Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hanoi

Free entry. Very long queues so arrive EARLY (before 8am, probably before 7am on weekends). We went at 9am on a Sunday and the queue was insane - out the gates, all the way around the perimeter and seemed not to be moving. We decided to come back another day. Got there at 8am on a wed. Queue was still big but nothing compared to the Sunday. We were through the queue, saw Ho Chi Minh and exited all within 45 minutes. Worth the experience. Inside the mausoleum you get a good view, although you are constantly moving. Also worth noting that you need to cover your legs and shoulders (so trousers or long skirt) otherwise you won't get in.

An interesting place to visit where the most respectful president of Vietnam laid to rest. It located in the Ho Chi Minh complex, walking distance to the Presidential Palace. If u planning to visit inside the mausoleum, go early morning because the line can be so long especially during summer holiday in May and it only open for public until noon. You can take nice pictures outside the mausoleum and visit other buildings in the Ho Chi Minh complex area for free. The best time to go is in the afternoon.

Early morning, by 8am we were already standing in the long spilling over queue. Didn't help was the freezing weather. Tight security, no picturing inside, laptop not allowed and handbags scanned, we walked past the guards. A quick walk within the square area to look at Ho Chi Minh without stopping. Over and done. That's it. We then walked to his Palace for history back then, followed by through the huge garden prior to exiting.

Amazing monument but a bit unusual inside. Extremely crowded so get there early. The day we went there were about 50 schools doing a tour so it took even longer. They seem to push tourists off around the side to go to the paid bit of his old house but just get in a queue and wait and you'll eventually get inside

We arrived at 10:15am on a cloudy Thursday morning and were told by the guards that they were no longer admitting anyone, locals and tourists alike. Kind of a downer seeing that there was not a long queue at the mausoleum. Best bet would probably be to go bright and early to avoid a situation like this!