One of Hanoi's most significant landmarks is back in business. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, on Ba Dinh Square in the Vietnamese capital, reopened its doors to Vietnamese citizens and international visitors on November 3, following completion of its scheduled 2026 restoration and maintenance programme. The annual upkeep work also covered the nearby Monument to Heroes and Martyrs.

The mausoleum's Command confirmed that the periodic restoration was largely finished, meaning travellers can once again join the steady queues that file through the granite structure to pay respects to the country's founding president. The site also hosts official political and cultural ceremonies, so it remains a working monument as well as a visitor attraction.

If the visitor numbers are anything to go by, demand is strong. In the first half of this year alone, more than one million people passed through the mausoleum, of whom over 256,000 were foreign visitors. That makes it one of Hanoi's most visited sites, and a fixture on most first-time itineraries in the city.

For travellers, the reopening matters because the mausoleum sits at the heart of Hanoi's historic quarter of monuments. Ba Dinh Square is where Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam's independence in 1945, and the surrounding complex includes the Presidential Palace grounds, Ho Chi Minh's stilt house, the One Pillar Pagoda and the Ho Chi Minh Museum — all within easy walking distance of each other.

A few practical notes if you're planning a visit. The mausoleum typically opens in the mornings only and closes on Mondays and Fridays, and it sometimes shuts for several weeks each year for exactly the kind of maintenance that just took place — so check the schedule before you build your Hanoi plans around it. Dress modestly (covered shoulders and knees), keep quiet inside, and leave large bags or cameras behind, as security is strict. Expect a queue, especially mid-morning, and allow time to explore the rest of the complex afterwards.

Pair a morning at Ba Dinh Square with the nearby Temple of Literature or a stroll around the Old Quarter, and you'll have covered Hanoi's essential history in a single day.