Every Vietnamese people wish to come to visit our Uncle Ho and it might say that Ho Chi Minh complex is the heart of Hanoi capital city. Ho Chi Minh complex includes Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh museum and One Pillar Pagoda nearby.
Ho Chi Minh mausoleum is the place where visitors can express their admiration and gratitude towards the common Uncle of Vietnamese who has led the country to independence and reunification. It was built within two years from 1973 to 1975 with Soviet Union’s help and was inspired by Lenin’s mausoleum in Moscow but incorporates distinct Vietnamese architectural elements. President Ho Chi Minh ‘s remain is being preserver in a glass coffin with solemnity and respect from his Vietnamese people.
Just few steps from Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, we pass by the Presidential Palace with its special and unique French architecture. From 1901 – 1906, it was built by French colonialists and was used as a place of the General Indochina Governor. In 1954, the Vietnamese Government took over this Presidential Palace and it has been used for high-ranking level diplomatic meetings since then.
President Ho Chi Minh lived in a normal electrician’s house nearby from 1954 to 1958 and after that he lived in the wooden stilt house right next to his fish pond until he passed away in 1969. He refused to use a new house because he wished to live close to nature and his stilt house was designed following the original version of ethnic tribe in the central Vietnam.
The One Pillar Pagoda in front of the Ho Chi Minh museum is an ancient pagoda built in 1049 under Ly dynasty. This pagoda constructed in the shape of lotus flower, based upon his fairy dream, thanks to Guan Yin (the Lady Buddha) who gave him a baby boy.
The last building in Ho Chi Minh complex is the Ho Chi Minh museum. There are many photos and objects as well as documents related to President Ho Chi Minh’s life and development of Vietnam through different periods of time. After visiting this museum, you will have much knowledge about President Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam.
The architecture is true amazing. The One Pillar Pagoda is the most interesting and amazing building I have ever seen. Ho Chi Minh Complex is also very well built, the architect did an amazing job.