Ba Dinh Square

Ba Dinh Square is located in the center of Hanoi, northwest of Hoan Kiem Lake. After the victory of Vietnam's "August Revolution" in 1945, President Ho Chi Minh announced the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam here, and the square has since become a political area of Vietnam. The square is 320 meters long and nearly 100 meters wide. Today, it is the place where rallies, celebrations and military parades are held on major national festivals in Vietnam. Every morning around 6:30, there is a solemn flag-raising ceremony here. If you get up early enough, you can watch the whole process of the honor guard entering the square to raise the flag. However, most tourists come to Ba Dinh Square, mainly to visit the various Ho Chi Minh-related buildings around the square. There is the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Hall on the west side of the square, the former residence of Ho Chi Minh and the Presidential Palace on the northwest side, the Ho Chi Minh Museum on the southwest side, and the One Pillar Pagoda in front of the museum.