In Hanoi’s Ba Dinh Square, there are several attractions, including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his namesake museum, and his former house — the Stilt House.
Ba Dinh Square is where Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam’s independence in 1945. The square itself is free to enter. The individual attractions inside are optional, and some require tickets purchased on-site.
Here’s a video I filmed standing in the middle of Ba Dinh Square.
Important: There is strict security to enter Ba Dinh Square. You will go through a metal detector and have your bags scanned. You cannot bring in any food or drinks. If you plan on visiting the mausoleum to see Ho Chi Minh’s body, they’re even more strict. You cannot take any photos.
There are also strict clothing requirements. Generally, your shoulders and knees need to be covered. On my recent visit, my shorts were just touching the tops of my kneecaps, and I was allowed in. I’ve read mixed reports of others who were not allowed in, even with longer shorts.
This guide covers more things to do in Hanoi. For where to stay, see this guide, where I’ve added a map of hotels and attractions.
Ba Dinh Square (Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Museum, Stilt House) Visitor Info
| Locations | Current entrance: Google Maps HCM Mausoleum: Google Maps HCM Museum: Google Maps HCM Stilt House: Google Maps |
| Hours* | Ba Dinh Square: 5 AM to 10 PM Sites inside: Varying hours |
| Ticket costs | Ba Dinh Square: Free HCM Museum: 40.000 VND HCM Stilt House: 40.000 VND |
| How much time | I’d allocate around 2 hours total |
| When to visit | I’d avoid visiting during the hottest part of the day |
| Official website | Ho Chi Minh Museum |
| Other notes | Ba Dinh Square has a daily flag ceremony Flag-raising: 6 or 6:30 AM daily Flag-lowering: 9 PM daily |
Visiting Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi
Getting here: the easiest way to get to Ba Dinh Square is to use the Grab app to book a taxi or walk if you’re nearby. If you’re staying in the Old Quarter (either north or west of Hoan Kiem Lake), you can walk to Ba Dinh Square in around 20 to 30 minutes. The Hanoi Lion Boutique (Agoda / Booking) is an easy 20-minute walk away.
Another reminder on dress code: dress conservatively. No sleeveless shirts, short shorts, short dresses, etc.
On my recent visit, I wore these shorts, and I was allowed in. I asked the officer if my shorts were a bit higher, would that be OK…he said no. I was in the area and visited spontaneously, but I was 100% expecting to be denied. I would wear long shorts or pants if you don’t want to risk being denied.
As I mentioned, the square is free to visit. It contains all of the other sites. Expect there to be lines at the security checkpoint, but it usually moves pretty fast. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is only open in the mornings on certain days. There’ll be a line for this, as it’s a popular “attraction.”
Ba Dinh Square is the biggest square in Vietnam, and much of it is out in the open without shade cover. It can get very hot. There are vendors and places to buy drinks inside the grounds.
The Ho Chi Minh Museum is within Ba Dinh Square, and tickets here cost 40.000 VND. Personally, I felt this was a bit underwhelming compared to other museums in Hanoi (like Hoa Lo Prison, the Military History Museum, or the Museum of Ethnology). But if you’re here, it’s worth a quick run through.
In front of the Ho Chi Minh Museum is the One Pillar Pagoda. This is free to check out. It’s a good photo opportunity, but not much else to do in this specific area. From here, you can walk on the paths through Ba Dinh Square and head over to the entrance to the Stilt House.
The area containing Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House requires a separate 40.000 VND entrance ticket. His actual stilt house is here, next to a lake, along with a lot of his personal possessions, like cars he used while president. It’s also next to the Presidential Palace, which is off limits — but is a great sight.
For the stilt house, you can walk up to it and alongside it, but you can’t go inside the actual house.
During my recent visit, I met a very nice Vietnamese tour guide and his co-workers who work for a company giving free tours in exchange for practicing their English. I would reach out to the company Hanoi Free Private Tour Guide if you’re interested in a tour here or elsewhere in Hanoi.
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