After the President’s loss (September 2, 1969), our Party, people and army, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam with an fervent wishes decided: "With infinite love and everlasting gratitude to President Ho, we must try our best to preserve President Ho's body and construct mausoleum for our beloved president."
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum projects were initially groundbreaking on September 2, 1973.
After an intense two-year endeavor in construction, the President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum was proudly unveiled on August 29, 1975. With great ceremony, its doors swung open, inviting compatriots and global visitors to embark on a profound journey to set a footprint to Uncle Ho's Mausoleum.
From the onset of 1970, the meticulous design and preparatory efforts for the construction of Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum were implemented with a sense of urgency. By April 1971, after drawing inspiration from Soviet architectural experts and incorporating various feedback, the Political Bureau of the Central Party had come to a final decision, making a design plan for the iconic Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum.
Rising proudly above Ba Dinh Square, Uncle Ho's Mausoleum gains a balance of grandeur and simplicity. Its overall structure, resembling the graceful form of a lotus flower, is elegantly divided into three distinct parts: the roof, columns, and foundation. Crafted from silver-gray marble, the roof and columns exude a timeless charm. The three-tiered base, fashioned from dark gray marble, adds a striking contrast, enhancing the Mausoleum's visual appeal. Nestled within the row of columns lies the heart of the Mausoleum — a room cradling Uncle Ho's revered remains — encased in the dignified embrace of dark red marble. The Mausoleum's roof, featuring three tiers and sharp angles at the corners, evokes the solemn and familiar silhouette of an ancient pagoda.
The mausoleum project proudly features the inscription "PRESIDENT HO CHI MINH CITY" on its roof, crafted meticulously from jade stone sourced from the Cao Bang region. Jade stone also adorns the main door and staircase, while the interior boasts an opulent display of marble, enveloping walls and columns alike. A distinctive touch is found in the rose-red veined marble that graces the main lobby wall, serving as a backdrop for the poignant words "Nothing is more important than Independence and Liberty" alongside Uncle Ho's signature.
The floating section of the Mausoleum extends with two 67-meter-long stands on either side, adorned with ascending seating steps. Nestled between them is the square main block of the Mausoleum, measuring 30 meters in width and 21.50 meters in height. The main block, designed with three levels, is surrounded by a corridor supported by rows of tall, square columns. These columns, arranged in a traditional 5-compartment house fashion with five spaces on each side, contribute to the architectural harmony of the Mausoleum.
Beside serving as a venue for visitor-related activities, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ba Dinh Square also hosts cultural and political events. These encompass ceremonies of Meritorious Service, emulation contracts, Party and Youth Union admissions, among others. Since May 19, 2001, a daily flag-raising ceremony has dignified the front of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, intertwining images of the Fatherland and its revered leader. This fusion enhances the cultural, spiritual, and political significance of the site.
Uncle Ho's Mausoleum holds a special place in the hearts of every Vietnamese, embodying an emotional necessity, a newfound tradition, and a timeless act of gratitude to their roots—gazing back before each forward stride. With boundless respect and gratitude, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is destined to endure, eternally intertwined with the nation, serving as a bridge of both the Vietnamese people and their international friends.
