Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hanoi, Vietnam, September 2017
Ho Chi Minh’s embalmed body now spends most of its time in a monumental edifice in Hanoi. However, he usually gets a break in the autumn when he pops off on a journey of over 9,000 km, to Russia, for a spot of body maintenance.
The connection with Russia goes further, as the Mausoleum itself was clearly influenced by the Lenin Mausoleum in Moscow. Both the structure and the massive open square reminded me strongly of Red Square. Had the mausoleum been open, the long lines of visitors would have been remarkably similar too.
–
–
Copyright Debbie Smyth, 20 October 2017
Posted as part of Cee’s B&W Challenge
Travel with Intent 
The line is long and the experience is surreal. Great photo.
LikeLike
You have been in?
Even if it had been open I could not have coped with queuing in that heat. But I have been in to see Lenin, so I’ve got an idea of what it feels like
LikeLiked by 1 person
The first time we went it was closed (like your photo). We went back early in the morning and the long line went quickly enough. It’s all very dignified.
LikeLike
This is a good photo Debbie. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Cee. It was the open space that I loved.
LikeLike
What a sense of space Debbie. Wonderful 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you.
I love that openness but I have to admit that one of the reasons for this opposition is that I needed to stand in the shade!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It worked well 🙂
LikeLike
Isn’t it like being in purgatory? Neither in heaven or in hell? Yikes I’d hate to be a body embalmed
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not my idea of fun either!
And I don’t think it was Ho Chi Minh’s choice – he wanted simplicity not a giant mausoleum
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow have they been doing this for the last – guess it must be nearly – 60 years?!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I hadn’t thought of it in those terms.
He died in 1969 and the mausoleum opened in 1975. So almost 50 years
LikeLiked by 1 person