Ba Dinh Square

Ba Dinh Square

If the capital city of Hanoi is the heart of Vietnam, then Ba Dinh Square can be considered the heart of Hanoi. Located in the city center, northwest of Hoan Kiem Lake, the square stretches 320 meters in length and nearly 100 meters in width, capable of accommodating one to two hundred thousand people. It serves as the venue for major events and celebrations for the people of Hanoi. Here you'll find the solemn Mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh, the Ho Chi Minh Museum, and the former residence of President Ho Chi Minh. Several tree-lined boulevards radiate from the square into the city, and the 1,000-meter-long, 24-meter-wide Hung Vuong Boulevard runs through the square. Ba Dinh Square is named in commemoration of the first anti-French uprising in Vietnam, which broke out in Ba Dinh, Thanh Hoa Province. It holds significant importance in Vietnam’s history of resistance against French colonial rule. On September 2, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh proclaimed the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam here. Today, the western side of Ba Dinh Square is dominated by the towering Mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh. To the northwest of the mausoleum lies his former residence in Hanoi, while to the southwest stands the Ho Chi Minh Museum. In front of the museum is the famous One Pillar Pagoda. Walking north along Hung Vuong Boulevard from the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, on the right side are the headquarters of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, where senior leaders also receive foreign guests. On the left side of the boulevard is the Presidential Palace, the venue where Vietnam’s national leaders receive foreign dignitaries and host major events. The square in front of the Presidential Palace is where welcoming ceremonies for visiting high-level foreign delegations are held.

Hanoi, Vietnam