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24/03/2023
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Ba Dinh Square (Source: Collected)
Any Hanoi travel tour will never be complete if a visit to Ba Dinh Square is excluded. Ever since 1945, when President Ho Chi minh proclaimed the Declaration of Independence of Vietnam, this landmark has witnessed all the ups and downs of the country. Read this article to learn more about this important historical site in Hanoi.
1. Where is Ba Dinh Square Vietnam?
Ba Dinh Square is situated on Hung Vuong Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi. It is the center of a large complex of historical and cultural sites (often known as Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex) in Ba Dinh District.
Ba Dinh Square is a 320-meter-long and 100-meter-wide area that can hold up to 200,000 people. It consists of 210 grass squares, interspersed with wide pathways. In the middle of the square is a 25-meter-tall flag pole, where the national flag raising ceremony is held at 6:00 AM every day.
The 4 sides of the square all face important Hanoi landmarks. To the north of the square is the Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, to the south is the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to the west is Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and to the east is Ba Dinh Hall.
Ba Dinh Square and the surroundings (Source: Collected)
This square is usually the venue for parades and important national events during Vietnamese holidays.
- Opening hours: from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Entrance fee: Free
2. Momentous national events taking place here
In the 1890s, the French troops conquered Indochina, and this area was designed to be their administrative center. The square used to be a flower garden named Le parc Puginier. On March 09, 1945, The Japanese coup d’état in French Indochina took place. Le parc Puginier garden was renamed Ba Dinh Flower Garden, named after Ba Dinh Commune in Thanh Hoa Province, where the revolution against the French took place between 1886 and 1887.
Le parc Puginier garden flower (Source: Collected)
In August 1945, Vietnam finally gained back its independence. Ba Dinh Square was chosen to be the venue for the Declaration of Independence ceremony. September 02, 1945 was one of the most important days in Vietnamese history. President Ho Chi Minh, on behalf of the Provisional Government, proclaimed the Declaration of Independence at Ba Dinh Square. This marked the end of thousands of years of feudalism, fascism, and colonialism.
Ever since 1945, Ba Dinh Square has become the venue for several significant national events:
- 02/09/1945: the Declaration of Independence of Vietnam, giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam
- 01/01/1955: the first meeting and parade of the Vietnam People’s Army
- 09/09/1969: the memorial service for President Ho Chi Minh
- 02/09/1975: the parade to celebrate the reunification of the country after the war against the US
- 10/10/2010: large-scale parades to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi
- 02/09/2015: the military parade to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the August Revolution and the National Day of Vietnam
3. Architectural works near Ba Dinh Square to visit
Nestled in the heart of the complex, Ba Dinh Square is definitely a must-see attraction in Hanoi. A visit to the square will give you a chance to take a tour around many surrounding historical and cultural sites. If you still don’t know where to go around Ba Dinh Square Hanoi Vietnam, check out some Hanoi historical sites below:
3.1. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is the final resting place of President Ho Chi Minh, a legendary revolutionary hero and the founder of the Communist Party of Vietnam. He led Vietnamese people throughout the war against the French, Japanese, and American colonists. President Ho Chi Minh passed away in 1969. His embalmed body has been preserved in the Mausoleum since 1975.
The Mausoleum is also structurally special. Its construction materials were collected from different parts of Vietnam. This was a way to show the connection and love between Vietnamese people and their dearest Uncle.
3.2. Uncle Ho’s stilt house
President Ho Chi Minh is well-known for his humbleness. A president of a nation is supposed to live in a big, luxurious palace, yet Uncle Ho chose to live in a stilt house, a typical type of houses of some Vietnamese ethnic groups. The house was built near Ba Dinh Square in 1958. It was the residence of President Ho Chi Minh from then to August 1969.
There is a pond and a fruit garden in the surroundings of the stilt house, altogether creating a tranquil atmosphere that you can’t expect to exist in the heart of Hanoi.
Uncle Ho’s stilt house in Hanoi, Vietnam (Source: Collected)
3.3. Presidential Palace
The Presidential Palace is where the current President of Vietnam resides. It was built in the French colonial period, originally serving as the palace of Governor-Generals of French Indochina. The palace has a very European vibe with typical French architecture.
It was supposed to house President Ho Chi Minh after the declaration of independence. However, the President refused to stay in this palace and chose to live in the stilt house instead. The Presidential Palace was then used to welcome guests. Nowadays, it is the official residence of the current Vietnamese President. It is not open to tourists, so you can only take a look at it from the outside.
3.4. Ho Chi Minh Museum
As one of the best places to visit in Hanoi Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh Museum is where President Ho Chi Minh’s possessions are kept and preserved. Ho Chi Minh Museum is divided into 8 exhibition areas, each showing a period in his life, from the day he was born until the day he passed away. A trip to this place will give you a closer look at the President’s life.
3.5. One Pillar Pagoda
If you are a fan of Buddhist architecture, One Pillar Pagoda is a Hanoi tourist attraction you should not miss out on. The pagoda, built in the 11th century, looks like a flower blossoming in the middle of a lotus pond. Standing on a lone concrete pillar, the pagoda has a unique architectural style that you will not find anywhere else.
One Pillar Pagoda, Hanoi (Source: Collected)
4. How to get to Ba Dinh Square?
Ba Dinh Square is located right in the heart of Hanoi, so it is easily reached. You can come to this place by car, motorbike, and bus.
If you go by bus, you can search online for the most convenient route and bus to take. There are bus stops that are only 400-500 meters away, so from these stops, you can walk to the square with ease.
You can also come here by your private vehicle or taxi. Everyone in Hanoi is familiar with Ba Dinh Square and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex, so feel free to ask the locals if you don’t know the way.
In addition to Ba Dinh Square and the tourist attractions above, there are many other destinations in Hanoi that you should take your time to visit, namely Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi Old Quarter, Temple of Literature, West Lake, etc. If you want to have fun at a more modern place in Hanoi, a visit to VinKE & Vinpearl Aquarium Times City is highly recommended.
VinKE & Vinpearl Aquarium Times City
Vinpearl Aquarium is proud to be one of the most modern aquarium systems in Vietnam. It welcomes large flocks of tourists each day coming to explore the diverse marine world. Home to a wide range of fishes and other marine species, the aquarium helps visitors to not only relax but also to gain more knowledge about Mother Nature. A trip to Times City will also take you to VinKE, which features an area of 4,000 square meters with a wide variety of enticing games.
Book tickets of VinKE & Vinpearl Aquarium here
Having witnessed the many ups and downs of the country, Ba Dinh Square is an exceptionally important historical site in Hanoi. If you are planning to pay a visit to the capital of Vietnam, remember to put this place on your bucket list!
