Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and is located in the northern part of the country. Here are the five significant places to visit when you are in Hanoi:

1. Ba Dinh Square

Ba Dinh Square is a huge area in Ba Dinh District in Hanoi similar to that of Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. It is in Ba Dinh Square where President Ho Chi Minh read the Proclamation of Independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

2. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is the final resting place of President Ho Chi Minh. The President’s embalmed body that lies in a glass case with dim lights is found here.

3. One Pillar Pagoda.

One Pillar Pagoda is a historic Buddist temple. It was built by Emperor Ly Thai Tong, who was childless. He then dreamt that he met the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara who handed him a baby son while seated on a lotus flower. This dream came true; he had a son after marrying a peasant girl. Because of this, he constructed a temple by erecting a pillar in the middle of a lotus pond, similar to the one he saw in the dream.

4. Ho Chi Minh Museum.

Ho Chi Minh Museum is a museum built in 1990 that documents President Ho Chi Minh’s life. The museum shows eight chronological events in the life of the President starting from 1890 to 1910 that shows his upbringing, hometown and youth up to his death.

5. St. Joseph Cathedral.

St. Joseph Cathedral is more than a hundred year old Catholic church located in Hoan Kiem District. It is the oldest church in Hanoi.

Of these five places, the first four can be visited in one day as they are all located in Ba Dihn District. The last place may be visited in another day because it is located in Hoan Kiem District. Ba Dihn District and Hoam Kiem District are the two districts that make up Hanoi.

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