20 Attractions to Explore Near Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

One of Vietnam's two most iconic temples. The temple is built of wood on a single stone pillar 1.25 m in diameter and 4 m in height, and it is designed to resemble a lotus blossom, a Buddhist symbol of purity. The emperor Lý Thái Tông constructed the temple in 1049, in gratitude for having a son.

Dedicated to the late Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam's revolutionary struggle against foreign powers. The museum documents Ho Chi Minh's life, with 8 chronological exhibitions.

Built between 1900 and 1906 to house the French Governor-General of Indochina. The yellow palace stands behind wrought iron gates flanked by sentry boxes, the only visual cues that it is located in Vietnam at all are mango trees growing on the grounds. The palace is not open to the public, but visitors can walk around the grounds for a fee.

This is not a Botanical Garden but a lush green park in the city center. The park was established in 1890 by the French and originally stretched over 33 hectares, but has since been squeezed to a mere 10 to make room for development.

A complex of historic imperial buildings located in the centre of Hanoi. The royal enclosure was first built during the Lý dynasty (1010) and expanded by the Trần, Lê and finally the Nguyễn dynasty. It remained the seat of the Vietnamese court until 1810, when the Nguyễn dynasty chose to move the capital to Huế.

Dated to the 11th century, this Taoist temple was dedicated to Xuan Wu, one of the principal deities in Taoism. It is one of the Four Sacred Temples that were built in four directions to protect Hanoi from malevolent spirits.

Country's primary art museum, showcasing Vietnam's fine arts from a range of historical periods. Much of the 20th Century art presented in the museum is concerned with folk narratives of a nation in defence.

The museum displays eras of Vietnamese military history showcased in different buildings on the complex. The museum also includes a display of decommissioned, captured or destroyed military equipment and vehicles used by French, Viet Minh, North Vietnam, South Vietnam and the United States during the First and Second Indochina Wars.

Temple dedicated to Confucius, sages and scholars. Built in 1070, it hosts the Imperial Academy, Vietnam's first national university. The temple is featured on the back of the 100,000 Vietnamese đồng banknote.

The museum displays the history of the Vietnamese revolution, the First Indochina War, the Vietnam War, Operations Rolling Thunder, Linebacker and Linebacker II, and the air defense of Hanoi. The outdoor displays include the wreckage of a B-52D or G Stratofortress.

Active railway tracks going through resedential buildings and shops. Note that this area is closed for visitors due to safety concerns you can visit it only if you know someone who lives in the area and bring you along.

Oldest Buddhist temple in Hanoi, is located on a small island near the southeastern shore of Hanoi's West Lake. The temple was originally constructed in the sixth century during the reign of Emperor Lý Nam Đế. When founded the temple was sited on the shores of the Red River, outside of the Yen Phu Dyke. Due to the river's encroachment, the temple was relocated in 1615 to Kim Ngu islet of West Lake where it is now situated.

Largest covered market of Hanoi where the wholesale traders sell everything from clothes, household goods to foodstuffs. The market was originally built by the French administration in 1889, it has since been renovated several times.

Late 19th-century Neo-Gothic style church that serves as the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hanoi to nearly 4 million Catholics in the country. Construction of the church began in 1886, with the architectural style described as resembling Notre Dame de Paris. The church was one of the first structures built by the French colonial government in Indochina when it opened in December 1886. It is the oldest church in Hanoi.

Hỏa Lò Prison was a prison used by the French colonists in French Indochina for political prisoners, and later by North Vietnam for U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. The prison was demolished during the 1990s, although the gatehouse remains as a museum.

Hoan Kiem Lake means "Lake of the Returned Sword". According to the legend, after defeating the Ming China in early 1428, Emperor Lê Lợi was boating on the lake when a Golden Turtle God surfaced and asked for his magic sword. Lợi concluded that the turtle god had come to reclaim the sword that its master, a local God, the Dragon King had given to Lợi. The Emperor later gave the sword back to the turtle after he finished fighting off the Chinese.

Materials, photos and objects displayed in the permanent exhibition show the role the Vietnamese women played in history and currently play in arts and in family life. The museum also organizes thematic exhibitions to show changes and development of the contemporary society.

Second tallest building in Hanoi with 65 floors. There is an observation deck on the 65th floor open to public.

A historic cantilever bridge across the Red River. The bridge was built in 1899-1902 by the architects Daydé & Pillé of Paris, and opened in 1903. It was heavily bombarded during Vietnam War due to its critical position. It was the only bridge at that time across the Red River connecting Hanoi to the main port of Haiphong.

Opera House erected by the French colonial administration between 1901 and 1911, it was modeled on the Palais Garnier, the older of Paris's two opera houses. After the departure of the French, the opera house became the scene for several political events as well as the scene of street fighting during the fight for Hanoi.