The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is located in the centre of Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi. The Mausoleum mainly used for parades and army marches is large and famous memorial in Hanoi (Vietnam).
On Ba Dinh Square on September 2, 1945, Viet Minh (communist coalition) leader Ho Chi Minh established Democratic Republic of Vietnam (document is called Declaration of Independence).
Construction work on the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum began on September 2, 1973 (4 years after dead of Vietnamese leader), and the structure was formally inaugurated on August 29, 1975. The mausoleum was inspired by Lenin´s Mausoleum in Moscow (Russia). A building of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum incorporates distinct Vietnamese architectural elements, such as the sloping roof. The exterior is made of Gray granite. An interior is made by Gray granite, black and red polished stone.
The mausoleum’s porticohas a few simple words inscribed across it: “Chủ tịch Hồ Chí Minh”. It means Chairman Ho Chi Minh.
The structure is 21.6 metres high and 41.2 metres wide. Flanking the mausoleum are two platforms with seven steps for parade viewing. The spectacular gardens surrounding the Mausoleum have more than 200 different species of plants and flowers, all from different regions of Vietnam. The plaza in front of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is divided into 240 green squares separated by pathways.
The embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh is preserved in the cooled, central hall of the mausoleum, which is protected by a military honour guard. The body lies in a glass case with dim lights.
The mausoleum is closed occasionally (usually more than one month in a year) while work is done to restore and preserve the body (the body is transported to Russia to made it) but is normally open daily from 9:00 am to noon to the public. A lot of resident visitors, foreign tourists, foreign dignitaries, etc. visit the the Mausoleum every year.
Rules regarding dress and behaviour are strictly enforced by staff and guards. Legs must be covered (no shorts or miniskirts are allowed). Visitors must be silent, and walk in two lines. Hands must not be in pockets, nor arms crossed. Smoking, photography, and video taping are also not permitted anywhere inside the mausoleum.
