Uncle Ho's fish pond). The pond has 16 species of fish.

Mango Road inside the park.

Panoramic view of Mango road.

Mango trees lining the street.

It was nice to walk around this area.

The Presidential palace was the most luxurious construction with more than 30 rooms and took approximately 6 years to complete (1900 to 1906) to house the French governor-general of Indochina. In 1945, it was renamed the Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh was supposed to live and work there but he refused because he felt that it would not be unsuitable for him to live in such a luxury while the country is suffering and very poor.

Today, the Presidential Palace is mostly used for Vietnamese government to welcome many heads of states, high-ranking delegations of various parties and governments all over the world.

Statue of Uncle Ho sitting in the garden

Close view of the statue.

This mango tree is gigantic!

Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house was designed by architect Nguyen Van Ninh and built in 1958 in a corner of the Presidential Palace’s gardens. This two-story stilt house with wooden tiled roof is very humble and simple.

The ground floor is an open space, with a long table, and wooden and bamboo chairs surrounded, where Ho Chi Minh usually worked in summer. It was also served as the living room to welcome guests.

The upper floor is divided 2 small rooms: a working room and a bedroom with some essential furnishings in the daily life of Ho Chi Minh.

The exterior of the house.

Fish pond in the complex.

Vegetable garden and fruits trees near by Ho Chi Minh's Stilt house.

Grapefruit orchard.

Fairy roots around the pond.

I never seen anything like this! Very interesting to see these roots growing on the surface.

One Pillar Pagoda

The One Pillar Pagoda was officially recognized as “The Pagoda with the Most Unique Architecture in Asia” by the Asia Record Organization in 2012. Also known as “Chua Mot Cot” is an ancient pagoda situated next to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. It started being constructed under Ly Thai Tong’s Dynasty in 1049. In 1954, French colonists used explosives to destroy the pagoda before withdrawing from Vietnam. In 1955, Ministry of Culture had One Pillar Pagoda rebuilt by architect Nguyen Ba Lang and it remains as this shape until now.

The Pagoda. He pagoda is a historic Buddhist temple and the most famous part of this architecture complex is Liên Hoa Đài means 'the lotus pedestal' which is a temple with special structure: a building laid on one pillar. It is regarded alongside the Hương Temple, as one of Vietnam's two most iconic temples.