Vietnam’s most powerful square. Ba Dinh is flanked by the Parliament building, the headquarters of the Communist Party, and the Presidential Palace, which is also nearby. The entire area is dominated by Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum.

And to me, it seemed like the biggest square in the world that I’ve ever been to. It certainly isn’t, but the space really is enormous.

• 🏨 My tip for accommodation in Hanoi: WECOZY on Train Street – prices and availability. I stayed here in a large, modern flat with a kitchenette. You can find other options in the article ‘Where to stay in Hanoi’.

Ba Dinh will impress you mainly with its size. The area, reportedly measuring 320 × 100 metres – that is, around 32,000 m² – is divided into regular grassy patches with footpaths.

It was here , on 2 September 1945, that Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam’s independence. To this day, state celebrations, military parades and daily flag-raising ceremonies are held here.

What buildings stand around the square?

Monumental memorials, French architecture and the modern parliament building all come together in one place here:

The building	Where to find it	What makes it special
Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum	West side	An imposing granite monument with a guard of honour
National Assembly	East side, opposite the mausoleum	Modern parliament building with a circular chamber
Headquarters of the Communist Party Central Committee	North side	Complex of buildings housing the ruling party’s leadership
The Presidential Palace	North-west of the square	A striking yellow palace from the French colonial era
Ministry of Foreign Affairs	South-east of the square	The historic ‘building of a hundred roofs’ in the Indochinese style

During a standard visit, you will view the Parliament and the party headquarters from the outside. At the Presidential Palace, you can visit the historic complex associated with Ho Chi Minh’s residence; the palace itself is used for state purposes.

Allow about 15–20 minutes to look around the square and take photos. A visit to the mausoleum or other monuments will take extra time.

Morning and evening ceremonies

Every day, the honour guard ceremonially raises and lowers the Vietnamese flag:

• 🕒 Flag-raising: at 6.00 am from April to October and at 6.30 am from November to March.
• 🕒 Flag-lowering: at 9.00 pm all year round.

You can combine the evening ceremony with a view of the illuminated mausoleum. I recommend arriving about 15 minutes early.

Admission and opening hours

• 💰 Admission: free.
• 💳 Payment: not required.
• 🕒 Opening hours: daily 5.00 am–10.00 pm.

To enter the square, you must pass through a security check similar to those at airports.

Access may be restricted during state events. The mausoleum has its own visiting hours, which you can find in the article on the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

How to get there

The square is situated in the Ba Dinh district, north-west of the Old Quarter. Allow about 40 minutes for the walk from the area around Hoan Kiem Lake. You can also get here comfortably by Grab; details can be found in the section on Transport in Hanoi.

Combine your visit with a trip to the nearby One Pillar Pagoda or Thang Long Citadel.

What to see around

Discover all the places to see in Hanoi.